Page 5 of Hot-Blooded Killer

“Or my last one,” I mutter, but Pop ignores me.

“But everybody knows he is the easy-going Beneventi brother. Marrying him means you can gain control of Beneventi ventures.”

I nod slowly. “And once I have control…”

“Then our family will have an in.” He seems awfully pleased with himself and his argument for marrying me off to someone I have zero interest in.

“What about Max?” I ask. “Everyone knows he controls Lorenzo.”

Pop nods. “We’ll have to find a way to deal with the elder brother. I trust you to do that for us.”

Deal with him. As if the Beneventi family isn’t in disarray. There’s even been talk of eliminating their vote on the Council that runs the Vegas Mafia. Pop pushed for it, I know. But he was outvoted by the other members. So even though only the two brothers are left, they still have a voice in Vegas affairs.

But Pop isn’t wrong. Lorenzo is laid-back, always ready with a smile—unlike Max, who’s had a permanent scowl attached to his face since he was fifteen.

I sigh. “Fine. As long as I can finish my degree, I’ll marry Lorenzo.”

“I knew you would see my way,cara.” He wraps me in his arms, and I lean my forehead against his chest, inhaling the scent of cigars that always permeates his dark suits. I pull away a little and look up at my father. “But I am not agreeing to this without an official proposal and a ring. I expect him to do this right.”

Pop nods. “Of course, Principessa. We will make sure he follows all the proper forms.”

“When is the wedding?” I ask, as resigned to my fate as I can manage to be in half an hour.

“In six weeks,” Pop says, and my eyes grow wide.

That’s not enough time to plan the kind of wedding our friends and family will expect.

After all, I am still a Rossi.

Catching sight of my expression, Pop laughs aloud. “Your mother has already begun getting everything ready,” he assures me.

“I don’t know if I can even get a dress in that amount of time.”

He rolls his eyes. “Of course you can. Even if we have to fly the designer in from Europe.”

I grin. I might not be thrilled about this marriage, but I can at least make sure the wedding is one hell of a party.

“And I expect him to court me, too,” I add. “I don’t want anyone in our social circle to know that you sold me.”

“I’m not selling you,cara. I’m putting you in position to take over the Beneventi family. We’re going to use their current lack of power to our advantage.”

I give a short, sharp nod. “Fine. But my stipulation stands. He courts me—he takes me out, and we act like a true love match in public. I don’t care how he behaves in private—he can leave me alone entirely, as long as the world believes we are happy together.”

“Of course.” Pop’s tone tells me he’s delighted that I have agreed to his plan.

I probably could ask for more. But truth be told, this isn’t really a bad match—at least not in terms of my ability to control my husband. Lorenzo is easy-going, laid-back, the youngest Beneventi brother. I’ve never had the slightest inkling that he was interested in me, so it surprises me that he’d been willing to approach Pop with an offer.

I’ve always known I would marry to increase my family’s power, influence, and wealth. I’m surprised Pop took the offer, since currently the only part of that equation the Beneventis still command is wealth. And a very small amount of influence, if I’m honest.

I’ll have to break it off with Elio DeSantis, and I realize I’m a little sorry about that. He’s been my favorite of the many temporary hookups I’ve participated in since I moved out of my father’s home and into my own apartment.

Granted, it’s an apartment building Pop owns, complete with round-the-clock bodyguards assigned to me. So I’m certain Pop knows I’ve been seeing one of the Toxic Triplets, the three DeSantis brothers who recently moved back to Vegas after a stint training with their uncle in New York City.

I like Elio. Largely because he’s easy to control.

Much like I expect Lorenzo to be.

I shake my head as I leave Pop’s study.

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