Page 57 of His Vicious Desire

“Oh my god, thank you.”I hug him tight.

ChapterSeventeen

Four Months Later

Gaetano

“Thank fucking god.”Sandro sighs as he almost falls onto the couch.

“What?”

His smile is wicked.“Bianca isn’t graduating early after all.She failed two classes.Now, she’s so disappointed she’s not even going to try to make up the classes over the summer.”

Exhaling a laugh, I shake my head.“It’s wrong to be that damn happy when you know she’s disappointed.”

“Yeah, yeah.I’m an asshole.This is not new information to her.I hope she’ll take some time and chill out.Maybe date a guy, find a husband who doesn’t want her working.Luca wants her in the hotel.But since Paul is going to be the one who puts up with her, he said not until she’s got her degree.”

Paul is the vice president of the hotel on the strip and doesn’t have anything to do with the Outfit side of things.His father ran our hotels before his death and openly knew what we do.

“She’s as stubborn as you are.”I remind him.“Bianca isn’t going to drop it.”

“If she finds someone who doesn’t want her working, she will.”His sigh is heavy.“Hell, I can hope.It’s just frustrating that Luca is encouraging her.”

His phone goes off with a text.“Speak of the devil.His flight is leaving on time to come back to Vegas.He’s not going to be in a great mood.Said his dad was talking to him again about getting married—like he knew he would.Now that he's broken up with Tracy.Asshole told me that I have to straighten up on picking women too.It’s not my fault it’s hard to find classy chicks who are good with casual.”

“Another reason why I’m more than good with never going any higher.I’m never doing that again.”I remind him.

There’s more to running a city than people think.Business includes parties for things like fundraisers for the mayor, senators, and congressmen, it was important for people to owe us in more ways than money.

“I’m well aware, and so is Luca.Neither one of us will make you.”He assures me.

“Would you marry to keep your spot?”I’m curious.

Running a hand over his face, he nods.“I’ve worked too hard to give it up.If I have to, I’ll do it.”

I shake my head, better him than me.Marriage is a hell I’m never going back to.

Gaetano

The doorbell going off shocks the hell out of me, it’s almost nine.I check the doorbell camera and find Sandro looking stressed out.

I open the door.“Hey, what’s up?”

“Luca is going to get us all killed.”

Fucking hell.I step back for him to come in.

Hand running through his hair, he’s wide-eyed but not seeing a damn thing.“Bella, the chick he found among the girls trafficked the other night—the night he got in from Chicago.She is the daughter of Augusto Reyes.”

I was about to sit down in the recliner, but I keep moving to grab my bottle of whiskey.“I’m going to grab my Macallan.Two minutes.”

He nods.

Grabbing the bottle and two glasses, I take them back with me to the living room.I pour him two fingers that he swallows down in one gulp.Before I pour my own, I refill his.“Has he told Dominic and Tony?”

Shaking his head, he sips at the second pour.“I asked him if he was prepared for war, and he is.Asked me if I was ready for the first blood to be my own when I suggested we send her back to Augusto.”

“Jesus, Sandro.I’m surprised he didn’t kill you the second the words were out of your mouth.The way he is with her is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”