Page 12 of Dark Wolf Soul
Apparently, Dutch discovered a rat a few weeks ago. He took it to my father first, but the old man’s too cocky to worry about someone being able to get to him and told Dutch not to worry about it. So, Dutch came to me, and I gave him the green light to investigate. My father’s big head’s going to be his downfall if he’s not careful because, apparently, Dutch was right all along.
“That was fast,” I say.
“It’s the only thing I’m fast at, don’t worry.”
I shake my head. “You got a name?”
“Trucker.”
“That piece of shit,” I snarl.
“You remember him?”
“How could I forget? He’s one of our oldest captains. Asshole’s always been a bit big for his panties. Thinks he should be running shit instead of my old man.”
The prick also didn’t like to take no for an answer when it came to the ladies, which deserved an ass-kicking far worse than ever betraying the boss did if you asked me.
“What do you want me to do?” Dutch asks, grunting his agreement of my assessment.
“Bring him in,” I say. “See if you can find out if we have any other rats on our end.”
“You don’t think he’s working alone?” Dutch asks.
I snort. “He’s not smart enough for that.”
“You got it. I’ll call when we have more.”
“Thanks, Dutch.”
“Don’t mention it. Listen, I know it’s not what you wanted, but I’m glad you’re back. We’ve missed you around here.”
“I missed you too, man.” That part, at least, isn’t a lie.
“Aww.” He pretends to sniffle, and I grin. “Okay, that’s enough sappy shit,” he declares. “I’ll check in soon.”
I shake my head.
“Later,” I say as the call ends.
In the silence that follows, my thoughts drift from Trucker to Franco and then back to my father and his master plan that sent me out here in the first place. Lexi Giovanni, the long-lost princess, now a bargaining chip in the biggest bid for power the mafia pack has seen since its inception.
I still can’t believe Franco’s heir has been shaking her tits at a strip club. No, not shaking them, I realize. Not until tonight. Not for anyone but me.
At first, I’d thought her friend was just saying that to flatter me. To make my tip bigger. But one look at Lexi’s hesitation and I knew it was true. I was her first.
Just the memory of her on my lap makes me hard all over again.
I shake it off, trying like hell to forget, but it’s impossible. It’s not just her hot-as-sin body or the way she moved it against mine. Despite how badly she needed that money I offered her, she hadn’t been afraid to tell me to go to hell. In fact, even though she’d given in and danced for me, and even though I knew she wanted me as badly as I wanted her, something about the way she looked at me made it clear she was still in charge of herself. That her boundaries meant more than her desires. Damn if I don’t respect the hell out of that.
Lexi isn’t what I expected at all.
Then again, I’m sure I’m not what she thought either. Or I won’t be, once she wakes up and realizes what I’ve done. The idea of her hating me bothers me more than it should, and I grip the wheel tighter as I let the inevitable play out in my mind. Her waking up, finding out who I am, what I intend to do with her.
Dammit.
I might have taken her to make her a pawn in my father’s war, but one night in her company and I know she’s so much more than that. She doesn’t deserve what’s going to happen next. And even though it makes me an asshole of the worst kind, I’m doing nothing to stop it.
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