Page 6 of Plunge into Obsession

“Everyone is getting restless,” he said.

I didn’t respond. It wasn’t like I didn’t already know.

“They don’t think you can run this empire as well as Luis.”

Though my face gave nothing away, I could feel my fist clenching around the crystal glass in my palm.

It had been over two years since Luis’ death—since I’d killed my little brother and taken over the empire that had belonged to me all along.

“I guess they don’t like me putting a stop to the skin sales.”

Raphael nodded.

I scoffed and looked up at the stage as the dancer started taking off the small, skimpy black bra she had on. Jeweled nipple covers glinted in the spotlight, and the men in the place cheered.

“We’re bringing in three times the profit Luis ever did,” I pointed out.

“I know, but they don’t see it like that. We might be bringing in more money, but the nearby gangs aren’t because you cut off their main source of income.”

I could sneer at his words.

Those gangs’ main source of income involved selling children and women to the monsters in the world to be used. Luis might not have a problem getting into bed with those vile sons of bitches, but that was because he was one.

He had joined in the fun, which made it even more confounding to me, since our mom had been a victim to this, sold to the biggest monster there was, our father.

I couldn’t do it. It might make me weak to admit to such, but fuck it. My morals were fucked up, but at least they weren’t nonexistent.

It helped that my alliance with the East Coast Bratva was built on similar interests. They were just as against selling skin as I was, and it was because two of the three men who headed the organization had been in that helpless situation before.

It was also because their wife, Catalina, wouldn’t have approved. Damien Vasiliev, Mikhail Volkov, and Nikolay Sokolov all shared the same woman. I couldn’t imagine any woman who belonged to me with another man, no matter how close I was to that man.

I glanced sideways at Raphael. He was probably the closest thing I had to family, aside from the three heads of the Vasiliev Bratva, but I would probably skin the fucker alive if he touched what was mine.

My mind went to the big blue-eyed girl currently working in my strip club.

The little innocent couldn’t possibly be mine.

“Why should I care about any small-time gang?” I asked. “They wouldn’t even make a blip on my radar.”

“You care because one small-time gang is nothing. But twenty? Thirty? Even with the Bratva’s help, they could cause some serious damage to us. Plus, it wouldn’t do us any good if the problem starts amongourown men.”

Bianca moved into the room. I followed her with my eyes as she walked over to our table to check up on us.

“Good evening, Mr. Cadorna. Mr. Bardales.”

I didn’t answer her. Instead, I breathed in the flowery scent she brought whenever she was nearby.

At the long pause, Bianca shifted on her feet, and Raphael shot me a look before he said smoothly, “Good evening, Bianca. Is everything going all right with you?”

She nodded slightly. But I was sure everything could be going to shit with her personal life, and she wouldn’t say anything.

Why would she?

I was practically a stranger to her, yet the thought that I might not know everything there was to know about the girl irritated the fuck out of me.

“I’ll let you gentlemen get back to the show.”

Before I could say anything, she turned and speed-walked away, as if she was afraid I might give chase.

---