Chapter 3.

Matteo POV.

This meeting is draining. The nightclub Sinners and Saints is the newest property in my inventory. I don’t usually do my illegal business deals in my legitimate businesses, but then again, I’m untouchable. So I can do whatever the fuck I want.

Right now, I am looking at the son of a bitch who is sitting in front of me, squirming in his seat. I may be the mafia king and anything is fair fucking game. But I draw the line at human trafficking. All the families agreed to that law when I took over ten years ago.

So this piece of shit Michael Santo thought he could go under the radar. He is wrong and he won’t make it out of this building alive.

The club isn’t open yet and for good reason. Even though the authorities can’t do shit to me, I don’t want members of the public to see his corpse being carried out of here.

“Tell me Michael. How’s business?” I ask as I sit watching him like a hawk. He begins to relax. The stupid cunt thinks he can get one up on me? It’s laughable, really. Nothing happens without my knowledge. He started to traffic men and woman two months ago and we have been building the evidence against him.

One of the other family heads got close to him and Michael, being the putz he is, spilt his guts to him. Luca Gillespie, who came straight to me and he wasn’t surprised to know I already knew. So here we are. This morning we raided his warehouse where we found the men and women waiting to be taken out of the state. Over thirty of them, as well as guns, drugs, and money. The bastard was trying to steal from me.

“Business isn’t so good, Matteo. I need more time.” He states and I lean back and tap my fingers on the desk as I watch him and he gulps. My lips twitch as he breaks into a cold sweat.

“How so? You told me you would have the payment today. I gave you a grace period to sort it out. Now you are telling me it wasn’t done? Tell me Michael. What is really going on?” I say and he shrinks in his seat.

“I … the …”

“I’m going to level with you. I know what you have been doing. I won’t sugarcoat it. You have been stealing from me. That is not something I can overlook.”

“What! No, I haven’t been stealing. Whoever told you that is lying? Matteo, my family is loyal to you.” I chuckle as I look at Andros and nod at him as he leaves the room.

“Loyal? Tell me, how are you loyal to me? Because from what I found out about you and your family. Your lavish lifestyle isn’t because of the business you normally conduct. Is it?” I say as I stand up as the door opens again and the men and woman are brought in.

I watch Michael as his face pales as I move to them.

“Tell me Micheal, why were these men and women found in your warehouse?” I say as the men and women huddle together. They look better than they did this morning. They have had showers, been fed and clothed. But the damage has been done to them. Physically, mentally, and emotionally.

“They are my employees.” He says and I laugh loud as I shake my head as Andros grabs him up by his collar and shoves him to his knees. Some of the women scream when they see Andros pull his gun and point it at Micheal.

“You were going to traffic them. Oh, I know you were. So I will ask you once more. Who are these people?” I say, pointing to them.

“Yes, I was going to traffic them. Money has been tight, and the product wasn’t selling.” He blubbers like a seal.

“The product your son is stealing for his own personal use? Yeah, I know everything. You, Michael Santo, have broken our laws. Not only have you stolen from me, but you have been trafficking men and women!” I scream as I kick him in the chest.

“As of right now, your family is being removed from your mansion and will be exiled. All your assets will go to me and so will your territory. As for you, well, you know the penalty for breaking our laws.” I say as he starts to cry.

“Bobby, bag him and tag him. I want him taken to the farm.” I say and he nods as Michael starts to thrash and scream obscenities at me and I ignore him as Bobby hits him, knocking him out. I turn to the victims.

“I will make sure you and your families are compensated. You will all be offered counselling because of this. I am deeply sorry and if any of you need anything in the future, you have my seconds contact information. Tony, please escort them to the hotel and get them what they need.” I say and they thank me profusely as Tony ushers them out.

“Man, I need a drink after today.” Andros says as he slumps across from me. I couldn’t agree more and I look at the time and see it was time to open the club.

“Good thing we are in the club, then. Tell me, how is Cass doing?” I ask and he looks at me with a raised eyebrow. Yes, I know about his sister and what she went through. I also know she hasn’t told Andros. I did a full background check on her after her crash and what I found made me sick.

“She is still adjusting. She is hiding what is going on. I won’t push her Matt. She will come to me when she is ready. Why do you ask?” he asks ok maybe I wasn’t so smooth in asking him.

Cassandria Bristol-Romano is the youngest CEO in the world. After her parents died, she was thrust into the position. I have kept my eye on her all these years. She is a beautiful woman, inside and out. So when Andros got the call a year ago that she was in a devastating car crash with her then husband, he took my private jet to New York to be by her side.

I told him he could bring her back and had a house ready for them both. I know she is fighting her demons. Hell, Tony is one of my men and he was assigned to her. He knows she is hiding the pain. He may not talk much, but he is very observant.

“Nothing. I was just making sure she was comfortable here. I mean, she is safe in the gated community. She is still working, correct?” I ask, and he nods his head. She went off the radar about two years ago. Apparently, she handed over the reins temporarily to the board with strict instructions to not help Black Industries.

Over the last year, I have sent my men to find all the men who hurt her and had them killed. Curtis Black is a different story. I’m saving him and his close knit men for last. I want to be the one to personally end him for what he did to Cass. She is the tesoro of the Bristol-Romano family.

Hell, she doesn’t even know who she truly is. Or who her mother was. Andros does, but she doesn’t.

Andros leaves to go and find Lola and I move to the upper balcony and watch the sea of people below, but my eyes lock on the most beautiful woman I have ever seen and I smirk. It’s good to see her having fun. I know what she looks like. I’m not stalking her or anything. I know everything about her.

I go and get changed out of the suit and make my way downstairs to the dancefloor. My men nod and move out of my way as I walk right up behind her. I grab her by her waist and she flinches slightly before she relaxes and dances seductively against me.

When I speak, and she turns to face me. My breath catches in my throat. She is more beautiful close-up. Cassandria Bristol-Romano. When I tell her who she is, she panics and moves back just as Andros comes over and moves her aside and bro hugs me. But my eyes are watching her.

When Andros introduces us, I smirk at her, and she looks flustered. She is even blushing. She is truly a treasure, a jewel. Tesoro mio.