Page 14 of Filthy Desire

“I know what I’m doing. I’m using her.”

“Just make sure it stays that way and she’s not using you. The longer she’s around, the nosier she’s gonna get.”

Gio scoffed. “She doesn’t care about my business. She’s worried about losing hers after that disaster she sent me.”

Roman stood up and shook his head. “I don’t trust redheads.”

“What?”

“My ex-wife, remember? She’s got a temper and a devious mind. She’s the fucking devil, man.”

Gio chuckled and ran a hand over his scruff. “I can handle the devil. I’ve had lots of practice.”

Roman nodded and left the office.

Gio checked his phone again. According to his bookkeeper, over two hundred thousand dollars in cash had gone missing from the casino. All of it over the past month. Someone was very stupid if they thought they could fuck him over. So far they’d had a month to get away with it. But no more.

Gio then called his grandfather, Mario.

The old guy was nearing ninety but still gave great advice. Which Gio took with a grain of salt. Times had changed, business had changed. But one thing remained the same. People had vices and people were greedy. And men like his grandfather, the first don of New York, didn’t live to old age because they were stupid. He survived jail time, the death of his son, and several attempts on his life. His grandfather had experience, and most of all, he knew how to read a con.

“Gio, what’s up?” Mario’s gruff voice answered.

“Evening, Pops, did I wake you?”

“Wake me? What am I, five years old? It’s only nine fucking thirty at night.”

Gio chuckled. His pops was still feisty as hell.

“How’re you doing?”

“I need a cane to get around. Not fucking great. But the mind is still sharp.”

“I got a problem and I wanted to run it by you.”

Mario coughed and cleared his throat. “Of course, what is it?”

“I got someone at the place in Jersey ripping me off. The books are missing a lot of cash. Vincent and Roman think it’s a staff member.”

“Not surprising. The place is flush with cash. It’s easy to skim a bit off the top here and there without drawing suspicion.”

“Two hundred grand worth is a lot to skim.”

“Ouch. Well, whoever is taking it from you is ballsy, probably desperate too. I wish I had more mobility, I’d go in there and talk to your staff. You know I got the nose for liars.”

“Vincent’s putting in extra hidden security cameras in hopes we can catch whoever it is. I told them I expect results by Saturday. It’s time I paid the place a visit.”

“Good. I taught you well. When you do the rounds, pay attention. You’ll know who’s nervous as fuck.”

“I’ll have a date with me so I might be a bit distracted.”

What the fuck? Gio couldn’t believe he said that. He must be the one in need of sleep.

“Date? You? You don’t need a date. You need a wife.”

Gio rolled his eyes. Not this again.

“I don’t need a wife. I don’t want to get married.”

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