Last night, I gave my friends a heads up. They weren’t surprised. It wouldn’t change our friendship and I still planned on keeping human trafficking through the territories at bay.
“Russo.”
Dante stepped off his yacht onto mine. “DiLustro.”
Much like his cousin who wreaked havoc in New York City, Dante created chaos in Chicago while his brother, Priest, did the same in Philly. It was comical really, because Dante and Basilio looked more like brothers and Priest should be the cousin.
The Russian cousin, I sneered.
What. The. Fuck. Ever.
Their family clusterfuck wasn’t my problem.
I crossed my arms over my chest and watched him. The young prick was alright, but anything that remotely touched the Ashford connection had always irritated me.
Not that the DiLustros and I were connected. Their connection came from Byron’s mother's side.
He handed me a large suitcase that I passed to Ricardo.
“Next time, I’d rather do a wire transfer,” Dante retorted dryly.
Ignoring his comment, I tilted my chin towards the steps that lead under the deck. “There won’t be a next time,” I said coldly. “Have your guys get the guns off my ship.”
He issued a wordless order to his men who started moving. My men were all over the boat so there was no chance of them gettinglost.
“What do you mean there won’t be a next time?” Dante questioned, while I shared a look with Ricardo. I told him on the way here, I was getting out. It had been on my mind for a while, but Autumn was right. While my father was alive, it was about survival and power. And the only way to accomplish it was by surpassing him.
The fucker was dead. I’d work with Ricardo and slowly transfer the illegal side of the business to him. He’d been loyal and stood by me through all those years.
“It means I’m getting out,” I said dryly. “Or do you need further clarification?”
“Goddamn it,” Dante spat out. “I just shook on a whole year’s worth of supplies and you’re fucking bailing.”
“Didn’t know.” Didn’t care, either.
The moment the guns were off my ship, so was Dante.
The prick flipped me the bird while standing on the deck of his yacht.
I laughed, lighter than I’ve felt in a long time.
If only I knew, I wouldn’t be the last one laughing.
Chapter38
Autumn
Iwoke up to an incessant buzzing.
The moment I moved, the stinging pain exploded through my whole body. A dull ache pulsed between my thighs and my ass hurt.
Buzz. Buzz.
“Alessio, get that,” I murmured sleepily as I rolled to my side, only to wince. My whole body was sore.
Then memories from last night rushed to the front of my mind and my pussy throbbed like it was ready for another round. Holy shit.
I needed a few days to recover from that.