Page 1 of Ruthless Match

CHAPTER 1

Matteo

ONE MONTH AGO

The muffled sounds and twinkling lights of New York City’s bustling nightlife filtered through the spacious yet opulent office of hotel magnate Dominic DeSantis. Dressed in a tailored suit meant to show power, DeSantis sat behind his oversized mahogany desk, glaring at me as I stood before him. I wasn’t intimidated. I ate men like DeSantis for breakfast. After all, I am Matteo Santoro, the powerful, controlling, and ruthless billionaire King of the notorious Santoro mob. I own this city.

I shifted my stance to let Dominic know I wasn't fazed if this was meant to be an intimidation move. DeSantis drummed his fingers slowly across his desk as he contemplated his next move. Crossing someone as influential and dangerous as Matteo Santoro was risky, but he had no choice. At least, he didn’t think so. I could tell by his demeanor that he was savoring the moment. His eyes said he thought he was in charge. DeSantis smiled slowly. For once, the odds were in his favor. He had enough evidence to bring the entire Santoro crime syndicate tumbling to the ground.

I was getting impatient. “What’s this all about, Dominic? I’m a busy man and don’t have all night.”

“I’m glad you asked. You see, Matteo,” Dominic began, evidence of his pleasure noticeable in his voice, “It’s been brought to my attention that you haven’t been using my hotel for legitimate purposes.”

My heart sank, but I remained calm. This isn’t my first time in hot water, and I doubt it will be the last. That’s the nature of my business. As the go-to financial man for New York’s elite, I often find myself in sticky situations.

Walking to Dominic’s hidden office bar, I poured a glass of scotch before turning back to look at him. Taking a slow sip of my drink, I paused before responding. “Is that so, Dominic?” The rumble of my voice seemed to fill the room.

DeSantis knew he had the upper hand, but he was aware of the dangerous game he was playing. Blackmailing a well-known crime boss was not without consequences. He nodded. “Indeed, it is. As you know, I take security very seriously, so when this was brought to my attention, I knew we needed to take care of it.”

I raised a curious eyebrow as I looked at DeSantis. I have never liked him, and my distaste has only grown stronger with time.

Sliding a copy of documents and pictures across the desk, he swallowed hard. “I believe these might be of interest to the authorities. That is unless, of course, we can come to some arrangement.”

Raising my eyebrow again, I remained calm as I glanced at the documents. Shit! It’s a transcribed recording of the mayor and I discussing an ‘investment’ he’d like to make in Uptown. How in the hell did he get a taped recording?

Clearing my throat, I slid the documents toward Dominic and looked up.

“What kind of arrangement do you propose?”

Dominic hesitated briefly as if he were trying to find the words. Finally, he dove in. “Bring me in and…”

Did he really suggest that I ‘bring him in?’ Does he even know what that means? He wouldn’t last a month in my world.

With a slight chuckle, I finished my drink and poured another. Amused, I encouraged him to continue. “Please, go on.”

“Well, as you know, I have a daughter, Aurora. She is loyal, fierce, intelligent, and beautiful, but…”

Trying to hide the rising anger at the situation and at my men for being so careless, I play along. “But what?”

Sighing, Dominic runs his hand through his hair. “But she’s stubborn.”

Sitting back, I took another sip of my drink. “That sounds like a personal problem; what does it have to do with me?”

DeSantis swirled the ice in his drink before responding. “Well, she’s unmarried, and due to the dangerous times we live in, I worry about her safety.”

Unsure of what he was getting at, but knowing it was a load of crap, I decided to ask. “So, you want me to protect her?”

“Not exactly. If you and Aurora were to be married, I might be willing to overlook certain, shall we say, indiscretions that have gone in my hotel. Plus, it wouldn’t look suspicious when we were seen together. After all, you’d be my son-in-law.”

Knowing there had to be more to it, I played along for the hell of it. “I see. A marriage of convenience that ensures your daughter’s safety, but” I paused to down the rest of my scotch, “what’s in it for you?”

DeSantis’s smile widened at the question, his eyes twinkling with mischievous desire and relief that I hadn’t immediately turned him down.

“Ah, that’s quite simple, Mr. Santoro. Bring me into the Santoro Crime family.”

The urge to end his life and put all this behind me was overwhelming, but I had to be smart. DeSantis was no fool. It was clear he knew how things worked, so I knew the copies he showed me earlier weren’t the only ones.

There would be backup copies in case something unexpectedly happened to him. If there weren’t, he would have been a bigger idiot than I thought.

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