Slowly, Leo eases out of me and rolls onto the mattress beside me. I flip to take a look at him, mesmerized by his attractive masculinity. Each inch of him represents energy and energy. He radiates authority. And when he touches me, it’s like he effortlessly instructions my physique, enjoying with me like putty till he makes me sing.

One arm flung casually above his head, Leo turns to take a look at me, and a lazy smile stretches throughout his lips. However as a substitute of claiming something, he reaches out to wrap his arm round me. And he pulls me to him, bringing me in opposition to his physique in a surprisingly tender embrace.

My cheek rests on his shoulder, my palm falling over his beating coronary heart, and my leg naturally settles throughout his physique, entwining us as he holds me shut. And regardless of myself, I discover the consolation of his arms so compelling, I can’t draw back. As an alternative, I sink into the welcoming heat of darkness as sleep overcomes me.

21

LEO

The solar hangs low within the sky as I stand inside one of many long-abandoned cabins close to the sting of my property. My thoughts swirls with conflicting ideas as I watch for my males to reach. And Tia’s face lingers behind my eyes, an sudden presence that refuses to be ignored.

Regardless of the urgent issues at hand, the anticipation of seeing my new bride tugs on the edges of my focus. It’s an issue I hadn’t anticipated—a distraction that threatens to compromise my rigorously honed self-discipline. Enterprise comes first, above all else. It all the time has. However the considered having Tia between the sheets as soon as once more has been dogging my thoughts all day.

I can’t cease fascinated by the intoxicating method she checked out me, the way in which she moved so sensually beneath me. Her scent lingers at the back of my thoughts, a delicate spicy citrus scent that makes my mouth water, just like the bouquet of a advantageous gin.

The reminiscence of her physique wrapped round mine, makes me ache. And I do know I can’t let myself dwell on our night time collectively if I’m going to have my shit collectively for this assembly.

I shove all ideas of Tia impatiently to the again of my thoughts as ten Valencia males file by way of the entrance door and line up earlier than me, a number of of my most trusted captains following them in, weapons held frivolously in hand. The Valencia household’s incapability to fall in line weighs closely on my thoughts, a relentless undercurrent beneath the floor of my ideas.

As the pinnacle of the Moretti household, I can not afford to be lenient, particularly not within the precarious world of organized crime. Loyalty is all the things, and the Valencias’ have breached the vow they made to us on a couple of event since they bent the knee.

So, at present is a check of whether or not they correctly heard the message I delivered personally on my marriage ceremony day. I despatched phrase for his or her members to be introduced in for a reckoning—a reckoning that can decide whether or not they stay loyal allies or face the results of betrayal. Any proof that they’re making an attempt to steal from me at present would require swift and decisive motion.

The forgotten cabin I’ve chosen to conduct this grim enterprise in bears the scars of previous conflicts. Although its home windows are nonetheless intact, the partitions are splattered with darkish stains, and the furnishings is in disarray, a number of chairs damaged from the variety of interrogations which have taken place right here.

It’s a becoming backdrop for the confrontation that awaits, and a handy location away from prying eyes and legislation enforcement that has been rising more and more expensive to bribe these days—one of many many causes I want to return to an understanding with Mayor Romney. If I can garner his cooperation, I received’t be fairly so hard-pressed to be discrete.

The Valencia members shift uncomfortably as they stand earlier than me, avoiding my eyes as they maintain their duffle baggage filled with assortment cash. A motley crew of males, they appear to bear the load of their accountability within the laborious traces etched into their faces.

I stand on the heart of the room, a silent observer of the unfolding drama. Loyalty is a fragile steadiness that requires belief, which could be simply shattered and difficult to rebuild. It’s a lesson I goal to impart upon them at present.

They wait quietly, a collective facade of fearful submission. I meet every gaze with a steely resolve, and as soon as once more, my ideas flit momentarily to Tia—not distant in the primary home on the far aspect of the property—earlier than I pull myself again to the current. Focus is a luxurious I can’t afford to sacrifice.

“I feel you all know why I introduced you right here for collections at present,” I state matter-of-factly. “Your don has confirmed unreliable in terms of delivering the quantity he’s promised me each two weeks. Let’s hope you all acquired the message I despatched and also you’ve turn out to be extra… aligned with the selection to pay tribute somewhat than die.”

Nobody seems to be up or says a phrase, a positive signal my message was delivered correctly. Let’s hope it was clear sufficient that I don’t should handle any extra issues.

I sign to my males, who start the method of gathering the earnings these Valencia males have accrued. Utilizing the desk earlier than me, they take one duffle bag at a time and rely the cash inside. The room is tense, the air charged with anticipation. My gaze strikes from nose to nose, trying to find any trace of guilt or deceit.

But when anybody thinks they’re going to get away with one thing, it isn’t apparent to me simply but.

As the baggage of cash are introduced ahead one after the other, I calculate the anticipated sum in my thoughts. That they had higher hope their baggage match what I do know they owe us. The primary few males current their earnings, and to my satisfaction, the numbers align with my expectations.

Maybe my message on the day of my marriage ceremony reached them in any case. Loyalty, I remind myself, is a forex extra useful than gold in our world. And although it could actually take proud males time to simply accept once they’ve been overwhelmed, plainly maybe Don Valencia has lastly given up his juvenile try to undermine me.

However simply as I begin to assume this is likely to be a day with out violence, one of many males steps ahead, his eyes intently avoiding mine as he hesitantly locations his duffle bag on the desk. A bead of sweat trickles down his temple, a telltale signal of unease. I watch him carefully, my senses sharp, as he releases the bag of cash that appears lighter than it ought to be.

Silence radiates by way of the area, and the Valencia males appear to carry a collective breath as they watch for my captain Drake to rely the contents. He units the bundles out on the desk for everybody to see, a definite distinction from the way in which he dealt with the earlier three baggage.

He suspects the bag of being gentle as nicely.

My pulse quickens, the anticipation of confrontation crackling within the air as he pulls the final bundles from the bag and turns to me with a delicate shake of the pinnacle.

“This isn’t the agreed-upon quantity,” I state, my voice reducing by way of the room like a blade as I take a gradual step ahead.

The person stammers, his excuses feeble makes an attempt to masks the guilt that adheres to him like a second pores and skin. “W-We had some sudden setbacks. I can have the remaining for you subsequent week—”

I increase a hand, reducing off his pathetic try at a compromise. It’s the identical excuse I’ve heard numerous instances earlier than. “Your causes for the lacking cash usually are not my concern. Loyalty is. Your loved ones pledged allegiance to the Morettis, and as soon as once more, the Valencias have dishonored their vow.”

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