A TASTE OF SIN

LEONARDO CASSANO'S POV

“Look at that girl, she's pretty, isn't she?” Alex asks, tapping me. I roll my eyes and look up to humor him, expecting to see another of his strippers or pole dancers. But instead, my eyes see an angel. She’s dressed in white shorts, black tank top and white jacket. Her little feet are encased in block heels, and she’s currently sitting at the bar with a group of friends.

Even though I'm seated a bit far from her, I can see her clearly. She's like a star, drawing all the lights to herself. The girl is a bit tall, with a perfect figure that kills. Even that jacket can't hide the beauty underneath. Her hair is auburn colored, and her face looks so beautiful, like something straight out of a fairytale. 

I have seen my share of beautiful women, but this one before me is on a different level. Maybe, it's the aura of innocence around her. 

She looks young, probably around nineteen or twenty. She can't be younger than that, she's definitely an adult. Otherwise the guards wouldn't have let her in. 

The angel looks around uncomfortably, obviously not satisfied with the things around her. I feel like covering her eyes to stop her from seeing the debauchery going on in the club. The ridiculous thought immediately surprises me. When have I, Leonardo Cassano, ever cared about a woman? 

The two girls around her keep shaking her arm, forcing her to drink alcohol. She makes a face at the first glass, obviously not impressed with the taste. However, they didn't stop, making her take glass after glass of alcohol as if they wanted to get her drunk. Even after she refused, they still managed to make her drink some more.

I'm seated too far to hear what they told her to make her take another glass, but I do see the secret smirk one of the girls and a boy in their group shared. 

“What do you think?” Alex asks again and winks at me. 

“Wrong crowd.” I whisper, and go back to my whiskey. 

“She looks like this is her first time in a club, and she's incredibly young too. Just another idiot about to be led astray by her friends. I bet my fortune that she's a college student.” Jake, one of my buddies and a member of our bikers club, says, relaxing back on the sofa. 

Everyone sitting beside me has a powerful family behind them, or is a member of my bikers club. However, I'm the only one with deep connections to the mafia, doing dirty business, while covering it up with my legal empire. 

I ignore their discussion as they joke among themselves; I have never been one for much talk. Compared to listening to their lewd jokes about blonde haired bimbos, and foolish brunette chics entangling themselves in shit masked as a young heir, or some latest acquisition and sports car, staring at the girl is far more interesting.

I can't remember the last time a woman who is not an elimination target caught my attention. So, I must take my time with the little rabbit before me. 

At that moment, she pushes away the hands trying to grab her. Most of her friends, or rather companions had gone to the dance floor. A middle aged man tries to touch her but she shoves him away, saying something along the lines of ‘I'm not the kind of girl you're looking for.’

“Hey, Lord Cassano. Your subordinate has been trying to get your attention.” Alex whisper, tapping my hand. He's probably the only one that dares to touch me. 

I turn to see Jasper, my left lieutenant standing behind me. I don't even notice him coming in. 

“Lord Cassano, the goods are ready. It's time to carry out the transaction.” He whispers, bending closer to my ear. 

“Then carry on with discretion. I'm not coming, handle it carefully.” I reply nonchalantly, reverting my eyes to the girl. 

“Ah? Yes boss. I will handle it as normal.” He quickly replies and leaves. 

“Cassano, what transaction are you making by this time of the night? Are you still doing shady deals? I thought you minimized the rate at which you washed your hands in blood after leaving your father.” Jake says, turning to me. 

I notice the look of horror on Alex's face, probably fearing for Jake's life. Although I’m ruthless, I always allow members of the bikers club to hang out with me, making them get complacent with time, thinking that the rules that applies to the rest of the world no longer applies to them. 

I smirk and shake the glass in my hands. 

“If you're that curious just follow Jasper and see for yourself.”

I see him shiver from my side vision, making me scoff. 

“No, no, thanks. I would rather not see something that would get me killed. I'm not curious at all, you guys should carry on with your business.” Jake quickly says, and shifts away from me. 

“Jake, that was a stupid thing to say. Which one of us has not dabbled in something bloody at one time or another? Talk more of Lord Cassano. It's lucky he still sees us as brothers. Otherwise, you will have gotten what your nosy self deserves.” Nolan the quiet one says, finally breaking his silence. Apparently, the brunette who was giving him a blow job a while ago was done, letting him step out from behind the curtain and return to the couch. 

A girl working in the club as a waitress notices the man harassing the drunk little girl and immediately scares him away, probably threatening him with getting blacklisted. No one wants to be blacklisted from Serene heights. It’s not just a perfect place for socialization, many people come here to seek out contracts. With lots of public figures and young masters hanging out in the private longues, an ambitious corporate worker just needs to camp out at a strategic location and wait for his target to show up. Most times, people tend to award contracts when in an alcohol and sex induced good mood. Foolish people. 

I keep watching the girl, not diverting my attention for even a second. Suddenly, a young man from their group looks around sneakily, to make sure no one is looking, and drags the girl away. 

Before I can understand what was happening, I have already gotten to my feet in pursuit of the scumbag. This instinctive desire to protect someone is strange. However, I don't have the time to think about it, nor to listen to Alex calling me back. That boy couldn't have had a good intention.