Page 6 of Big Bad Wolf

Davide smirks. It’s a mistake to give too much away. La Morte gets off on infuriating people, and I’m one of his favorite targets. “If I’m going to do this and create a distraction, you need to control yourself in public. I’m uncomfortable with you making an ass of me in front of people. They’ll say you’re turning me into a cuck.” He hisses, then scrambles to the opposite side of the table, ready to score his long-awaited victory.

“I’m not someone prone to public displays of affection,” I assure him, knocking back the rest of my drink as I watch him sink the eight ball. Truth be told, I let him win. As competitive as I am, I need to pick my battles. He’s doing me a huge favor that could help determine the rest of my life.

“After this, we’re even. These tasks are becoming more difficult, and this one in particular is a pain in the ass. You may be enamored, but I don’t see anything special about Scarlett Rossi. She’s short, boring, and mousy.” Davide gathers the balls and racks them up.

I groan, annoyed he’d insult Scarlett but satisfied he wouldn’t stab me in the back. “This won’t take long, jackass. My mind is set, and I’m not taking any chances.”

“I understand the fucking assignment. Stop issuing commands as if I work for you.” He points to the table. “Now take your shot so I can kick your ass again.”

ChapterFive

"Ithought you told your father you'd quit daydreaming? You're months away from becoming the nextpahkan. The old man has already placed a bid on a private island fifty miles from here. But he swears he'll delay his retirement if he can't trust you to lead." If my cousin Bogdan tracked me down on a Thursday afternoon for the sole purpose of busting my balls, I will send him back to Brooklyn on crutches.

"You're wasting my time and ruining my drink. My father is not retiring.I know him.He's forty-eight years old, in better shape than me, and loves being in control. Boris Volkov will hold on to power until his last breath. I'll have to wrestle control from his cold, dead hands." I huff, take a swig of whiskey, and tell the server to remove the menus. I'm not eating here. I've got a craving for Hungarian food.

"Boris is serious this time. I just spent the morning threatening the second bidder with certain death if he tries to outbid him again. Fortunately, it only took a few punches before the out-of-shape hedge fund manager played ball. We were instructed to set fire to his home and office if he didn't comply." Bogdan massages his knuckles as he speaks.

The topic of my father's retirement would typically have my undivided attention. I'm dying to take the reins and be my own man. But there are currently bigger things at play, and Bogdan’s presence is keeping me from putting them in motion.

Lev: She's left the building and headed that way.

Lev's message startles me into silence as my mind and ears trail away from Bogdan's lecture. Wicked excitement grips my senses, sending a surge of blood straight to my aching cock. That girl never fails to get me harder than a slab of concrete.

I’ve decided today is the day I stop acting like a chump and tell her how it will be. She may think she has a choice, but she doesn't. This is bigger than both of us, and I don't believe in defying fate.

My father was right. The fucking senator is circling his wagons and trying to use his daughter to rebuild his dodgy reputation. As expected, Davide La Morte was recruited to be her date at a charity gala this Saturday night. He suspects she has no clue of their father’s plans, but if she's as intelligent as I think she is, she'll soon figure them out.

Her father has forced me into this. There's too much at stake to sit on my hands, hoping this works out in my favor. Nothing motivates a man more than a bit of competition and murderous jealousy. I may trust Davide to keep his hands to himself, but it isn’t inconceivable that she might fall victim to his charms.

I’ve never understood his allure, but that bastard has a way with the opposite sex.

“I have to run. Pay the bill, and I'll catch up with you soon. If my father calls, tell him I'm busy trying to make him a grandfather.” I hand him two hundred-dollar bills and knock back the rest of my whiskey. Bodgan grimaces with disapproval, but he knows there's no sense trying to stop me.

"Just watch your ass, Vas. Serpico's people are crawling all over Tribeca," Bogdan warns, telling me something I already know.

I'm not concerned.

We’re two blocks from Senator Rossi’s New York office, knee-deep in enemy territory, but there's no fucking way anyone will fuck with me. It’s not worth angering my father when I’m causing no harm. Besides, I’m allowed to be here as long as I don’t conduct business.

Me: What’s her ETA?

I text as I head toward the door. This may be intrusive, but I’m not remotely ashamed of myself. We do this all the time for work. I’ll spend hours or days trailing a member of the brotherhood my father believes may be talking to the Feds or, worse, the Sicilians. But Scarlett is the first time I’ve ever stalked someone for personal reasons.

I like knowing where she is. I love seeing her face and watching her talk to herself when she thinks no one is looking. I often imagine she’s talking to me.

Does that make me soft? Fuck it. I don't care.

I've been dragging my feet for too many months. Having Scarlett so close without claiming her has been more difficult than I imagined. So many days, I saw my beautiful girl walking alone in Central Park with a smile on her face and the wind in her hair. On those days, I had to force myself to walk away.

Now that we’ve finally met, I’m more determined than ever. There‘s no need to hide in the shadows anymore. I’ve spent the last year watching and waiting to be with Scarlett, patiently biding my time until she finished school and settled into her own place. As long as she lived under her father’s roof, her old man would use his connections to keep us apart.

I won’t let that happen. One way or another, she’ll be mine.

But I’d rather not start a war.

Lev: She’s roughly thirty steps from the bar.

My bodyguard, Artem, chuckles as he follows me out, positioning himself across the street, close enough to watch but far enough not to be seen. I’m not surprised he gets a kick out of this. As much as he and Lev have complained about tracking a girl when they could be killing our enemies, they’re endlessly amused by how far I’ve fallen.

---