Page 1 of Darkest Love
Chapter One
Adrien
Love has never been something I’ve worried about having. It’s always seemed pointless to me. Why settle down when I can have as many women as I want in life? A new woman every night to take to an event or go on a date when I’m not busy working.
Love is just something I’m not interested in.
But what I am interested in is power. Having lots of it.
Which is why I’m in New York instead of in Paris, where I live. I’m part of the French Mafia – the Corsican. As someone who has worked hard to get where I am in life, I’m not at the height I want to be. I want to be at the top but to get to the top requires allies.
Nico Bernardi sits across from me at the table in his favorite Italian restaurant. As someone who has spent a lot of time in actual Italian restaurants in Italy, this American version is a weak comparison.
“Nice to see you again, Adrien,” Nico says.
We’ve been friends for years but he’s mostly been in New York over the past few years while I’ve been in Paris. We’ve spoken about expanding our businesses together for some time and it seems that it’s time.
“You too, Nico. I must say, New York is smellier than I remember it being.”
“You live in Paris. Paris stinks of cigarette smoke no matter where you go.”
I chuckle as I lean back in my seat, resting my arm on the booth. “True, true. But Paris has a romantic charm about her. What does New York have?”
“Other than it being the most powerful city in the world?”
“You Americans always think you’re at the center of everything.”
“And I know how much it pisses off you Europeans.”
“It really does.”
We share a smile. It’s all teasing for the fun of it.
“So, let’s talk business,” I say. “We have been discussing being business allies for a while, even though we’ve been friends for much longer.”
“Yes. So it should be an easy transition. We just agree to work together. Get it in writing. And then we can start making so much money, we’ll get sick of it.”
“I like the sound of that. But despite our friendship, Nico, how do I know I can truly trust you?”
He scoffs. “Why would you say that? Don’t you know me?”
“Yes. And that’s exactly why I am asking this. You’re a good friend but you have been known to fuck over your business partners. Denis Petrov comes to mind.”
Nico waves a dismissive hand. “Denis Petrov is an ass. I’m glad I’m not working with him anymore. It was purely politics. But with you, we’re friends. I won’t fuck you over. I promise.”
“I’m going to need more than that. Something that guarantees you won’t fuck me over if you get the chance. We may be friends now but when we enter into business together, it could change everything. We could turn on each other for so many different reasons.”
“Ok.” He steeples his fingers together. “What do you suggest?”
I fix my cufflinks. I always believe a man should wear a suit whenever he gets the chance. My black suit fits the drabness of New York but in Paris, white is my favorite color to wear. Not many men can pull off a white suit. I’m one of the ones who can.
“A marriage agreement.”
Nico blinks before he coughs. “What? With who? You don’t believe in marriage. You’ve always told me you never want to settle down.”
“And that is true. But I want power more. And I don’t want to be fucked over by you. I know you currently have an alliance with Mikhail Novikoff and Liam O’Connor all because they’re married to your wife’s sisters. So it’s obvious to me that the link between you three are the women in your life. If it weren’t for them, you three would never have an alliance.”
“True. I still kind of hate Mikhail and Liam despite working with them for the past few years.”
