Page 1 of Scarred Heir
ONE
Milo
Her unique emeraldeyes mesmerized me from across the bar. Drawing me in like a bee to nectar from a toxic flower. Too bad I didn’t know how deadly those metallic green eyes would become.
Two hours until midnight. Would I survive? In my world, there weren’t any guarantees.
A new year, a new start. Except I was the only Accetti here this year. My father was underground taking care of business, and my brother Marchello and his bride Lissia were on the run.
They had left me to defend our bloody, brutal, and cruel empire. Happy Fucking New Year.
I would protect what was ours without remorse or mercy, and I would never regret anything I had to do in the name of keeping us in control.
New York City swelled with tourists and spectators, flooding the streets to watch the ball drop. Most ofthem would never get to the resolutions they were so desperate to fulfill. Why? Because intentions were a waste of time. I preferred actions.
If I said I would do something, I fucking did it. End of story.
Lucas, my family’s advisor, and right now, the only one I had to assist me in running the business, hurried across the crowded club where I hosted a private party tonight. Drinks, gambling, entertainment, and most importantly, no shop talk.
“Hey.” I scanned the club, looking for anyone who didn’t belong, but my gaze kept landing on the stunning woman sitting at the bar alone. “You look like you have something important to tell me.”
“Nothing specific, but everything I say is important.” He ran his knuckles over the stubble of his jaw. His hair had become streaked with gray strands since my father took a leave of absence. Marchello’s stint as head of the family had caused Lucas more stress than he would have liked. He probably lost sleep over what type of chaos he thought I would rain upon the business.
“At least in your mind.” I smirked as I took inventory of the sweaty bodies pulsating on the dance floor. “Our debut night seems pretty popular.”
“The guests are enjoying themselves, or should I say they like the free top-shelf liquor you’re serving.”
“There’s more Versace and Armani in this room than there is in some of the shops on Fifth Avenue.”
I had purchased this outdated eyesore of a club because of its sweet location in the middle of Manhattan. It needed a ton of work, but I wanted to host a party tonight because it was important to show my face and let the other familiesknow that despite my father and my brother being away, the Accetti family was still in control.
“There are no issues with the guest list?” I asked.
“The people we expected to be here are. A few of them brought associates or dates,” he said. “Security was able to identify most of them.”
“Who is she with?” I nodded toward the green-eyed woman in the black dress who had caught my attention a few minutes ago. “Every gangster in here is gawking at her, but no one has claimed her.”
I didn’t know if it was her killer legs that had me so intrigued or if it was because she kept crossing them and uncrossing them as she fidgeted with a cocktail napkin. Was she a lamb caught in the fox’s den? Or did she have a purpose?
“I don’t know who she came in with,” Lucas said, interrupting my thoughts. “Do you want me to find out?”
“I can manage that on my own.” I straightened my tie. “Maybe tonight won’t be as lonely as I initially thought.”
“Don’t get distracted.”
“Distracted over a midnight kiss?” I gazed around the crowded room. “I do need someone to fuck in the new year with.”
“I think you meanringin the new year.”
“Oh, Lucas, do you even know me?” I laughed as I strolled over to where the woman who I hoped to get to know quite intimately waited.
She stared down at her empty martini glass as she twisted her hands. I positioned myself between her and an empty barstool, but she didn’t look up. I was close enough for her to feel my presence. I definitely felt hers.
“That’s a horrible habit.” When I placed myhand over hers, she snapped her head up and stared at me with those haunting eyes.
I lost myself in her stunning gaze for a moment, but quickly recovered. I was not the type to lose my shit over a pretty face. Now if the pretty face gave exceptional head, I had been known to give a Louis Vuitton bag in return.
“Fidgeting gives the impression that you’re anxious about something,” I said. “And when someone around me is nervous, I have to wonder why.”
