Page 29 of Ruthless Secrets
I do my best not to look at her ass as she walks across my office toward the door, if only to avoid being reprimanded by my brother.
I wish she didn’t have to go, but at least I know that I’m guaranteed to see her tomorrow.
Andre dips his chin at Clara as she passes him before shutting the door behind her.
“Care to explain that?” he asks once the sound of her footsteps have disappeared down the hall.
I stalk over to the drinks cart and pull the crystal stopper out of the bourbon decanter. “Nothing to explain. She’s my new manager.”
“You’re lying.”
“Why would I be lying?”
“I distinctly remember you saying that you don’t need help running this business because you don’t trust anyone to do the job as well as you.”
He is right. I did say that.
“Things change.” I pour the amber liquid into two glasses before returning the stopper.
“They do…”
I hand Andre his drink and go sit on the couch.
My collar feels tight, so I undo another button and stretch my arm out along the back of the couch.
My back is murdering me from leaning over my desk for most of the day, but it was worth it just to be close to Clara.
Andre sits in one of the leather armchairs and crosses an ankle over a knee. “If you were anyone else, I’d say you were into her. But that makes no sense since you never date. At least not since?—”
“Are you here to discuss my love life or is there something else?”
Andre regards me with curiosity as he takes a sip of his drink, but it seems the scowl on my face is enough to deter him from pestering me further about Clara.
“Fine. We need to talk about Rossi.”
“Which one?”
“Well, considering the fact that we killed Lorenzo, the only logical answer to your question is Alfonzo, dumbass.”
I roll my eyes. “Alfonzo’s been quiet for a while. Has he decided to finally show his face?”
“Seems like it. He’s been forming new alliances ever since he took over from Lorenzo.”
I take a sip and let the liquid burn all the way down to my stomach. “Let me guess. He wants payback for what we did to his cousin.”
The past always has a way of catching up with you, so mybrother and I have been careful over the years not to make powerful enemies for this very reason. Though it seems our efforts might have been in vain.
“That’s my guess, yes.”
“Who is going to be stupid enough to join forces with a man, who is noticeably lacking in resources, on a personal vengeance mission?”
Andre downs the rest of his bourbon before getting to his feet to refill it. “While we have been careful, our father was not.”
I hand him my now empty glass as he passes by me.
“He was a ruthless man who enjoyed causing chaos. There would be many crime organizations that would enjoy seeing the De Lucas crash and burn.”
“I think that list is pretty short, brother.”
