Page 43 of Shackled By the Mafia Boss

He stretches his hands open. “Like what?”

“Don’t play smart with me, pretty boy.” I lean towards the desk, wearing my scariest scowl. “You won’t live another second if I find out you’re keeping anything from me.”

“That’s scary, big guy.” I seethe as I absorb the insult he just threw at me. Alexei is just as tall and muscular as I am. He wouldn’t call mebig guyunless he’s aiming to get under my skin. “Listen, I only answer to your brother. Not you. And you don’t stroll into my territory and threaten me.”

I smile. The motherfucker’s real mad right now. “What will you do,big guy?Shoot me?”

“I would if you weren’t Dominic’s brother.” He pauses, raking his fingers through his hair. “I’ll give you this though, I’ve been looking into the Valentes to see if they’re good for business or not.”

Looks like we’re finally getting somewhere. “And, did you find anything?”

“Business hasn’t been going well for Victor Valentes since he returned to New York. The guys in Mexico refuse to do business with him because of your brother.”

“That’s not big news.”

“Of course, but this is where it gets interesting.” Victor reaches for his drawer, pulls it open and takes out some candy. “Want some?”

I roll my eyes. What does he think we are? Two high-school girls who’re besties or whatever they call it? “Get to the point, man.”

“He sold off some stuff a few months ago for half the price it was worth, still he made a lot of money with customers who agreed to do business with him anonymously. What does that tell you?”

My heart rate increases. “He couldn’t have sold that low or else he’d lose his capital. The stuff was stolen.” Interesting. So, Victor Valentes was the mole all this time. I’d love to seethe rage in Dominic’s eyes when he finds out. He won’t be very pleased.

I groan. It’s been only a year since the last war and the smell of fresh blood and gunpowder is still fresh in my memory. I’m not in the mood for another war, not when I want time to fuck Jane.

Well, I guess it can’t be avoided. I’ll die a happy man if she’s the last woman I fuck in before my death.

Alexei snaps his fingers. “You’re smart.”

“Patronize me one more time and I’ll turn this party into a bloodhouse.” The asshole must think I’m his pet or something equally stupid.

He flashes his annoying smile and winks. “Not if I put a hole in your chest first. I’d love to see the look on your face before you die.”

The door creaks open and Dante walks in. “You two can’t help bickering, can you?” He grabs the spare seat next to mine, sitting on it and propping his leg on Alexei’s desk. Alexei gives him a disapproving look, but Dante doesn’t budge. “I’m convinced you’re secret lovers. Kiss it out and get it over with already.”

I scrunch my nose. “Disgusting motherfucker.”

Dante grins arrogantly. “I am. Well, this disgusting motherfucker came bearing good news.”

“No news is good news if it’s coming from you, Dante. What are you here for?”

“Odd that you’re asking considering this isn’t your office.” He pulls out a handful of chocolate, the wrappers making me shudder. “We found the stolen shipment.”

“What the fuck do you mean you found the shipment?” I ask. It doesn’t make any sense to me.

“Exactly what I said.” He throws a piece of chocolate into his mouth. “Turns out Victor Valentes has been tracking it all along. Kirill’s second was found trying to smuggle it to Mexico.”

Alexei snorts. “Does that make sense to you? No one would save a shipment worth millions, just to smuggle it out a year later.”

Dante raises his shoulders as he takes a deep breath. “It doesn’t. But I mean, what other explanation could there be? Better to pretend to be dumbasses and believe his bullshit.”

“What does my brother think?”

“The Russian boy is in the basement of his apartment. As for Valentes, we’re keeping an eye on him.” Dante shoots a look at Alexei. “You don’t mind that your brother’s sleeping in a cold, dark room alone, do you?”

Alexei shrugs, trying hard to act indifferent. His father might have been a jackass, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about Alexei, it’s that he cares for his brothers.

After the war a year ago, he’d taken his other younger brothers in, but Mikhail made a run for it after he found out his father was dead. Alexei spent the first five months of rule as head of the Bratva looking for his brother before he gave up.

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