Three

Lorenzo’s POV.

I inserted my keycard and opened my hotel door in a rush. 

Flora’s hands moved to the buttons on my black dress shirt immediately. My lips clashed with hers in a violent kiss as I moved her along with me towards the bed.

She had welcomed me at the hallway entrance by opening her white bathrobe to flash her naked body at me. And I was feeling more than welcome, especially a particular part of my body.

That was why I often invited her over. To help me relax.

Taking off her robe in a swift motion, I pushed her to the center of the bed.

“Hmm, is this the day you go down on me?” she slurred as I knelt between her legs.

“You wish,” I remarked, releasing my hard length from the confines of my boxers.

She chuckled.

End of discussion.

If there was anything I liked about Flora, it was that she didn’t bug me with unnecessary talk. She tried her luck and it didn’t work- no further drama.

Her fingers slid down her stomach and started to rub over her clit in circles.

I had barely released my hard length from the confines of my boxers when my phone started to ring.

“Ignore it,” she breathed.

“And who are you to give me that instruction?” I queried, bringing the phone out of the pants that were now around my knees. 

Seeing that the caller was Matteo, I told her, “This is work. Keep touching yourself. But you’re not allowed to come.”

“Matteo,” I said, pulling my boxers and pants over my erection. 

“I thought the Sicilian Black Rose was asleep before midnight,” he answered.

“Did you call me just to confirm that?” I asked, stepping onto the balcony.

I heard him clear his throat.

“I got intel that some high rollers are currently gambling in Florence.”

I already knew what he was driving at. 

Every once in a while, we showed up at casinos not to gamble but to offer loans to gamblers who were stuck but were too reckless to stop. They were always desperate so our high-interest loans were eagerly received without second thought.

The problem, however, was that they often defaulted, making us waste our resources on torture, blackmail, and other motivators.

As my underboss and only brother, Matteo knew my stance on such time-wasting business.

“We’re not offering loans, Matteo.”

“These guys aren’t the usual, Enzo. They are gambling tens of thousands right now. If we’re there to make offers when they start going broke, we’ll rake in multiples of our input,” he persisted.

“How do you know? Who is this source of yours, by the way?”

Matteo was at our home in Sicily. He couldn’t have met with whoever his source was physically here in Florence.

“It’s Lucas.”

“Lucas, the manager?”

“Yes. He just replied to my message right now. I asked him for names.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Damian Jose.”

“I know Damian, he’s pretty rich.”

“Right. George Hancock.”

“Never heard of that name.”

“Neither have I. That means he can’t be rich enough not to need a loan if he loses,” Matteo explained.

“True.”

“Kira Giovanniello.”

“The Greek mafia princess. She might be too proud to take a loan from me.”

“Enzo, tell me she’s not an ex of yours.”

I chuckled.

“It wasn’t like that. Any other name?”

“Williams Morales.”

What?!

“Did you say Morales?”

“Yeah. Sounds familiar?”

“More than familiar. Tell Lucas not to call anyone else. We’ll be there.”

“Great! I just wanted to get your permission first. I’ll call Galileo so he can lead…”

“No, I’m going,” I cut in.

“Really?”

“Yes. We’ll still arrive in Sicily early tomorrow morning, plans haven’t changed.”

“Okay then. See you!”

A feeling of satisfaction spread through my body as I ended the call.

Williams Morales was finally playing into my hands after so many years.

Although the plan was to offer loans to gamblers, Williams’ case would be different. 

I would rather spray the money from a helicopter over San Siro stadium rather than lend him without getting my revenge. 

I’d go with the most humiliating line of action- either that was holding back from lending him money and watching him beg or lending him to show him he was at my mercy.

Williams Morales, sei morto. (You’re dead)

                                                    ******************

I got to the casino about thirty minutes after Matteo’s call. 

But I was met with a rather different scenario from what I was expecting. 

Some kind of covert auction was going on instead of the normal business.

“Boss, the man with blonde hair is auctioning his daughter. He’s made a huge loss and he needs the money very urgently,” Galileo whispered into my ear.

I opened my mouth to respond to him when the blonde-haired man turned around.

It was Williams Morales. The bastard.

The shock on his face when his eyes landed on me was a reward in itself.

What if I buy his daughter just to spite him?

But it’s an auction. Too much money to waste.

“It’s Mr. Morales! The stronzo (asshole)!” Galileo muttered.

When Williams Morales outsmarted us with an inadequate delivery over seven years ago, Matteo was in the UK. My grandfather was still the mafia boss and I was his underboss. Galileo and I were the ones given the task of confronting the bastard. 

So, of course, he knew Williams Morales.

“You don’t say.”

“Did you know he was going to be here? Are we to ambush him?”

“No, Galileo. I want to do him a favor he won’t be able to return. Just like he did to us.”

He nodded.

“I would have bought his daughter but it’ll be a waste of money.”

“You can resell her. Or just pimp her out publicly so he can see it,” he suggested.

I thought his idea over.

Perfect.

I strolled across the room to join the other auction-goers.

After another twenty minutes, the makeshift auctioneer announced me as the ultimate buyer. I handed the cash over to him as I went over to Williams.

“Where is my commodity, Williams? Or are you trying to play any foul play? I know old habits die hard.”

“Um…Lo…Lorenzo…,” he stammered.

I grabbed him by the collar of his shirt, my eyes boring into his. 

“Where. Is. She?”

His right hand came up, pointing towards the door of the large room we were in.

“At the bar,” he answered amidst coughs as I released him.

“Great. Take me to her.”

He went ahead of me out of the room and into the bar.

“Dad, are we done now?” a blonde lady called from one of the couches in the VIP section.

I remembered noticing her when I arrived at the casino. Some dude was talking to her with a doting look on his face.

He turned back to look at me before looking back at her.

Sorry, doll.