Page 2 of Stolen Bride

“There’s someone getting…” She shakes her fist back and forth from her mouth, mimicking a blow job.Motherfucker.

“Thank you. Excuse me. One minute.” I rush past all the ladies.

“Any time, handsome. If you want the same…” I feel the air shift as she reaches for me, but I’m already out of reach. Still, I have a point to make, fixing the clear misunderstanding about the behavior permitted in my establishment.

I turn back and glare. “You do that in my club, and you’ll be out on your ass.” The realization of who they just met washes over their overly painted faces, and it pleases me. Fear sets in, and they step back.

Now, back to the mission at hand. I slam the door open to find Rocco spraying Camille in the face in the middle of the ladies’ room. Somehow, I expected no less.

“Get the fuck up off your knees and wash up. You will not be going anywhere with my sister.” I address my piece-of-shit employee next. “Rocco, you’re lucky I don’t put a bullet in your head. Get the fuck out of my face.” They’re both quick to straighten themselves up from a sight I didn’t need to see.

“Sorry, Boss. It’s just…” My fist lands on his face before he gets to finish whatever he has to say.

“What part of ‘get the fuck out of my face’ didn’t you understand?” As the boss, I don’t repeat commands, and the bastard made two mistakes tonight.

I storm up to my office to wash my hands and check for any blood. Luckily I’m clean because I’d have to give Rocco an extra couple gut checks for it otherwise.

Digging out my cell from my inner suit jacket pocket, I call Gabriele, my underboss, because I have to cut Gracie’s party short. Despite the noise in the club, he’s quick to pick up. “Yeah, Boss.”

“I need you to escort my sister home, and don’t let her give you any shit. I have matters to deal with here tonight, and she brought trouble to my club.”

“Will do. What about her friend?” he asks.

My blood boils, remembering what I witnessed. She doesn’t need to be sending my sister down that slutty path. “No, that slut can call herself an Uber or pay someone else with a blow job for a ride.”

“Yes, Dame.” Gabriele doesn’t have to ask questions and handles matters swiftly. My father doesn’t trust many men toguard my sister, but in addition to Adriano, my underboss is one of the few allowed to guard her, but I need him for my business tonight.

“Don’t let me down. I need to have a talk with Rocco when the club closes, so get her home safely and return quickly.”

“Understood.” I end the call as I see my guest arrive. The pudgy bastard is already sweating, and it has nothing to do with the hot bodies grinding in the club below. He pulls out his handkerchief and swipes it across his sweaty brow with his meaty hand.

My security leads him to my office and knocks on my door just as I move to sit behind my desk. “Enter.”

“Thanks for seeing me, Mr. Valentino.” His platitudes aren’t needed. Business is business, and the sooner I get him out of my sight, the better.

“What is it that you believe I can do for you?” I question, regretting this meeting as he sweats profusely in front of me.

“I need a temporary loan.” That’s what we had previously discussed when he requested an audience. He turns his attention to my wet bar, eyeing the booze nervously. Yes, I intimidate people, but Tommy Baker isn’t usually intimidated by others. He’s not a mobster like me, but his hands are nearly as filthy as the men he works with. He could never catch up to my darkness, but I’m interested in why he looks petrified.

“Yes, I am aware of that, but how much and for what extended period of time?” He’s wasting my time by having to pull it word by word from him.

“Please explain why I should hand over $100k to a man I don’t know.”

“I’m a very talented businessman, Mr. Valentino.”

“Obviously not that talented as you’re here looking for a handout, sweating like a pig and looking awfully nervous. Why would that be?” I lean forward, staring into his cowardly soul.

“I heard of your reputation, is all,” he stammers.

With a nonchalant raise of my brow, I ask, “And the loan?”

“It’s a temporary situation, and the banks are not that interested in lending to a strip club owner.”

“Understood.” I sit back, watching him ease up. “What kind of collateral do you have to offer me, Tommy boy?”

“I could pay you back within a month.”

“So you say, but that doesn’t mean anything to me. You’re just a man looking for a handout, Tommy. What have you got that makes this worth my time or my money? I don’t hand out loans to just anyone.”

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