Page 3 of Kingpin

Then he sidestepped me, as the room let out a collective sigh of relief.

“Mr. Moretti. A word?” Israel asked.

I clenched my jaw to keep it from trembling as my eyes locked on the wall again.

“Of course,” my uncle said. “Whatever you need, Israel.”

“I’d like to be shown around your estate.”

My uncle had always been calm and collected. “I can make that happen. Brianna?”

I quickly turned. “Yes?”

I saw Israel shake his head. “She can stay here. She has no business seeing your office.”

My uncle furrowed his brow. “My office?”

Israel nodded. “Yes. I’d like to get a feel for the business I’ll one day be running. Since I’m marrying your only child.”

I felt my eye twitch at the comment, and I prayed no one saw.

“If that’s what you wish to see—”

Israel interrupted my uncle. “Take me to it. Now.”

My uncle’s eyes panned up to the balcony where my aunt stood. And even though I wanted to turn to see her reaction, I knew I was almost home free. If Israel felt comfortable enough to want a tour of the grounds, then that meant I had performed my job correctly. I simply had to keep selling it until everyone walked out of the foyer and left me behind.

Why am I always left behind?

My uncle nodded. “Of course. If that is what you wish.”

Israel loomed over my uncle. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

With a flick of his fingers, my uncle motioned for everyone to follow him. And it wasn’t until the last man left the room that I let out the breath I was holding. I panted softly, my eyes traveling up to the place where my aunt had been standing. But the balcony was empty, leaving me all alone in the grand foyer of the house I had grown up in.

“You did it,” I whispered.

I smoothed my hands over the dress, unsure of what to do with myself. Did that mean I had to marry that man? My uncle promised me I wouldn't have to marry him before the plan took place. The only thing I knew about Israel was the rumors about him in the community. The empire he ran for his family. The ruthlessness of his actions. The strict business deals that got people killed if they even glanced outside of the lines. I could only imagine what being married to him would be like.

Just do it before the wedding. No harm, no foul.

Assuming Israel didn’t sniff me out first.

2

Bonnie

A soft whistlecaught my attention as I stood in the foyer.

I must’ve lost myself in my thoughts because when I looked back up to the balcony, I saw my aunt with a very irritated look on her face. She quickly motioned for me to come upstairs, so I gathered my dress, hiking up the steps two by two.

The veil fluttered around me. I rolled my lips back so I wouldn't get red lipstick all over the delicate fabric. My aunt took my arm and dragged me down the hallway. Out of sight and out of mind.

“What? What is it?” I asked softly.

“Here, I have to give you this,” my aunt whispered.

She took my hand and opened my fist before pressing a small vial against my palm. I gazed down at the hub of the plan. The one substance that would define either success or failure of all my uncle’s hard work. I pressed it between my thumb and my pointer finger and held it up. Such a tiny vial, yet deadly.

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