Page 59 of Arianna

Which is why I decided to end it with her. She deserves better than what I can give her, and now that I have a complication with a smart mouth living under my roof, it will only become a hassle to juggle both women.

Liar…

You no longer want her. You want… I kill the thought before it goes any further.

“Bastian, darling. It’s been a while.” Her strong French accent used to make me hard as fuck in an instant, but not now. It has not been the same for a while. It is as if the fucker recognizes what it wants, and she is not it anymore.

“I hope you’re doing well?”

“Marvelous.” She laughs a jovial laugh. I put the phone on speaker as I served myself another glass of whiskey, needing the burn for what will come next. “As you know, London fashion week is coming up, and I was wondering if you’ll be accompanying me this year as well?”

I take a sip of my whiskey, loving how it burns my throat. “I must respectfully decline. I think our time together has come to an end, love.”

This is where they usually curse my name or cry me a fucking river. I don’t know which reaction I will get from her.

“Oh.” She laughs, seeming embarrassed, making me feel like an asshole, but she knew whom she got in bed with, and Prince Charming, I am not. The media will also have a field day with the news of what I am hoping is an amicable split, and it will be news for a while until something else comes up. “Was it something I did?”

My eyes remain glued to the screen where the camera points directly at Arianna’s closed door. “You did nothing wrong. You are a phenomenal woman, and I wish you nothing but great things. But I am afraid this arrangement has run its course.”

“Well…” There’s a long pause before she speaks again. “It was fun while it lasted, lover.”

I always took issue with the way she would refer to me as her lover in public, and I should have put a stop to it before, but I never did. We fucked plenty, yes, but we were never lovers.

“Have a good life, Thylane.” Taking a long sip of my drink, I wait for her to end the conversation, giving her that much after ending things through the phone.

“You too, Bastian. If you ever need me, don't hesitate to call.” With that not-so-subtle offer, she ends the call.

She was beautiful, but just like the rest that came before her… easily forgettable. It is safe to say that I will not be calling. Once I end something, it is finished.

I pocket my phone and take a deep breath. I know I did the right thing. I don’t need more problems in my life, especially during campaigning.

The blonde mouthy bombshell is a beautiful nuisance, and I already have my hands full with her.

The door to my right slams open and Banning enters the room with a smug look on his tedious face. “Couldn’t help but hear, boss. You’re one crazy fucker for ending things with that hot piece of ass.” Ever the gentleman and class act, this one.

“Sit down and bring me up to speed.” I motion for him to take a seat opposite of me. Right now, he is not my oldest friend but my employee. “Do you have any leads on who’s responsible for the leak?”

I have a tight circle of men who know better than to cross me, not without paying the ultimate price. I have three bodyguards on my property, twenty-four-seven making sure my daughter and I are safe from outside threats.

They take care of everything, all the shit that comes with making enemies. I have had plenty of death threats, and recently, they have extended to my child. I am not the kind of man who plays. I pay my team a fortune, and, in return, I sleep better at night knowing we are taken care of.

My guesthouse is a two-story, 3,500-square-foot, eight-bedroom, six-bath house, and two of the rooms are filled with nothing but top-of-the-line security monitors and computers, allowing my men to keep an eye on everything.

My security team is composed of ten men. I have handpicked both ex-CIA, Navy SEALs and a few ex-cons.

Best of the best that money can buy.

I spent half an hour reviewing the details of our new security schedule, including the Parisi girl, and another half hour of him bringing me up to speed on what is happening back in Detroit with her family.

I always found the mafia to be weak and easily breakable. Too many egos hold an organization together until one becomes a rat and craves more. More power. More money for their own families. Just more.

That is exactly what is happening with the three families of Detroit.

The Nicolasis hold the title of capo, but for how long? How long will they keep the peace before all hell breaks loose?

And that’s when their outside enemies come in.

The Bratva.

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