By the time I leave the taxi depot, it’s nearly two in the morning. My brothers have already gone home, but I don’t mind putting in the extra work. Criminal enterprises don’t exactly run themselves.I walk out into the brisk night, flicking my lighter on and off. It’s a soothing action, the repetitive nature of my thumb rolling over the striking mechanism helping to clear my mind of any lingering thoughts. It’s been a hell of a day.Xander Mancini POVWhen I reach my car in the employee-designated parking lot, I stop short. On any other day, I wouldn’t think twice about sliding into my car and driving off. But something’s… off. Call it a gut reaction. A hunch. There’s a chill in the air, an icky feeling crawling down my spine.I look around. Save for a couple of taxi drivers working the graveyard shift out on their smoke break, I’m entirely alone.I decide to inspect my vehicle, walking around it to give it a thorough once-over. Everything looks as it should. No scratches, no dents. N
Zandra Franco POVIt’s a nice restaurant. Spacious and bright. Nothing at all like those old American gangster movies I grew up watching with Mom Luna Belle—Scarface and The Godfather are some of her favorites. Everything about our surroundings screams welcoming and warm… And I have a feeling this was all Xander’s design.I recognize a few of the faces seated around the table. Lower-ranking lieutenants from smaller factions, their positions afforded to them as a sort of reward for their continued loyalty to the Bernardino. Though their mere presence here today might suggest such loyalty is thin and per formative at best. Xander’s brothers are all here, too, which doesn’t surprise me in the slightest.Xander is the first to spot me. He stops mid-conversation and rises from his seat. “What do you think you’re doing here?”The rest of the men at the table stand, too, most of them appearing shocked. I’ve caught them in the act, negotiating with one of my family’s enemies. I’ve already tak
Xandra Franco POVXander is hot on my heels. Thankfully, my guards are quick to swarm me, reaching for their weapons. I wave them off, silently ordering them to stand down. I don’t think Xander’s going to hurt me. At least, he’s not stupid enough to do it in broad daylight with all these witnesses around.“What do you want?” I grumble.He glances at Vincent, then back to me, eyes too dark to decipher. “Midnight. I’ll wait an hour.”He doesn’t give a location, but he doesn’t have to. There’s only one place he could be referring to.I put a hand on my hip. “What makes you think I’ll come?”His cocky grin is answered enough because we both already know I’ll be there.Alexander Mancini POV12:45 a.m.Is it on the armchair of the hotel room couch, hunched over with my elbows resting on my knees? Fifteen more minutes. I tell myself I will wait fifteen minutes, and if she doesn’t show…I have no clue why I’m so anxious to see her. No, not anxious. Excited.Zandra crashing my meeting was neve
Xander Mancini POV She moans, her chest rising and falling as she gulps air. I don’t give her time to recover. No sooner does she reach climax do I return to the task at hand, licking and tasting and savoring every inch of her? This time, I drag my fingers up and down her pussy, collecting her sweet arousal before pushing in. Zandra yelps, toes curling as I crook my fingers in a beckoning motion, searching for the spot I know will have her screaming my name.Zandra comes on my fingers, her walls clenching around my digits. She’s truly a sight to behold, her hair a tangled mess and her cheeks a bright red to match. I take myself in hand, stroking a few times to ease the mounting tension in my body. I feel like I’m seconds away from snapping, but I manage to rise and take in the gorgeous curves of her form with a self-satisfied smirk.“Still feel like being on top, princess? Or are you too tired?”She laughs again, breathier this time. “Who said anything about being tired?”I retrieve
Zandra Franco POV“I know you’re trying to push them out of Italy,” he says. “I’ve been watching you ever since the traffic stop all those years ago. I could tell the second I met you that you had plans of your own. So why don’t we work together, huh? That way we both get what we want. If you help me make the De Luna disappear, it’ll clear the way for you to take over the city just like you want. That’s what I call a win-win.”I remain silent as I mull his words over. This is certainly a turn of events. It definitely explains why the detective has been so adamant about hanging out around the taxi depot. Was he trying to find some dirt on me in the hopes of blackmailing me into helping him? Could it be that because he found nothing, he’s now resorting to this last-ditch attempt at manipulation?I do want the Franco mafia out of the way, but Rossi was right.I won’t be caught dead talking to a cop.“Leave,” I tell him. “Never come back. If you dare make the mistake of showing your face
Alessandro’s face goes beet red. “What? No! Don’t be crass. I was wondering if you had any tips on how to ask her out.”“Aww, you have a crush on a girl.”He rolls his eyes. “You know what? Never mind. I never should have asked.”I throw my head back and laugh. “I’m just teasing you! Will you tell me who it is?”“I’d really rather not. You’re just going to blab to Cassandra, who’s going to tell Mom Luna Belle, and the next thing I know, they’ll both be all over me.”I pretend to drag an imaginary zipper over my lips. “Your secret’s safe with me, Zandro. I swear.”He sighs, running an anxious hand through his hair. “It’s one of Aunt Natalia’s nurses at the clinic.”I do my best to fight my smile. Looks like Cassandra was right on the money. “Oh?”“I’ve been, um… wanting to ask her out for a while, but…”“You’re afraid she might be intimidated because of who Dad is?” Zandro frowns. “Well, now I am.”“You have nothing to worry about. Just be honest with her. Bring her some flowers and a
Alexander Mancini POVI checked in early.I stare at the text message for far longer than necessary, admittedly puzzled to know that Zandra has somehow managed to get a hold of my cell phone number. I’d heard through the grapevine that, in another life, her father and uncles once owned a cyber security company—now defunct—so I wouldn’t at all be surprised if Zandra had the basic know-how to get my information.Are you that eager to see me?Don’t flatter yourself. I finished my work earlier, that’s all. Don’t keep me waiting.Give me an hour. I’m stuck in a meeting.“What’s got you in such a good mood?” Roman asks me from across my office.I set my phone screen-side down on my desk, swallowing the warm sensation blooming in my chest. I’ll admit the thought of Zandra lying in bed, ready and wet and waiting for me is certainly amusing.Will she undress herself before I get there out of spite? Surely she knows by now how much I enjoy ripping her clothes off. Maybe she’ll tease herself to
Xander Mancini POVMy walk takes me all the way to the Crown Hotel. The receptionist discretely passes me my key, and I, in turn, slide her 5000 Liras to keep my name off the books.“Your wife is already upstairs,” she informs me. “Have a lovely evening, Mr. Alexander”The elevator ride feels longer than usual. I can’t explain the restlessness in my bones, or the anxious excitement rolling in the pit of my stomach. With every floor I ascend, the more I’m aware of how close I am to seeing Zandra again. Never in a million years would I have looked forward to such a thing, but knowing I get to see her every other night—sometimes every night—has become the highlight of my day. I open the door and step into our room.Zandra is nowhere to be found.My brows furrow, knitting together as I take in my surroundings. Her jacket is thrown over the back of the couch. Her shoes are by the door. The scent of her vanilla shampoo lingers in the air, intoxicating and sweet. But the hotel room is compl