Page 1 of Three Bites

Chapter One

My life irrevocably changed nearly a year ago, after my father died and my brother inherited his company. The company and massive debt to the mafia, that is. Since then, I Have been made to stay at the Sunset Manor of the Cornello Family as a servant, ostensibly to help with paying off the debt… but I knew my real role was collateral: a hostage to keep my brother and his company under the mafia’s thumb.

Remember, if this deal falls apart because of your clumsiness, I will add the contract’s worth to your brother’s debt, the mocking voice of Young Master Carl echoed in my mind as I took small steps forward to bring a tray laden with tea to the conference room.

The mafia’s leader, Jonas Cornello, was meeting with the boss of the illustrious Sanguine group. The whole Mansion was abuzz with gossip about those negotiations. Apparently, the Cornellos have been very interested in getting their hands on a certain nightclub, which would allow them to extend their influence over New York’s shady deals.

This was an important meeting that could make or break an alliance.

Too bad it wasn’t important enough for Carl to stop playing his games with me.

My hip twinged from the bruise the heir to the Cornello family left the last time I pissed him off but I kept my posture straight. My movements were as fluid as I could make them while I carried the full (too full, that bastard Carl did it on purpose) cups of hot tea to the long table where the mafia boss, his son, and their three equally dangerous Sanguine guests awaited.

One step after the other.Breathe, Victoria, breathe, I told myself.

I nearly made it to my destination but I was doomed from the start.

Carl’s kick targeting my ankle made me wobble and the only thing I could do was change the direction the cups fell, saving the guest from the watery carnage and taking the brunt of the damage on myself, as I fell back.

The delicate ceramic cups shattered around me and I prepared myself for the scalding sensation but, after a second of shock, I realized the tea was only lukewarm and not piping hot as it should be; an unexpected blessing from Carl preparing his trap in advance. But it was a small consolation, seeing as not only was Carl going to add to my never-ending debt, but my ‘clumsiness’ was bound to garner the fury of the Big Boss as well.

Trembling, I lifted my head but Jonas Cornello wasn’t even looking at me. Instead, his curious gaze studied his guests. The older men representing the Sanguine, a group with a lot of money and even more influence in New York, looked regal and powerful. Behind him stood a titan of a man, muscular and intimidating, and a young blond man with a piercing blue gaze.

And all three were staring at me.

There was hunger in their eyes. Red eyes. Ugh, wonderful. I must have hit my head on top of everything. My situation was dire enough without hallucinations.

“Oh, Victoria, what am I to do with you,” came the hated, fake-worried voice of Carl. “Please, forgive her, she is always so clumsy.”

He reached a hand out for me and I flinched. I was sure he would use the excuse of pulling me to my feet to press more bruises into my arm but his hand never made contact with my trembling form.

“Do not touch her,” came a growly voice of one of the guests, the tall and broad man with short black hair.

My eyes widened as I saw Carl was the one getting bruises now, as the stranger’s hand tightened around his wrist to the point of pain.

“H-hey! What are you doing? Let me go, Matthias!” the spoiled man-child spluttered.

Matthias listened to his request… by shoving him back onto the chair, where the second Sanguine guest, a smiling blond man, pressed him down by his shoulders when Carl tried to get up. That smile had a diamond-sharp edge to it.

“You’re bleeding,” Matthias gritted out but I had a feeling the anger in his voice wasn’t directed at me.

Maybe he had spotted Carl’s underhanded method of getting me in trouble? When Matthias was the one to extend a hand to help me stand up, I took it.

His two companions swarmed around me, making sure I would not step on the broken ceramic pieces. Matthias took out a handkerchief and cleaned the blood welling from my cut finger. I couldn’t help but notice how his breath trembled as he did so. Was he afraid of blood? His eyes were fixated on the red droplets with such an intensity it was a bit unnerving.

“I will call the staff to deal with this mess but I think moving to a different location is wise,” the mafia leader, Jonas, spoke levelly. “Carl, please leave us.”

“What?!” The young man stared at his sire in betrayal. “Aren’t you going to punish her? And that brute dared to lay his hands on me!”

“Are you so fragile you can’t handle a bruise?” Matthias bared his pointy teeth.

“Enough,” Jonas said. “From the both of you. Carl, out.”

The heir to the mafia scowled but rose from his seat. I stepped away from his path but still got a dark stare promising retribution for the humiliation that wasn’t my doing.

The wet, cold clothes clung to me and I shivered.

“Sir, am I dismissed?” I asked quietly.

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