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Chapter 1

RUSSEL

"You killed the guy," said Kegan Gaetano, my best friend and mobile police. Hell, I could even call him brother or a father, depending on what mood suits him for the day. "Iverson."

I ignored that, my fingers drumming against the leather armrest of the Bentley. "How many men do we have positioned?"

"Twenty. All loyal to your course. All very loyal to you." Kegan's tone was mocking. He'd been by my side since we were kids, long before I took over from my father.

"Sent my package to those fuckers yet?"

"Arriving in thirty minutes. Everything's in place." He hesitated. "Let’s talk about Iverson.”

"What’s there to talk about?" I asked, irritated. "The idiot asked for it and he got it.”

“How about asking me before pulling a hit like that? That guy has an army of miscreants who’d die for war right now.”

Thankfully, the car door opened, and Luca, my head of security, slid into the backseat beside me. "Building’s secured. "But there’s something you should know.”

I raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"Shadow was spotted in Milan earlier.”

The temperature in the car seemed to drop ten degrees. Kegan and I exchanged glances. If he was in Milan, then there’s a good chance Iverson met with him behind my back...

I reached for the decanter of scotch in the car's built-in bar and poured myself a glass. "Loyalty is such a rare commodity these days."

"Be on the lookout, Luca." Kegan informed Luca, who nodded and slid out of the car.

When Luca was safely out, I eyed Kegan. “Are you going to scold me for killing the idiot?”

He rolled his eyes. "No. I’m going to give you something to do.”

My eyes lit up. “A girl?”

“More like an interview.” And after that, there’s a place we need to be tonight.”

My brows creased in a disappointed frown. "Interview? Is it a girl?”

Kegan eyed me. "This one looks too innocent."

“Oh, so she’s already here,” A small smirk played on my lips. "Well, does she have a clean pussy?"

“Eww.” Kegan pretended to gag. When I rolled my eyes at his dramatics, he scoffed. “Cut it out, she’s not going to fuck you. She’s here for work.”

My shoulders slouched in disappointment. "Then whoever fixed that interview should be fired."

It was Kegan's turn to smirk. "Well, I did."

“Fuck you," I muttered.

~~~

When I entered my study fifteen minutes later, I was surprised to find a blonde woman sitting on the seat across from mine. Her hazel eyes flickered with caution the minute she saw me, which was good.

I couldn't help but notice the way her composed face tensed when I sat down in front of her. I don't like blondes and Kegan knew that, which is why I found it surprising that he even organized a meeting with a blonde in the first place.

"Good afternoon Mr—"

"Mancini," I supplied with a light smirk. "You must be the reporter."

"Oh, not me," she quickly corrected. "My friend was supposed to be here, but she fell sick and I have to stand in for her."

I nodded. That must explain Kegan's cryptic comments. He would never deliberately choose someone like her to meet with me.

"So you have a name?" I asked with my hand outstretched for a handshake.

She looked hesitant for a moment. "Allesia Guerrero."

The name rolled off my tongue. "Allesia."

She nodded. "Yes, Mr—Mancini."

"Oh, just Russel," I waved dismissively. When she shifted uncomfortably in her seat, I quickly added, "Let's get to it, then."

She blinked several times. "Huh?"

She looked so lost and timid, and all the while I noticed that she was avoiding my eyes. "Your questions, Allesia."

She cleared her throat and tried to read the first line on the pad she was holding, but her eyes widened as she mouthed the words there.

"Ah—I'm sorry, I didn't check the questions earlier," she stuttered. "These look rather—personal."

My face remained impassive but a small hint of amusement tugged at the corner of my lips, making her visibly uncomfortable.

“I’m not new to how frustrating and inquisitive people in your friend’s professions are,” I said carefully. “So you can ask your questions.”

She shifted again. "Even if they are very very personal?”

"I don’t mind."

Allesia cleared her throat again. "Well, are you—by any chance gay, Mr. Mancini?"

I drew in a sharp breath. "No. Next question."

"She would like an explanation," Allesia probed in a small voice.

I tried really hard not to laugh at her uneasiness. Those questions were not alien to me. Being the man I was, I had no real use for relationships, only power.

"I'm not gay. My priorities just don't include romantic entanglements."

Allesia shifted in her seat. "So you do consider yourself a Made Man?"

I allowed myself to grin for the first time. "In all senses of the word."

"Oh."

Sensing her discomfort, I rounded the table to stand in front of her, but she shifted backwards. Undeterred, I leaned against the table, folded my arms across my chest, and watched her intently.

For some reason I didn't understand, she looked oddly familiar. In some way, she reminded me of someone, someone long dead.

Perhaps that is why she looks familiar? "What about you, Allesia?"

She squinted her eyes. "What about me?"

"Don't you have any personal questions for me?" I asked with a shrug.

She didn't hesitate to shake her head. "Nothing I can think of." Then as if deciding against it, she quickly asked, "There are rumors that you are in the mafia, are they true?"

Her question surprised me, making me wonder what she would think if she found out I just killed a man a few minutes ago.

The disgust in her tone was not lost on me, but I was not surprised. People, especially women like Allesia, usually had that reaction to me.

"I answered that already, Allesia." Then I leaned in and lifted her chin, making sure that our eyes met and locked. "In the absence of your questions, perhaps I should make a proposal."

I did not know why I brought up the proposal, but there was something about this woman sitting in front of me that made me want to possess her, to own her.

The moment I dropped her chin, she slapped my hand, but quickly recoiled and apologized. I only nodded. I wanted her to stand up so I could assess her properly, but of course I could not ask just yet.

"What proposal?" she asked with a faint stutter.

"I'm looking for a new business associate," I told her directly.

Her brows furrowed in confusion. "What kind of business?"

I studied her carefully. "I find you intriguing, Allesia Guerrero. And I'm willing to pay $2,000,000 for your exclusive services."

Usually, this was Kegan's job, to find me people with potential that would be interested in working for me in exchange for significant compensation. But recently, I had grown bored with the predictable and a wildcard like Allesia could prove valuable.

"Consider this a way of finding out if I'm truly as ruthless as they say."

She stood up so quickly that her seat fell back, but I did not flinch. "I don't care about your reputation! I told you that those questions were my friend's and not mine."

Now, I had every conviction that I will have her.

Christ, was she sexy.

"Then perhaps you should care about the money, Allesia. The offer is for you and not your friend."

"I'm not interested."

"You can think about it. I'll wait."

"No," she retorted immediately. "There's nothing to think about. I won't do it."

"$2,000,000 is a lot, angel. Now imagine what that much money would do for you."

That usually worked, I thought with a hidden smirk.

Throw a little bait and they start rethinking their moral boundaries, if they had any. As my eyes assessed her, I wondered how many men had probably touched that delicately concealed body of hers.

Girls like her were usually the most unpredictable, I knew that from experience. But it had been long since I brought someone unexpected into my private hell, and this one in front of me was tempting my curiosity too much.

But much to my disappointment, she turned around and stalked towards the door. "Goodbye, Mr. Mancini. I hope we never meet again."

Never tell a Mafia Boss that he can never find you.

Now that was a challenge worth taking. "If we meet again by any chance, will you accept my offer?"

She smiled for the first time, revealing perfect teeth. "The chances are very unlikely. You'll be disappointed."

"Then I'll take my chances, Allesia. We'll meet again soon and you'll accept my offer, I promise you."

She disappeared behind the door and I stared after her. It was not everyday that a blonde with such hazel eyes and defiance intrigued me enough to want to overlook my moral compass, but this one did.

This city and everything in it belongs to me, including her.

And I'll find her.