Page 1 of Dangerous Attraction

“I never lie to any man because I don’t fear anyone. The only time you lie is when you are afraid.”

~John Gotti

one

MASSIMO

There aremoments in life that defineyou.

Moments that makeyou.

Moments that shape you into the person you will inevitably become until your death.

This wasnotthat moment.

No… this was my job—a job I’d been born into.

“Did you hear what I asked you?” I gripped the man’s portly neck, my hand itching to snap his spine like a twig.

Sweat trickled down his head, seeping into the rolls of skin beneath my fingers, digging into his flesh. I yanked his head back, forcing him to look into my eyes. The piece of shit tried to steal from me. He thought no one would notice the missing money, but a grand just doesn’t up and walk away without being noticed.

His voice wobbled under the pressure of my grip. “Yeessss…”

My fingers tightened on reflex as I leaned into him, demanding answers. “Where is the money?” I knew before he spoke, he wasn't going to give me what I wanted. Typical piece of shit.

“I don’t have it anymore. I’m sorry. I made a mistake.”

“A mistake?” A manic laugh escaped my lips as I glanced over at my head enforcer. “A mistake is shorting the till twenty bucks… but a G? That’s no fucking mistake.” Releasing his head, I dusted my palms on my pants. Not only was I stuck dealing with his sorry ass, but I was also doing it in my favorite suit. “Donny.” I turned to the muscle of my operation. “Get rid of this rat.”

“No… please…”

I watched as Donny slipped shiny brass over his knuckles and rolled up his sleeves. Usually, I would teach those who stole from me a lesson myself, but the thought of ruining my suit pissed me off.

The door slammed shut behind me as I strode from the room, drowning his screams behind the massive metal barrier. As the son of Giacomo Anastasi, Don of one of the longest-running crime families here in Vegas, I couldn’t let anyone see me as weak. Even if it was only a thousand dollars, I couldn’t let others think it was okay to take from us.

The mafia was deeply engrained inmyblood.

My grandparents were still in Sicily, running things across the ocean for our family. We, meaning my mother and father initially, moved here at my grandfather’s request. He wanted to control the streets of Vegas, and he could do that through my father. It was a long road, but the Anastasis had become the name everyone feared. Even the morally bound protectors of this fine city were in our pocket. We had our finger on the pulse of this city, leaving nothing hidden. And if by some off chance we didn’t know, someone learned quickly why keeping secrets wasn’t in their best interest.

The six of us became integral parts of the family business. Me, Vincenzo, Catarina, Antonio, and the twins, Carmela and Celestina, all had some role in upholding the Anastasi name. Our family owned several businesses along the Vegas strip, allowing for a steady cash flow into our pockets. Some legal… some not.

As the oldest, my father felt I should oversee the operations of the family’s nightclub, Discoteca. The name literally translated to nightclub in English. When my dad opened the bar, it was a place to let people unwind, have a few drinks while listening to some good music, and get drunk enough to spill their confidences. Since taking it over, I’ve added a few things to the club—perks that benefit the patrons and my family.

The lower-level bar and dance floors are still the main attraction, but I renovated by adding two additional floors. The rear of the building was converted to offer secluded rooms with private bar service. It’s mainly used by high-profile customers who are given a personal waitress for the evening. When people feel comfortable in their environment, they tend to have loose lips. This boded well for business—our business.

The basement continued to be used for meetings we needed to keep out of the public’s eye—a space for us to discuss things that pertained to our morally gray doings. By adding to the club, it gave the family an environment that provided unfiltered access to information from some of the city’s high-ranking officials—a blackmail, of sorts.

The best addition, however, was Fantasia on the second floor. The club was a ‘members-only’ accessible area. Anyone wanting to partake in the services offered at Fantasia must pay a hefty club membership and sign the required non-disclosure form, which kept the ongoings of its members private. No one can use information gained during their time in the club for their personal benefit.

Well… except for us.

The addition of Fantasia wasn’t just to make more money. No. It was to gain even more leverage against those in power—because let’s face it. Most politicians have a seedy side, and now, the Anastasis could hang that side of them over their heads.

Vegas was a playground for people who love everything taboo. A town where people could let loose and let go without worrying about what people think. Fantasia made it possible for the elite to release their inner inhibitions and live out all their dark fantasies without winding up on the front page of the tabloids. Discoteca looked like an average nightclub on the surface, but with the right money, men and women could live out their favorite kinks on the second floor.

Though I played at Fantasia, it wasn’t my regular pastime or anybody else’s in my family—well, except Vincenzo. He said it allowed him to release his stress from being a top-rated chef, though I suspected it was because of his past.

Ensuring the basement door was secured, I headed into the club. It was a typical Friday night, with people crowded inside and dressed to impress. Everyone was out looking for something, and often, they found it here.

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