Page 77 of Stealing His Christmas Present

Chapter 31

MY PLAN WAS WORKINGso far.

Lorenzo and I were watching the half-naked women who danced around poles in one of Benjamin’s clubs.

It had been Giacomo who’d recommended this place because it was remote enough so that he, I, and his men could escape without too much trouble, and it was very useful for me too for my real plan for the same reason.

A woman approached Lorenzo, shaking her hips as she danced. His lips spread into a smile as she climbed on his lap.

He was enjoying this way more than anyone could’ve expected. Another woman focused her attention on me, but I lifted my hand to stop her before she could get too close.

These women might be pretty, but none of them was Claudia.

I just couldn’t bring myself to care about anyone else, not even for pretend.

It didn’t even matter because Giacomo believed I was here to trick Lorenzo. There was a camera looking right at us, and Giacomo thought the footage would be used as evidence that I’d had nothing to do with Lorenzo’s death so I could get access to Claudia’s home again.

I fought the urge to smile.

My so-called father was going to see he was wrong about everything. He’d so easily believed that I was as power-hungry as he was.

Like father, like son, right?

He wanted to kill Lorenzo himself because no one really believed he was dangerous. Not the people that mattered, anyway. Killing such a powerful member of the Casadei mafia would improve his image.

It would be his downfall.

I furrowed my brow because the woman who was with Lorenzo got to her feet and offered him her hand. He took it and rose, following her somewhere across the room.

What the fuck was he doing? That wasn’t part of the plan.

The attack wasn’t supposed to happen yet, but that didn’t mean he could go off wherever he wanted. The club had private rooms so people could do whatever the hell they pleased, but Lorenzo needed to be careful or he might find an unpleasant surprise.

I was about to get to my feet to find him, but out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a shadow.

Sitting back in my chair, I met Giacomo’s gaze. “You’re not supposed to be here.”

“Relax. I added something extra to our plan.” He sat in the chair next to mine, his gaze focusing on the women who were still dancing.

“What are you talking about?”

“Do you like any of these beauties?” Giacomo asked, ignoring my question. “Pick one. They’re Benjamin’s slaves, but if our plan goes right, they’ll be ours soon.” He glanced at me with a sickening grin.

Slaves?

These women were slaves?

Fuck.

I knew what Benjamin had been doing, of course, but I didn’t think he’d have slaves working in his club. I’d believed he only sold them, not kept them.

Shit!

I pulled out my phone, glancing at the screen.

An alert with the secret word popped up.

Lorenzo’s men were in place. Everything was ready.

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