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1
MATTEO
Iwatch the blood circle down the drain as the warm water runs over me. It does nothing to help ease the tension I feel throughout my body. I swear, it’s always one thing or another. Can I have one Saturday night without having to deal with this bullshit?
I turn off the water and grab a towel to dry off. When I step out of the cold metal shower, Sergio is standing there with a fresh suit for me to wear. He's already removed the blood-stained suit I was wearing. I take the fresh one from him.
“Everything has been cleaned. I just need to know where you want us to drop him.”
“Don’t drop him anywhere yet.” Sergio's brows lift. “If they know I got my hands on one of their men, it might spook them.” This will give me a few days. I’m sure they’ll notice he's missing at some point.
“Rat squealed like a pig.” Sergio spits on the concrete floor.
That was an understatement. My head still throbs from the headache the little shit gave me. I can’t be too mad, though. I got more information than I could have hoped for from him. I knew a war was coming. It was only a matter of time.
The O'Haire family had been getting too close to another family that should be my ally. The Rossis. They all have some big balls on them. Did they really think I wouldn’t notice? That I’d just stand by and allow them to do whatever they wanted?
Once upon a time, my great-grandfather would have called the Rossis family, but those days have long since passed. I sometimes forget they even exist. Their territory is not big enough to give a shit about. I let them be out of respect. That ends today.
The head of the O'Haire family is slowly losing his mind; the alcohol has taken its toll. His next in line, Aidan O'Haire, is downright insane. Add in that Irish temper and he can be unpredictable. I’m sure warming up to the Rossis was his idea. I knew I’d have to handle the O’Haires soon enough. I just didn’t bank on them trying to tie themselves to the Rossis.
Aidan is a greedy fuck, not only for money but also power. He has no right to possess or manage such power. It appears that he is not as stupid and arrogant as I had previously believed. He's aware that he is unable to fight me alone. He made the first move, and now I’ll finish him.
"What is your plan?" Sergio asks.
"I want more information." I get dressed. I thought the days of marrying one family to another out of loyalty were over. It was something I sure as hell avoided.
"You really think a wedding will unite them?" Sergio asks, having the same thought I'm having.
"The O’Haires don't play well with others." They tend to keep to themselves. I stay out of their city, and they stay out of mine. Or at least they used to. It appears they might be weaker than I realized. What other reason for this sudden desire for more?
“Maybe they’ll kill each other and do us all a favor.”
“Maybe,” I agree. I think they eventually will. The thing is I’m not willing to wait and see how big their path of destruction will be in the meantime. “But not before they try to kill me.” I know without a doubt that the moves they’re making are to target me.
“Try,” Sergio repeats, clenching his fists at his side. I should have let him go a few rounds with the rat. It would have been like old times. Sergio’s been at my side for ten years. Loyal as they come. Obviously, since I trust him with my life. Let’s just say he can be uptight with my security. So much so that I get annoyed by it sometimes, but I know I shouldn’t take his loyalty for granted. They don’t make good men like him anymore.
I check the mirror to make sure I don’t have any blood on my face. It’s always easier to come to my club's basement to clean up. If I don't have to, there is no point in tracking blood home. I don’t need Emma to start getting after me about bringing my work home. She is the only one who can get away with giving me a hard time. Most grown men piss themselves if I ask to meet with them.
“I’ll be in my office.”
“I’ll come with you.” Sergio falls behind me. He’s more on edge than I am.
“They might be stupid, but not enough to come here,” I remind him. My men are all over this place. It is one of a handful of clubs I own. This one is right in the heart of the city. That's why I keep my office here. “Check on Nikolai.” I haven’t seen or heard from him in a few hours. That is never a good thing. The kid tends to get himself into trouble without even trying.
“He’s around.”
“Of course he is.” Where else would an eighteen-year-old kid be on a Saturday night but at a club he could get himself into?
The second I open the door from the basement, the thump of music hits me. My headache is getting worse.
People move out of my way as I make my way toward my office, passing the main bar. I need a shot of whiskey. It's the only thing that will relieve the tension. Then I need to find out when this fucking wedding is going to be. I'm guessing my invitation got lost in the mail. Not as if that will be stopping me from attending.
A flash of red catches my attention, making me pause for some reason. I turn, wanting to find it, but it finds me first. A soft body collides with mine. I grab hold to shove it back, but instead my fingers lock around a set of delicate shoulders, not letting go.
The woman tilts her head back, making her wavy red locks fall to the side to uncover her face. Two bright, innocent green eyes stare up into mine, knocking the air out of me. For a long moment, I swear I forgot how to fucking breathe. It’s like I've taken a punch to the gut. Her shiny, plump lips form an O shape. I can see the faint trail of freckles she tried to conceal across her round, full cheeks and nose. She’s the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. I’m mesmerized by her.
“Hi,” she chirps, breaking me out of my momentary trance. Where the hell did she come from, and how did she get in here? “It’s kinda crowded in here, and heels aren’t my thing. You saved me. I would have face-planted if you didn’t have such good reflexes.” She lets out a small, adorable giggle. When the fuck did I ever think a laugh was adorable? What is happening to me?
