Page 8 of Plunge into Obsession

Right now, I spent most of my time between Michoacán,Mexico, where our home base was located, and New Mexico.

We were considered the middlemen between the Vasiliev Bratva in the East and the South American drug trade, bringing goods in and out of Mexico for a hefty profit.

It wasn’t common knowledge that I had taken the throne or that I had killed Luis. I planned on keeping that a secret for as long as possible, taking advantage of my anonymity and regaining control among the men.

Most thought Luis was still alive and, like a coward, had gone into hiding after the death of Angelo Agnello, the late don of the Agnello Mafia, and Luis’ one and only backing against the Bratva, and to an effect, me.

Others thought he was still very much in charge and working in the shadows.

Of all the shit in my life, rumors were the one thing I couldn’t control.

Some got close to the truth. Others were so far off, it would have been funny.

I couldn’t give a fuck which way it went.

It was still my empire, my throne.

But it was as Raphael said.

Shit was getting messy, as it always did when there was a transfer of power, but especially when that transfer of power was done quietly.

There were even rumors circulating about me, even when most believed Luis had really succeeded in killing me.

El Despiadadowas born.

A name my people gave me.

A shadow in the night said to terrorize men, women, and children alike.

The bigger they made me out to be — a fucking devil out for the blood of innocents — the less likely there would be stupid fuckers out there trying to look for me.

It wouldn’t have mattered if they did.

Unlike Luis, I wasn’t easy to kill.

No one was taking what belonged to me.

“You don’t need the backing,” Raphael said, “but you have to admit that having the connections wouldn’t hurt.”

My gaze followed Bianca when she appeared again, carrying a tray that held six glasses of drinks.

My fist clenched, not knowing why it fucking irritated me so badly to see her working like this.

If she were mine, she wouldn’t lift a fucking finger.

But she wasn’t mine.

Bianca Hansley was off limits, not only because she looked so fucking innocent, even working at a fucking strip club, but because she wasn’t born in the life.

I might be the fucking devil incarnate, but even I wasn’t monster enough to drag the little innocent into my own hell.

But fuck if the temptation wasn’t so strong.

“Give this a little thought, Gabriel,” Raphael said softly. “I know you don’t like this. I know you want that girl, but you need to start thinking about our future. You need an heir. You need to give our men something to hold on to, and even if you don’t need to marry for connections, do you really think it’s a smart idea to drag some innocent woman into our lives? If she didn’t know the score, if she showed even a hint of weakness, they would eat her alive. How would you protect your wife and child then?”

“Hypothetical wife and child.”

He shook his head.

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