Page 35 of Filthy Desire

Gio fought the urge to lean forward and kiss the smug expression off her smart mouth.

A sudden hush in the conversation around them put Gio on high alert. He looked away from Kara to find none other than Alek Vasiliev walking towards them.

What the fuck was this guy doing in New York?

Alek ran the drug and gambling racket in Chicago, hell, probably most of Illinois at this point. He was older than Gio, closer to forty and someone you didn’t want to fuck with. His Russian roots were evident on the many symbolic tattoos on his hands and even his face. Add to that his six foot frame and icy blue eyes and Alek was a man who commanded attention. And judging by the multitude of scars on his knuckles, Alek didn’t mind getting his hands dirty either. Gio could respect Alek even if he was pissed that the head of the Chicago bratva was here on his turf. And Alek was alone, not with his usual entourage.

What the fuck was going on?

When Alek spotted Kara, he did a slow once over that had Gio’s temper going from pissed to downright furious.

“Gio.”

Alek nodded as he stopped at their table.

Grabbing a chair from the empty table beside them, Alek pulled it over and sat down in front of him.

“What the fuck do you want, Alek?”

Gio looked over to find Roman and Vincent entering the restaurant and standing guard by the door. Why the hell hadn’t they spotted Vasiliev’s approach and warned him?

Too late now.

Alex’s blue eyes surveyed Kara again. “Alek Vasiliev.”

“Kara Delaine,” she replied and offered her hand.

Alek shook her hand, then pulled her hand up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “A beautiful name. It suits you.”

“Cut the bullshit Alek, say what you came here to say and leave,” Gio spat out. “And don’t touch her.”

Alek raised one eyebrow and let go of Kara’s hand. “This is very interesting.”

Gio sighed and took another sip of wine. “I’m waiting.”

Alek looked at Kara curiously and back then at Gio.

“It’s fine. She’s a business partner,” Gio commented. “Say what you need to say and then get the fuck out of my city.”

Alek shook his head. “We are so alike. Did you know we have a common enemy?”

“I think you’ve got faulty intel. Everything’s been quiet the past couple of months.”

Alek reached into his coat and Gio reached for his gun, hidden under the table.

“It’s my phone,” Alek declared as he pulled out his cell.

Tapping on it, he then swiped several times.

Alek placed the phone on the table. The man in the picture looked familiar.

“This is Colton Verano. Does the last name sound familiar?”

That was Vincent’s last name. Gio knew that Vincent had a brother. Gio had only met him once.

Gio’s stomach acid churned and turned the fine wine in his gut to vinegar.

“Verano worked for one of my gambling operations in Chicago, under another name, up until a month ago. I noticed cash missing. 5K here, 10K another night. Over weeks, it added up to 150K. Verano goes missing. Then I found out who he really is and who his brother is. Your security man is hiding his brother. And I’ve come here to collect what is mine.”

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