Page 34 of Empire of Seduction

“Fuck no.” God, could this day get any worse? I tugged my knit hat lower on my head and considered going home and crawling under the covers. “Fine, the brother can stay at the house—but just while Vito is here. Once Vito goes back toToronto, the brother can take the cottage on the weeks when it isn’t rented.”

“We need to build another rental property,” my brother said.

“Put it on the list for the new owner. Apparently, money is no object.”

“You have to admit, that’s a nice thought for once.”

Shoulders tight, I turned and walked away. “Yeah, but Vito’s money comes with strings and now we’re in bed with the mob.”

“Some of us literally,” he called to my back.

I lifted my middle finger up high over my head.

seven

. . .

Vito

I heardhim before I saw him.

“Cazzo madre di dio!” a deep voice snapped before something heavy slammed against metal. I grinned and picked up the pace, eager to see my brother.

Earlier, Cesare drove to JFK Airport to pick Massimo up and bring him here. I expected my brother to come see me first, but he’d insisted on going straight to the kitchens, even though it was after midnight.

When I entered the winery’s kitchen, my brother was there, searching through drawers, a deep scowl on his face. We hadn’t seen each other in eight months, so I wasn’t used to the short beard he wore, but he looked good.

I let the door swing shut behind me. “Diavoletto!”Little devil.

He glanced up, his brow wrinkled in annoyance. “This place is a fucking mess. I can’t find a goddamn thing.”

Walking over, I grabbed his shoulders and kissed his cheeks. “Thank you for coming. It’s good to see you.”

He grabbed my face and turned my head side-to-side. “You look tired, fratello. Not getting enough pussy?”

“Fuck off.” I shoved him away. “Nice beard.”

Maz rubbed his jaw. “This is as long as I can grow it without having to wear a net on my face in the kitchen. Women like it, though.”

“What do you think?” I gestured to the kitchen. “Will you be able to pull this off on Saturday?”

“Yes, don’t worry. But I need to reorganize this place first. It’s a disaster.”

“Should you do that now? Better to get a good night’s sleep, no?”

“I took a pill and slept on the plane. I’m rested, V.”

I held up my palms. My brother was thirty-one years old. I didn’t need to mother him. “What do you need from me?”

“Pull everything out of the drawers and then put those bins up on the counter. I’ll deal with the pans.”

We began working, with the sound of metal clanging drowning out any hopes for conversation. When I started stacking plastic bins, my brother said, “So tell me about the girl.”

Shit. Cesare had been gossiping on the drive. “It’s nothing.”

“You’re here, so it can’t be nothing.”

“I’m not here for her, I’m here because it’s a good investment. Nothing more.” He made a face like he didn’t believe me, so I said, “I didn’t know she was affiliated with the winery.”

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