attention. Ismerlda, on the other hand, doesn’t skip a beat.
He chuckles, shaking his head. “You want a submissive, yet Ismerlda is anything but. She’s beautiful, opinionated, financially stable, has her own life, and was raised by a criminal. You don’t frighten her like you’re used to and you’re shook.” He’s entirely too amused by this, in my opinion.
“We’re gangsters, T. I don’t get shook, mate, and especially not by a headstrong woman.”
“Hm, that so?”
“The bird is bloody insane. She’s already doing my head in. I’m going to throw her out a window or something else far more tragic. You know she hasn’t even attempted to shag me yet? Bloody mad, I tell you.”
“Well, you obviously have chemistry together, even if it is borne in hate. What are you going to do about it?” He draws on his cigar as a manic grin overtakes my mouth.
“I allowed her to escape me this morning while I was showering. Little did she realize, I’d planned ahead for it. She’s off her rocker to think I don’t pay attention to every move she makes. She’ll have a proper lesson, I’ll see to it.”
“Max…” He draws my name out, knowing I’m up to something twisted. I can’t help it, it’s just who I am. “What have you done? Will I be hearing from her father because of this?”
“I can teach him one as well if you’d fancy it,” I offer, tucking my hand in my trousers pocket. “I had her taken to an undisclosed location. She’ll be bound to a chair next to Roberto Vittorio, awaiting my arrival.”
“You found the nephew?” He means the nephew to one of the heads that sit at the table of the Five Families. I need some locations on specific people, and I’m wondering if he’s got them. If not, I’ll blow off a bit of steam in the process at least.
“Indeed. I’m going to be doing a bit of persuading with the fella and allow my dear fiancée to bear witness. I’m in for quite the afternoon.”
“You think she’s messed up now, you’ll make her deranged if she watches you torture him. Be careful what you wish for. You’re going to marry this one.”
“No, mate, she’ll realize this isn’t a dream she’s buried her pretty head in. They’ll be no waking up to a different life. This is me, what I do. Better she realizes it now before she drives me to stab her to death.”
“Jesus, Max,” he sighs. “Didn’t you learn anything from me and Grace?”
“Indeed: not to hide myself if she wants to survive. You have Grace bloody fooled to believe your hands are clean.” I raise my palms. “I’m not saying anything about how you handle your woman, but I’m not doing the same with mine. Ismerlda can see the crimson stains on these palms and I won’t fret over it a bit.” Maybe she’ll finally realize she sleeps next to a beast each night and stop giving me a headache.
“You genuinely believe you’ll be able to keep her after today? You think she won’t run and go into hiding? Grace would’ve headed for the hills screaming if she’d found everything out. Case in point why I kept it locked away. Don’t forget we need Ismerlda—well, her father’s vote, to be precise. This takeover will never end if we don’t draw out Sammi from hiding. You know as well as I do he’s quietly regrouping and getting ready to attack. If he has a chance to put a hit out on Dante Vendetti, then we’re pushed right into the middle of a Mafia war. Fighting the Vendettis will ruin what I’m attempting to take over and protect.”
I shrug, shoving a hand through my perfectly styled hair. “She needs us more than we need her. In any case, I can hold onto her long enough for us to set up the vote and get Sammi out in the open. Her father will be none the wiser.” Father Roberts is on our payroll. He’ll marry whoever the fuck I tell him too. I don’t care if I have to gag and bind Ismerlda, she won’t be running from me.
“I trust you. I probably shouldn’t, but for some reason, I do.”
I cough out a chuckle, knowing he’s wise to be wary. “You trust me because I keep you rich and alive.”
He grins. “Touché. Let’s keep it that way. Now, we have business to take care of.”
The double wood doors are thrown open and we roll in as one intimidating