Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 83776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83776 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 419(@200wpm)___ 335(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
“Understood. I’ll make sure the boys are all prepped.”
Dad pauses and looks back at me. “And Davide? Give your wife a raise. Lord knows she deserves it.”
“Thank you, Don Bianco,” she says sweetly. “See you for dinner?”
“See you then, dear.”
He leaves and closes the door behind him.
I sigh and get off the desk. Stefania watches me as I sit down in the same chair my father had been in a second ago.
“Thoughts?” I ask.
She makes a vague gesture. “He thinks he can handle it.”
“And do you think he can?”
“I’m not sure.” She chews her lip and looks away. I’ve come to rely on my wife’s intuition and analysis over these last few months. She has a knack for politics and she remembers what it’s like to handle a mafia war. I run my plans past her most of the time these days, and we stay up late discussing my business all the time.
That’s why she’s in this office. I tried to keep her sequestered in the oasis, but as she went from simply keeping my books to offering advice and managing some of my businesses, it became clear that she’s better off out in the world. She’s still not allowed to wander the damn city at her whim, but there are a few locations where she can work that are closer to the heart of our empire.
“How do you think Simon’s taking it?” I ask.
“He’s definitely not happy about it, I can promise you that, but he knows better than to fight your father. Right now, the Famiglia needs unity, and I think Simon’s smart enough to step aside until the time’s right.” She rubs her face with one hand. “I’m just worried that’ll be sooner than later.”
“I hope you’re wrong,” I say, but with her track record, I suspect she won’t be.
She gets up and comes around the desk before sitting on my lap. I kiss her and she kisses me back, and I feel a little purr in my chest at her nearness. She shimmies her hips, grinning at me, eyes narrowed with a drugging stare.
“It’s my lunch hour,” she says. “I was thinking about sending the guys out.”
“Oh, yeah? And who would protect you?”
“I think my big, strong husband could handle that.” She leans in and kisses me again. “And I’ve been thinking about you.” She grinds her hips into me again.
“I’ve been thinking about you too.” I fist her hair and bite her lower lip. “Go send the men away, dolcezza. I think I’m in the mood for some private time with my wife.”
She laughs when I slap her ass and shouts out the door at the soldiers, and I watch her as she turns back to me, cheeks flushed and smiling big, and I know I made the right decision all those months back. My only regret is that I didn’t choose her sooner, because then Bruno might still be alive, but at least I have her now and that’s more than enough for me.
Chapter 42
Stefania
I’m exhausted from a long day of work.
When Davide said he wanted me working on his books, I figured it was simple accounting. I’d add some numbers, make sure everything was solid, and probably commit a few felonies as I hide his real earnings in a shuffling mess of shell corporations and offshore accounts. The usual mafia stuff.
But now he’s got me running multiple properties, which means interfacing with all sorts of colorful dickheads, from stubborn property managers to pissed-off clients. And on top of all that, I’m still cooking the damn books.
It’s exhausting, but it’s rewarding, and for the first time in my entire life, I feel like I have ownership of something. This isn’t like my law firm gig back in Philly where I was basically a nepo baby, only working there because my brothers got me the gig. Well, it’s a little like that, but I’m thriving and kicking ass, and Davide couldn’t find someone better even if he fucking tried. Which he better not.
I get out some good white wine, line up a couple glasses, and fill them to the brim. I put in some microwave popcorn and get it popping. I’m drained and sleepy, but I have a standing movie date with Elena every Wednesday night, and that cannot be missed.
“Almost ready,” I call out as the door opens and the microwave beeps. I bend over to grab the bag out. “I’m thinking something nice and gory tonight. Maybe I Know What You Did Last Summer? I’m still in a horror movie kick. What do you—”
I straighten up and stop mid-sentence. Elena’s standing at the island, grinning at me, and Laura’s a few feet behind her.
Elena and I are tight. We seem to get each other, and I love her like a sister. But Laura’s been tough. Even though she hasn’t actively hated me in a while, I haven’t been able to win her over to my side. Everyone says that’s fine, she doesn’t really make friends very easily, and I can tell that’s true. She keeps to herself, and okay, I can respect it.