Until Her - Ami Van Page 0,9

earlier.

“I think my brother is wanting to get home to his wife,” he informs Isabella as if the wedding band on Derrick’s hand was missed. How she could have missed that is a wonder. That’s the first place women tend to check out on a man.

A flash of annoyance crosses Isabella’s face but she tucks it away nice and neat before her confidence bares its teeth again. Something tells him she’s used to getting what she wants. And it’s clear she wants a guaranteed spot at the head of the Kings’ table.

“Many who come here have wives too,” she replies. “Many even bring their wives along.”

Fucking sexy as hell. That’s his first thought. If he had to do this, at least she’d be fun to fuck.

“What would we gain from this union?” Chase deadpans.

That particular brother is normally quick to pull the trigger yet the most level headed when it comes to negotiations. But Chase is uneasy about this. It shows in the way that Chase isn’t entertained by the pair of tits rubbing up against him.

“This?” Chase waves his hands around, not even looking at any of the women. “We can have this if we wanted this.”

“Ah, a man of business,” Cristian speaks. “This is just the first of many. But you all know the ultimate goal is expansion. Seems you Kings have been working hard at standing in place.”

“Excuse me,” Rory speaks this time.

His baby brother is all business too. He had to admit, Rory has come into his own in the past couple of years.

“You may have your family name and things may have been handed to you on a silver fucking platter, but I assure you, what we’ve acquired ourselves is no less if not more than the Romanos. In name. In number. In fear. In fortune or territory.”

Rory stands up to his full height, shrinking Cristian in comparison.

“I believe what Cristian means to say is that not only will you Kings be linked with the Romanos, but you’ll also profit more by being under The Five. Isn’t that your ultimate goal? Isn’t that anyone in this line of business’s goal?” Isabella counters.

No. But, of course, he doesn’t say anything yet.

Matter of fact, Kings like not having to answer to anyone else. Their bank account is doing absurdly well the way it is. They can provide their own protection and have been thus far. So, no. Their goal isn’t to be under someone else’s thumb.

“And what is your ultimate goal?” Derrick asks.

“Mine? To stand by a king as his queen, of course,” Isabella answers. “What any woman in my position would want. I assure all of you that I’ve been raised for this life. I know how to handle my own.”

Smooth answer. He’ll give her that. Her lust-filled eyes tell him she thinks she’s being clever.

“Besides, Uncle Matteo is getting old and a foot in the grave already. We’re practically handing you the keys to our empire,” Cristian says.

So much for fucking family ties. He knew there was a reason he didn’t like the asshole.

“I’ll still be heavily involved, of course,” the bastard had the balls to add as if he would be doing them favor.

But Cristian doesn’t want to run the empire himself. He’s starting to figure the asshole out. Cristian looks like the type that wants to sit on his ass and collect without lifting a finger. Name drop to move higher up the ladder. Just like a spoiled brat who’s been handed everything on a silver platter all of his life just as Rory said. The Romano name would crumble quickly under Cristian Romano’s reign. At least Isabella is ambitious.

“Come,” Isabella says, standing and tugging on his hand.

Yeah. Come. He’d like to do that right in her mouth and down her throat.

“Let me show you around.”

She wraps her hand around his arm again and leads him. She stops by Derrick and makes eye contact with his brother.

“You’re more than welcome to join the tour,” she says, her fingers trailing down the sleeve of his brother’s jacket.

“Pass,” Derrick replies.

“Suit yourself,” she says. “Besides, we’ll have all the time in the world to get acquainted.”

It’s the shortest tour he’s ever had. Isabella immediately takes him down a dark hallway with doors upon doors. Private rooms, he concludes. At the end of the hallway is a set of double doors with golden handles. She pulls out a golden key to unlock the doors and pushes them open, inviting him in.

“Would you like something to drink?” she