Page 1 of Attraction (Mobsters + Billionaires 3)
1
LUCA
“Mr. Stefano,Agent Hughes to see you.”
I button my jacket over my gun and slide the knife into the top drawer of my desk. It’d be embarrassing for a Mafia don to get himself hemmed up on a weapons charge.
“Thanks, Mary, let him in.”
A few seconds later, Liam Hughes, FBI Agent specializing in RICO cases, appears in my doorway. He’s a handsome man wearing a decently fitted suit, even if it is the kind one might buy at a store with the wordwarehousein it. He’s fidgeting with, strangely enough, a bowl of daisies.
“Agent Hughes, what an unexpected surprise. Are those flowers for me?”
He arches an irritated brow, sets the daisies on my desk, and quickly steps back. I’ve told him on a number of occasions that my brother’s crush on him precludes me from randomly putting a bullet in his head.
I’ve almost got him convinced.
“These were on my breakfast table this morning.”
“Oh?”
“I have the best security system money can buyanda security bar. Both were undisturbed when I got up this morning. I’m not sure I want to know how he got into my place.”
“Sounds like you have a secret admirer.” I bite back a smile.
“You and I both know there is only one person crazy enough to break into my home just to leave me flowers. I’m living with an elderly relative who is easily startled and has a heart condition. Please call off Mr. Hopper. He’ll listen to you.”
That’s…huh. When Anthony spoke to him a few months ago, he said he didn’t have relatives in the city. Ryder’s search on him seemed to corroborate this.
Curious.
And not the first time my hacker-for-hire’s impressive skills have run into a wall as it concerns Agent Hughes. Her partner is back in Ukraine, no doubt neck-deep in anti-Russian operations. Maybe now’s a good time to have Ryder try again.
I refocus on the agitated man in front of me. He must be very worried about his relative to reveal something so carefully hidden. Perhaps my attempts to soften him with information that led to a handful of flashy, career-making busts have finally born fruit. At the very least, he has to understand we’d never hurt anyone affiliated with him, even if Hopper is a bit of a wild card.
Sure, some would call my brother an absolute fucking lunatic, but I think he’s got a heart of gold. Both things are, of course, true.
Hop also has an enormous hard-on for one very unfortunate RICO agent.
“Agent Hughes, you’re trying—unsuccessfully, I might add—to build a case against me. Why should I call off my brother?”
He huffs a breath. “I’m the only reason you’re not cooling your heels in Rikers at this very minute.”
“Oh really? And why is that?”
“The Byrne family’s confidential informant has continued to feed my team bad information. I informed your Mr. Edgerton a few months ago of the situation.”
The Byrne brothers are slippery motherfuckers, but stupid where it counts. All of their snitching and double-dealing will get them killed one of these days.
“Anthony did mention something to that effect. What is their CI saying now?”
“That you participated in the midtown club shootout two weeks ago.”
“Interesting. You know I’d never approve of open violence.”
He tilts his head in acknowledgment.
“Besides, that would have been rather difficult for me to orchestrate since I was out of town visiting friends at the time.”
