Page 25 of The Don's Hidden Heir

“I wouldn’t either, but we shouldn’t leave the others out of the box. Both Peterson and the Bratva have the biggest motives, but they’re not our only rivals.”

He’s right. The Irish mob are our biggest allies, but that doesn’t mean they can’t switch sides if it benefits them. Then there’s the Camorra, our mortal enemies.

“As for ruling the city, how about I set up some meetings?” he asks, tilting his head to the side. “Carlos Diego is in town for a while. How about we meet him first thing tomorrow evening?”

Carlos Diego is the first son of the Jose Diego, a Mexican drug lord. He runs one of the biggest drug trafficking and contraband smuggling organizations in New York. His influence stretches to all parts of the country. Although I’d love to keep my hands clean, an alliance with him is something I need.

I nod. “Perfect.”

A silhouette lurking in the shadow catches our eye. When it emerges into the light, a slender woman with long dark hair and long legs appears. She’s wearing a red dress and heels I see are over eight inches.

I sigh. “You’re still not over this shit?” Her name is Caterina, and well…she’s Marcus’s whore. She works in the club as a stripper, and he marked her as his eight years ago.

An arrogant smile parts his lips. “I’m not a saint like you, bro. At this point, you’ll be martyred after you die.”

Caterina smiles at me, then she walks to Marcus and parts his legs. I retch when she sits on him and grinds her ass.

“Get this out of my sight,” I say with a growl.

Marcus’s laugh mingles with the music blaring from the speakers. He holds Caterina’s waist and pushes her off, then he stands. “Let’s get you fixed shall we? How about we meet at Elena’s tomorrow morning?”

“What for?”

“Don’t you need to take back what’s yours?” he drawls, and then he follows Caterina out of the club like a toddler after a Blow Pop.

His words linger long after he leaves, and I agree with him. I need to take back what’s mine.

***

Marcus and I are parked in front of Elena’s apartment the next morning. Marcus came up with the idea that we first confirm if the kid is hers and if she has anyone else in her life, that way, I can plan my next step.

Although I didn’t see a ring on her finger at the gala, I also don’t care if she’s shackled to some ugly-ass dude. I was going to claim her anyway, and then I’ll decide what to do with her.

What’s the best way to punish her for seven years ago?

The chirping of birds, along with the morning sunlight filters in through the tinted window of my SUV. My patience is running thin, and I’m seconds away from sliding out of this car and going into the damn building to find out what I want.

Patience is not my strongest suit, and I’m particularly annoyed I have to stalk from a corner because Marcus decided we should. I’d have broken his jaw when he first suggested it if he weren’t my brother.

“Chill, brother. You’ll break the steering wheel.”

A glance at my hands shows they’re gripping the steering wheel very tightly, then I shift my gaze to my brother. “You know we could’ve been out of here already. I have a business to run.”

“So do I,” he retorts. He doesn’t take his eyes off the entrance. “I only did this so you’ll stop being such a grump, yet here you are.”

I open my mouth to say something, but I’m cut off when the glass door leading into the apartment pushes open and a boy runs out from it. From where the car is parked, I can tells he’s no less than six years old, and he has hair as dark as mine.

Looks like Elena has a type.

Clutching his backpack, he flips around and smiles at someone I can’t see yet. When the door pushes open a second time, Elena walks through it and static shoots up my spine.

She’s wearing cooperate, black pants and a white and black striped turtle-neck top. A beige jacket which matches her shoes drapes over the hand holding a black handbag.

Her hair is pulled back in neat bun. I swear she’s the epitome of elegance and class. And she’s so fucking beautiful that she glitters under the morning sunlight.

She reaches for the kid and he takes her hand. They walk to her car, get in and drive away. I twist my car-key and the engine roars to life, then I roll the tires onto the road.

“I’ve never seen you so determined,” Marcus remarks. “You must really love this woman.”

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