3

Basilio

   The petite, slim body landed in my arms and a light flowery scent hit my nostrils as her long, blond curls brushed across my face. Surprisingly, her body was all lean muscles. Strong with the most amazing ass I had ever seen on a woman.

She twisted around, her body brushing against my three-piece-suit as if she needed to see who just saved her precious legs. She had nicely shaped legs, but it was her face with those light green eyes that hit me right in the chest. An angel stared at me with long golden curls, glowing like a star. But it was nothing compared to her eyes. They were big, almond shaped, and brilliant. Shining like light emeralds with flecks of gold in their depths.

Chest-to-chest, when our eyes connected, the world stopped turning for a fraction of a heartbeat. We watched each other, and I was certain from that moment, nothing would ever be the same.

Her luscious red lips curved into a smile as she tilted her head.

“I guess I owe you five hundred bucks,” she said, her eyes shining.

No accidental grinding herself against me. No flirtatious look. Just pure curiosity as those light green orbs studied me. She was different.

I couldn’t decide if I minded it or not. For the first time in my life, I actually wanted a woman to show interest. I had no shortage of women, thrill-seekers, and shallow pampered girls bored with their lives that wanted a taste of danger. They flirted and were always eager, but there was always an underlying look of fear in their eyes.

If they were smart.

Yet, I sensed no fear from this girl, and I didn’t think she was dumb. Intelligence shone from her eyes.

“Keep the money,” I told her.

She chuckled softly and her eyes glittered like stars in the sky. She gently slid down my body and landed on her feet, taking a small step back. Then she craned her neck, her head tilted up and her eyes continued to study me.

She was much shorter than my six foot four. Almost fragile. Yet, I felt her muscles firsthand when she landed in my arms.

“Normally I’d argue and insist I pay you the promised money,” she teased, her full, pink lips in an amused smile. “But I spent too much money on my gear this month and my allowance doesn’t kick in for another two weeks.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I tried to convince her to increase my allowance.” She blew a piece of unruly curl out of her face, then rolled her eyes. “It teaches you to manage money, Star,” she spoke nasally, and I gathered she imitated her mother.

I lifted my eyebrow. This girl really had no qualms talking to me. And was her name really Star? It would be the most appropriate.

“Oh shit, my duffle bag,” she muttered, then turned around and looked back up at the balcony but nobody was there.

“Throw my bag.” Her voice was like a hoarse whisper as she whisper-yelled. I guessed she didn’t want to get caught. What was she doing in Liam Brennan’s house anyhow? She didn’t look Irish and he had no daughters. The thought of her being his woman didn’t sit well with me at all.

“What the fuck?” I spat out and stepped to the right, pulling her to me just in time, so she wouldn’t get hit by the bag traveling through the air.

“Damn drunks,” Star muttered, glaring towards the balcony. “Trying to kill us?”

“Us?” A voice questioned, but I couldn’t see anyone on the balcony.

Star groaned softly and put her finger on my lip. I guess to ensure I wouldn’t make my presence known.

“Me and my fabulous self. Us,” she explained to whoever she was talking to. I’ll be her little secret, I mused.

“Are you okay, Wyn?”

“Yes, I’m fine,” she assured her. She shot me a glance, her finger still on my lips. Then as if she realized, she quickly removed it and stepped away from me, her cheeks lightly flushed. She returned her attention to the balcony. “Let me guess. She’s pissed off and threw my precious cargo hoping it would land on my head.”

It would seem there were quite a few girls up there.

“Nah. Be careful. And keep your phone on.” It would seem Star didn’t like being told what to do because she rolled her eyes again.

Her eyes came back to me.

“Anyhow, I have to go,” she whispered, keeping her voice low. “Thank you for catching me.” She snatched her duffle bag off the ground and threw it onto her shoulder. Just by the way she did it, I could tell she had done it many times.

She tucked a wild blonde curl behind her ear, smiling, those sage eyes captivating. She was breathtakingly beautiful. Stunning in fact.

“See you around.”

My eyes focused on her red duffle bag, but the only thing on it were three embroidered letters in white.

S. F.

With a last smile, she whirled around, then hurried away. I watched after her until her blond head disappeared from my view. Something about her made me want to go after her to ensure she got to her destination safely. There was no way she was part of the underworld. There was no trace of guardedness or fear on her face and she was too free with her smiles. Too happy.

It didn’t take long before a car engine roared and loud music blasted through the speakers.

“Youngblood” by 5 Seconds of Summer.

It was loud enough to wake the dead. It certainly alerted the owner of the house. The front door of Brennan’s house swung open and Liam stood there in all his fury. The man was my height but was built like an MMA fighter.

“DiLustro,” he spat out, but his eyes weren’t on me. He must have been searching for Star. When he returned his attention to me, he stepped aside to let me in. “Who did you see?” he inquired, seemingly casual but his shoulders were too tense.

“Nobody,” I answered nonchalantly. “Though you might have some gangsters driving around your neighborhood with obnoxiously loud music. And no, I don’t mean me or my cousins.”

That seemed to appease him.

Who is she? I wondered. Though that question didn’t matter right now. Loud music turned up in volume from upstairs, and from the sounds coming down, it was quite a wild party. Liam’s lips thinned in annoyance.

“Party?” I asked as the door shut behind me, leaving me alone with the head of the Irish mafia.

“I rented the upstairs,” he grumbled and I cocked an eyebrow at the unexpected response. Not that it fucking mattered to me. Instead, I kept my eyes sharp on the man that ran the Brennan mafia.

The Irish and Italians had been at war for as long as I remembered. The same was true for the Irish and Russians. In fact, things were even worse between the Bratva and the Brennans. The hate ran exceptionally deep there. The word among the Bratva was that the Russians blame the Brennans for a long lost Russian mafia princess. And recently, they believed they’d found her among the Irish. Whoever she was, the Russians wanted her back at all cost.

The DiLustros’ relationship with the Brennans wasn’t much better. It was about twenty-one years ago or so that things escalated. When Liam Brennan lost his sister. He was left without any family. The word on the street was that members of the Brennan family in Ireland refused to recognize his adopted son and already eyed Liam’s position. The Russians kept attacking him. He couldn’t afford to fight us, the Russians, and his own members. So I had a suggestion for him, one that would strengthen my position.

Mine, my sister’s, and my cousins’ positions. Definitely not my father’s.

My father was a sadistic bastard and some days I’d considered putting a bullet in his head. End all this shit and rule New York the right way. He left too much unnecessary blood and death in his wake. He had no issues torturing innocent women and children. He fucking loved inflicting pain. It made him hard; I saw it firsthand.

He insisted cruelty and blood were a necessity in our positions. I disagreed. Yes, a firm hand was needed but misplaced cruelty and killings weren’t. Unfortunately, my father was one of the men who started the Syndicate. People followed him despite his barbaric methods.

But I’d been strengthening my position in the Syndicate, my wealth already exceeding my father’s. My cousins, Priest and Dante, my sister, and I succeeded in growing our empire without a constant bloodbath and fighting amongst each other. If there was a way to operate within this city without a constant battle, I’d take it. Achieving some kind of peace with the Irish in my city was a step in the right direction.

“I have a proposition for you, Brennan,” I started, shoving my hands into my pockets. “I believe it will make you happy and hopefully end this bloodshed between us. Keep the Irish to the west side and Italians to the east side of New York.

An hour later the deal was made. I knew Liam Brennan had more common sense than my own father.

As I made my way out of Brennan’s home, my eyes roamed the large courtyard covered in darkness.

The golden princess was nowhere in sight.