Page 8 of Valley of the Kings

“Nothing for me, thanks,” Aurelio answered.

“I’m good,” I replied, making it clear that Iwasn’t here for a social call.

Straightening, he said, “Well, you’ve caught us during dinner, so I’ll just go get my wife and daughter-”

“Daughters,”I stressed intentionally, cutting him off. “Both of them.”

Renzo’s chin came up, and there was a fire inhis eyes that confirmed all the rumors and assumptions about his firstborn. Kasen was his favorite, and if he was going to go to war for any member of his family, it’d be her. I couldn’t even say if he’d go to war for his wife, honestly. However, it was clear that he didnotlike the mention of his other child.

“I don’t see what for,” he said, not bothering to ask me why I wanted her to join us.“Kasen is not involved in family business, something that most everyone knows.”

“But she is still part ofyourfamily, is she not?”

“Well, of course,” he bristled.

“Well, since the matter of why I’m here involves your family, I think that she should also be present,” I told him. “In fact, Mano Barone and Ignacio Phillipe should also join us.”

“And why are my wife’s and daughter’s guards required to be in attendance?”

“Come now, Renzo,” I said, smoothing down the front of my suit jacket. “You and I bothknow that our personal guards know a lot more than we like to give them credit for.”

He didn’t say anything for a fewseconds, but when he did finally speak, he said, “Ignacio is otherwise occupied at the moment. However, Mano is making his rounds on the grounds, so he can join us if you insist.”

“Oh, I insist,” I assured him.

When he walked out of his office,I glanced over at Aurelio. “I don’t care if there ends up being a bloodbath in here. If anything pops off, you get Kasen out of here. I don’t care what you have to do to accomplish that. Understood?”

Expectantly, Aurelio nodded. “Of course.”

A minute or so later, all the Milanos were walking into Renzo’s office, Mano Barone following behind the group. Honestly, I had no idea if he really cared for Fia or not, but I also didn’t care one way or the other. Still, I did notice how he was making sure to stay close to her, guard or no guard.

Sonya Milano looked worried, but she knew better than to ask any questions. The perfect accessory to Renzo Milano, she knew her place, and it wasn’t to question what the Sartori Underboss was doing, demanding their presence.

Fia lookedannoyed, but she always looked that way. Nevertheless, if she felt annoyed now, things were about to become a lot more exciting for her in the next few minutes. Since she wasn’t Renzo’s favorite, I could not see this going well for her at all.

As for Kasen, she had the poker face of a professional. Those hazel eyes of hers were giving nothing away, and that flawless face of hers had a look of boredom to it. Even then, she still looked fucking stunning. Her black hair was piled high on her head, her face had minimal makeup on it, and her hour-glass figure was dressed in a simple white t-shirt, a pair of black jeans, and a matching pair of ankle boots were on her feet. Even as casual as her attire was, it still couldn’t hide that fucking rack or those wide hips of hers. If anyone could make a fortune on a stripper pole, it was Kasen Milano.

When I’d first seen her in that courtroom, she’d been dressed in a white button-up blouse, a dark grey pencil skirt, and a pair of sensible black heels. Her long hair had been pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and by all accounts, she had looked professional and capable. Nevertheless, those curves of her had given her that sexy-secretary-on-her-knees look, and I was going to have the time of my fucking life once I got my hands on her. I was going to slut her out for every perverted fantasy that I’d ever had about her, and there was no way in hell that I was ever going to let her go.

As her hazel gaze-more green than brown-slid my way, I could actually feel my heart skip a beat inside my chest. Lots of people claimed that you couldn’t possibly be in love with someone that you didn’t know, but that was bullshit. Not only did I know more about Kasen Milano than I should-considering that we didn’t run in the same circles-but I’d fallen in love that day in court. I had spent my entire afternoon falling in love with every word out of her mouth, every gesture that she’d made, and every breath that she’d taken that day. I had fallen in love with whatever made her shine in the courtroom, and that’s why we were here now. So, yeah, people that didn’t believe in love at first sight could go fuck themselves.

Renzo walked over to his desk, standing in front of it like the powerplay that it was. “Well, we’re all here,” he said. “What’s this about, Sartori?”

I reached back for the folder that Aurelio had carried into the house, and when it was in myhands, I gave it a little wave like an asshole. “This is about honor, Renzo,” I stated, my voice controlled and even. “This is about honoring your word.”

Renzo stood to his full height. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about what happens when someone doesn’t honor their word.”

His hazel eyes-the same ones as his daughter’s-flared with indignation. “I haveneverbroken my word,” he spat. “How dare you come into my house and-”

“Notyourword, Renzo,” I clarified, cutting him off.

“Then what inthe hell are you talking about?” he snapped, still offended.

I turned to look over at Fia. “Fia, wouldyoulike to explain to your father what I’m talking about?”

Her eyes widened, and she even paled a little bit. Whatever this girl had planned, she hadn’t counted on me knowing anything. Knowing Fia Milano the way that I did, her plan had probably been to just run off in the middle of the night.

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