pte

an

r medical supplies, I get up from behind my desk. I grab

office, it's to hear m

and without another word, I

pping dead in my tracks. Glancing at the woman who's been testi

mething to say,

ression tightening her features. "Next time you expect me to

e is grim as I say, "I wasn't aware

know how to order food." "Then it's no one

er. Why the fuck is it so h

m allowed to eat at my desk. It will make thing

I follow her tow

ked from my lungs by her striking beauty. Her blonde hair is always styled in soft curls, and her gre

ight places and an ass that makes my palm itch. E

past two weeks because she's done nothing

rfume as she stands next to me. The top of her head reaches my chin, an

ne foot to the other, giving me the

d with a world of tension as w

ator, I say, "Bring comfortable shoes to wear when you'r

barely contained glare. "I've been nothing but respectful, Mr. Vitale. Maybe you shou

shoulders, and hurries toward the exit wi

re guts than brains for speaking lik

the heads of the Cosa Nostra, then she'd

where the closest they ever get to the

waiting for me. They're my guards, and whenever I'm at Vitale He

me since I was eighteen,

e already gone through four assistants this y

r shit together in the next two weeks, I'm firing

ch rather take a bullet than subje

d. "Are you telling me I'm

onditioned building and

can't wait

e G-Wagon and grins at me. "O

who's been quiet. "Do

niversal sign for I-want-no-pa

k of the armored G-Wa

ed to ease up on the staff, I find it impossible. Whenever I try to be m

steering wheel, Lorenzo as

, and casinos, I own Paradiso, an adult club where everythi

ivate rooms and every adult toy o

people do some weird shit to each other on the security cam

club, and after climbing out of the G-Wagon, I enter the bui

urity and spend a small fortune to make

yee wears a black uniform that consists of cargo pants and a long- sleev

font on the employees' shirts, mine is gold.

I pull the balaclava over my head and

wner of Paradiso, and I'd

ver the gray walls and black tiles. The décor i

the security team before turning m

room with two men who are easily half her age. While her husband thinks sh

can easily bury them all. "Yes, sir," Brian ans

e been vetted, and tonight's their first time here. Mr. Dugray's membership was canceled after

ing two members snuggling on a bed. It's something I've been

when he's done, I leave the security room t

all the members myself, but with time

while enjoying a drink. The area is decorated with plush couches, round tab

order, I head back to my o

to transport weapons in aircon units for Renzo, my closest friend and one of the capos. I'm close wi

lk of my fortune by printing counterfeit money for Salvator

ntil midnight. I only take time off to play poker with the other he

ingle at the age of thirty-five. That and the fact I

Miss Blakely. It's been a while since I met

. I just feel there's something off about the woman, and if there's

Blakely lived a normal and boring life in Houston before movin

she's hiding s

e woman, I shake my head and fo