Page 13 of Big Bad Wolf

“I’ll tell you later. It’s my secret for now.” I kick off my new shoes and place them back in the box. Donna passes them out to the saleslady.

“A secret? Is it a dirty secret?” Her eyes sparkle with curiosity.

“It’s a little dirty.”

ChapterNine

“What’s your interest in Scarlett Rossi?” Bruno Corvo, brother-in-law to Dante Serpico and a don in his own right struts into Valka’s, a small out-of-the-way dive in Sheepshead Bay, with a small entourage in tow.

Seven men in Italian suits, and no doubt armed to the teeth, stride past the glass door as if they own the fucking place.

I’m in too good of a mood to deal with him or his toadies. Since becoming an official member of the Serpico family, his head has doubled in size.

His presence disturbs me but not half as much as his question.

“You must be out of your fucking mind coming into my territory armed with Dante’s soldiers. I hope you’ve made out your will, asshole,” I say, continuing to eat and refusing to show an ounce of concern.

This was bound to happen sooner or later, and the fact that the Sicilians jumped on this so quickly means they’re watching me. Who the fuck gave them permission to spy on me?

Bruno rolls his eyes and pulls up a chair, behaving like an invited guest. He would never try this with my father. One dirty look from Boris, and Bruno would shit his six-thousand-dollar suit. “I’m not here because I’ve missed your company. Dante sent me. He wants to keep peace with your father, but if anything should happen to Scarlett, his goddaughter, he’ll consider it an act of war.”

I drop my fork on my plate, and the shrill clank turns heads toward us. When diners realize it’s me, they return to their meals and pretend they see nothing. I push myself away from the table and stand, staring down at Bruno with enough anger to strangle him in a room full of witnesses. “If anything happens to Scarlett Rossi, I will burn this city to the ground,” I growl, clenching my fists at my sides. “Tell Dante if he has any concerns about Scarlett, then he can get his ass to Brooklyn, not send one of his lapdogs to do his bidding.”

Bruno's bodyguards step closer and instinctively reach for their guns, prompting Lev and Artem to reach for theirs. Afraid we’re moments from a shoot-out, Bruno lifts his hands and barks something in Italian. I assume he tells them to stand down because all six resume their former positions, clasping their hands in front of them. It’s the easiest way to ensure no one goes rogue and reaches for their gun.

Bruno yawns. The slick bastard seems bored with running his boss’s errands, and I think he knows me well enough to understand I would never hurt a woman. “So, what are you saying, jackass? Do you have honorable intentions for Senator Rossi’s daughter? No one believes that. It’s a little convenient that the only woman you've ever vehemently pursued just happens to be the only child of a United States Senator. Your family would kill to have a senator in your back pocket.”

“My intentions are none of your damn business. No matter what happens between Scarlett and I,” I rasp through gritted teeth. I don’t like minimizing my feelings or pretending I don’t have our entire life planned out, but the less they know, the better. “I hardly expect Senator Rossi to change his allegiance. He’s got his head so far up Dante’s ass, it’s a miracle he has time for anything else.”

“Watch it, asshole. Scarlett is a good girl, but she’s no pushover. Whatever intentions you have will still need to go through her father, who won’t like the idea of her dating Bratva,” he prattles, incapable of shutting up. He may think he’s doing me a favor or protecting Scarlett, but I don’t trust him. And I don’t give a damn about her father’s approval.

I’ve waited years to be with her. I’ve gone back and forth, talking myself out of pursuing her, convincing myself it would never work, then throwing all my doubts out the window and reminding myself I’ll never survive knowing she exists without me.

“Tell Dante he can keep the senator. I’m only interested in the senator’s daughter. And if anyone of you motherfuckers tries to interfere, I will not forget it. More importantly, my father remembers everything,” I threaten confidently, omitting that my father is just as against it as the Sicilians. They’re not exactly going to ask him. Simply bothering him is like requesting your own murder.

Bruno nods and asks his men to wait outside, looking over his shoulder until they disappear from view. He turns to me and offers his hand. “It means nothing to Dante if you form a relationship with Scarlett, although he has reservations and isn’t sure if this is a one-sided infatuation,” he whispers, every word more infuriating than the one before.

I lift my wrist and pull back my cuff. I’ve got forty minutes to make it to midtown Manhattan and snatch Scarlett out of that fucking gala. She never answered my last message, and although she hasn’t admitted it, I know Davide La Morte is sitting next to her like a spider waiting to pounce on an unsuspecting fly. One of my men sends me updates and photos every fifteen minutes, and the last one nearly gave me a stroke.

Davide does it on purpose. He has no interest in Scarlett but would never squander an opportunity to enrage me. He gets off on it.

I reluctantly shake Bruno’s hand and toss a hundred-dollar bill on the table. “Are we done here? I have somewhere to be,” I say, signaling my men to check the perimeter before we hit the sidewalk. This is my side of town, my territory, but you never know who might want to take you out.

Bruno nods and walks me to the door. “I’ve always liked Scarlett,” he confesses, churning my stomach with jealous rage.

“Don’t make me kill you. This is a nice place, and I’d hate to call my cleaners to dispose of your body parts on a Saturday night. They have lives too,” I warn Bruno, annoyed he even mentions my girl by name. Jealousy is a new emotion for me, and it’ll take some time to rein it in.

“I meant like a sister, psycho. If you’re this crazy so early in your relationship, I can only imagine what you’ll be like in a year. God help poor Scarlett.”

ChapterTen

“Please, I’m begging you. Stop talking about yourself,” I snap, my fists clenched so tightly that I’m almost sure I’ve drawn blood. “You haven’t let me get a word in for over fifteen minutes. And the worst part is, I don’t think you’ve noticed.” I can’t believe my parents are having the time of their lives on the dance floor and left me alone with the strangest man in New York. If they don’t return after the next dance, I may have to make a mad dash to the closest exit.

Davide cuts off his words, probably confused that I haven’t fallen madly in love with him, swooning over every syllable that comes out of his mouth. We’ve known one another since childhood. My mother’s family and his were longtime friends, but our six-year age gap kept us from becoming close. I spent most of my time with his sister, Romola, his complete opposite in every way.

“Well, you’re not saying much,” Davide grumbles, giving me the side-eye from hell.

He’s not wrong, but there were a few times I would have liked to interject into his fifteen-minute diatribe about how no one understands him. I don’t know why he thinks I sympathize with how much extravagant wealth eventually becomes a burden. If his billions are such a hardship, thousands of homeless people could benefit from them. Problem solved.

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