Page 22 of Merciless Desires

“Thank you.” Now maybe she would stop acting like such a brat. “I’ll be home later.”

“Can I have a kiss goodbye?”

I took the side of her face in my hand and tilted her head as I leaned down and brushed my lips along those forbidden lips. I went too far last night, and now I had to figure out how to come back from my misstep without hurting her.

“Gio.” Conti came into the room. “The car is ready.”

“I have to go.” I gently kissed her. “Have a good day.”

“I hope your credit card has a grande limit, because I’m about to exceed it.”

I couldn’t tell if she was teasing me or being spiteful as I left the penthouse. I had a feeling she was going to be an expensive houseguest.

Thirty minutes later, I sat in Romero’s study listening to the wrath of Don Malatesta over the phone.

“Why was my daughter dancing with Paulie Santoro? Weren’t you supposed to be with her?” he shouted. “Why do my people have to bring me pictures of her from the internet?”

“She was with me,” I said. “She went to the ladies’ room and I lost track of her.”

“Why would she go to the ladies’ room alone?” Malatesta mumbled something under his breath, but I spoke fluent Italian and understood his frustration.

“She didn’t go alone.” Romero held his hand up, indicating he would handle this conversation. “She was with one of the guards you sent her here with. We’re tightening up her security. We won’t have any more issues.”

“Gio.” Malatesta raised his voice. “My daughter is going through a phase. She has never given me any trouble before. She began exerting her independence shortly after you left this summer. I thought she would get over whatever was going on with her. I sent her to you because I hoped you could rein her in and talk some sense into her. She likes you. She always spoke very highly of you.”

I pointed at Romero, stifling any snide comment he was about to make about my relationship with Cinzia.

“I’ll try,” I said. “She was under the impression that she was here for a visit and didn’t understand that she was supposed to listen to me.”

“I specifically told her she was to listen to you. That you were going to keep her safe while I dealt with business. If all goes well, I will secure her future and she can return home.”

“How are you going to do that?” I asked.

“Ah.” Romero shook his head. “What my brother meant to say was that he will protect Cinzia and make sure she understands she has to follow the rules and live as she does when she’s under your roof. It’s for her own good.”

I gave Romero the finger.

“I trust the both of you,” Malatesta said. “If what I have in the works pans out, it will be beneficial for all of us.”

“We understand.” Romero nodded.

“Good.” Malatesta lowered his tone. “My next shipment will be arriving at your club in a day or so. Is everything in order?”

“It’s handled.” We had been laundering money for him for a few months, and while Romero had initially wanted to keep Cantinos legitimate, the partnership with Janero proved to be quite lucrative. It was a good thing, because every five minutes I received a text from my credit card company alerting me to an online purchase being made. Cinzia had found an expensive way to occupy herself.

“I’ll be in touch,” Malatesta said. “Make sure my daughter’s picture stays off social media.”

“Yes, sir,” I said as Romero ended the call.

“It hasn’t even been forty-eight hours and you’re fucking this up royally.” Romero tossed his phone on his desk. “What were you thinking questioning him about his plans for his daughter?”

“I don’t like the idea of her being in an arranged marriage.” Cin was too vibrant and full of life to enter into a marriage her father set up for her. It would break her spirit if she married the wrong man.

“It’s not up to you.”

“No, but it should be up to Cinzia,” I said.

“She doesn’t have that luxury.”

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