Highest Bidder Collection - Lauren Landish Page 0,198

is see-through in seductive places. My cheeks flame with a blush at the thought of wearing it. As I hold it up to the light, my heart races.

It’s so beautiful. Luxurious and obviously expensive. And my size.

As I press it up against my chest, the significance isn’t lost on me. Tonight, Club X’s theme is all white. I can hardly wait. I set the dress on the table, but something brushes against my arm. I look down.

There’s a note attached to the dress. I pick it up and my heart only speeds up even faster as I read the simple words.

I’ll see you tonight, my flower.

Your Sir.

Chapter 6

Joseph

As I wait at the long, mahogany bar at the front entrance of Club X just outside of the foyer, I take another look at the text from my brother. I don’t know why I do this to myself. I have no intention of texting him back. There’s no reason for me to be involved at all with my family anymore. They had nothing to offer me and I have nothing to offer them. Despite what my brother seems to think.

Roberto may be a few years younger, but he’ll be the one taking over the familia. I don’t need to listen to a damn thing that he says right now though. I sure as fuck don’t have to listen to my father either.

I’m not getting sucked back into that life. I have no intention of going back to them. I’m not going to be a puppet for them. I’m not going to take over like I was supposed to. I played my part and took the fall; I’m done with them.

I don’t ever expect to live a normal life. I know that’s not meant for a man like me.

I wasn’t brought up to be normal. There are things that I’ve done that are unforgivable. The sins of my past will always stay with me and they made me into the man I am. Whether I like that or not, it’s true.

My own mother was a whore. My father, Angelo and the Don of the Levi familia, wanted sons, so he knocked several up, one after the other, until he was given two boys. I grew up surrounded by prostitutes and drug cartels. I’ve sat through dinners that were ended with gunshots or stabbings. It was normal, there was never a moment where safety was a possibility. There was a promise of loyalty, but in actuality any and everyone was waiting to stab one another in the back.

That’s the kind of life I’d be living. It’s the shit that I lived through. Even when I left the familia, my past followed me. My name still follows me.

Not responding to my brother, half-brother really, sends a strong message. I don’t give a fuck though. I have no intention of sending one back. There’s no reason for us to meet up. We have nothing in common. I have a conscience. It may have taken me a long time to find a way out, but I have a desire to lead a different life, even if I am already condemned to hell. My brother doesn’t. All he cares about is money, greed and selfishness. I wouldn’t be surprised if he kills my own father one day. Not that I’ll shed any tears over it. They’re both despicable for what they’ve done.

I have enough money so I never need to work a day in my life again, one of the unforeseen bonuses of having the Romano’s funds sent to my account. It was meant to be evidence used against me, but never came to fruition. I need a new life, I need something to look forward to. Something to give me purpose.

I think back to Lilly, my hand gently start swirling the whiskey in the tumbler. She more than interest me. I click the button on the side of the phone, before slipping it back into my pocket and take a swig. The burn does nothing to sooth the sickness stirring in the pit of my stomach at the thought of Lilly not coming back.

I know I need to be gentle with her. I can’t be the ruthless man that I used to be. I need to hide the darkness that’s inside me as best as I can until I have her fully and completely trusting me. I need to get the fuck out of here too.

The couples walk around me, the submissives completely unknowing, nor do they