Page 31 of Vicious Vows

“When she told me she was being forced to marry Collins, that infuriated me, but when she said he took her from you and abused her, well that was enough for me.”

“I’m going to make him pay for that.”

“What about Gian? Are you going to make him pay too?”

“That’s a bit more sensitive.”

“Because of your relationship with his daughter?”

I couldn’t admit that I had reservations about taking Gian out without looking weak. If I admitted that there was the slightest chance that I would spare Gian, I could put my family in danger.

“She wasn’t supposed to mean anything to me.” I didn’t think that I even believed that anymore. If I hadn’t wanted her from the moment I saw her, I would have made sure nothing happened between us. “I’m trying to protect her.”

“I believe that.”

“Gian needs this alliance with Collins. With my father being underground, the two of them together are strong enough to cause a serious rift in my organization. Some of the other families are already siding with Gian because I took Lissia.”

“I can see how that’s a problem.”

“What is it that you want from our association?” I asked.

The terms needed to be spoken. I had to get back to New York, and the longer we put off negotiations, the longer it would take for me to return home.

“Do you want to get into that without your… How do you Italians say it? Your consigliere?”

“That’s just a fancy word for an attorney. Lucas will understand that we’re having a casual discussion.”

“I’m sure you know what I want,” he said.

Of course I did, but doing what he needed could be seen as a betrayal to my cartel—the larger cartel with a long-standing agreement with my family. The one the Accetti family had pledged allegiance to.

“I’m sure you know the unique set of problems moving your products through my ports would cause.” I stretched out my legs. “The conflict of interests. How others might see it as a betrayal.”

“I’m sure we could figure something out.” He furrowed his brow. “Don’t you think so?”

Enemy or ally?

“I need a way to move my shipments on the east coast. I’ll forgive what happened to my last shipment if you allow me to use your ports and warehouses.”

I couldn’t show my cards yet. I wanted to hold onto that shipment for as long as I could before using it as a bargaining chip. I needed to consult with Lucas, and we needed to see how Juan felt about me working with Lorenzo.

If there was ever a time I needed my father, now was it.

“I can see you’re being pulled in many directions,” Lorenzo said. “I’ll give you time to think things over as a courtesy to Lissia. I’m sentimental that way.”

“I appreciate that.”

Lorenzo looked over my shoulder, something catching his attention. “I can see why you’re willing to go to war. She’s enough to make any man insane.”

“Tell me about it.”

A few gasps and some chatter played out behind me as I turned to find Lissia making her entrance into the room with Randy close behind her. All eyes were on her as she held up her head with such confidence and sauntered into the bar area wearing a strapless powder blue dress.

She’d caught the attention of both men and women. Something about her intrigued people. The sensual way she moved made them pause with wonder like that night at the auction. Everyone was aware of her presence, including me, even if I didn’t want to admit it back then.

She had me long before she opened her sarcastic mouth and taunted me with her cute, Jersey accent and snide remarks.

I smiled at her blushing over putting tickets in the basket to win the Gucci bag. She didn’t need to win any raffle. I could buy her a bag for every day of the week.

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