Beautiful Trouble: A Dark Mafia Romance

I’d gut him for it. Rip him to shreds.

And nothing will soften my resolve.

I turned back to the paper to try to distract my bloodthirsty mind but a soft knock at the dining room door drew my attention. Chika stood in the doorway staring at me with that intense, blank expression.

Chika had been acting strange lately. I wasn’t sure exactly why, but ever since Winter came to the house, Chika had been keeping more to herself. She’d also been more obedient, which was rare.

“What can I do for my mother today?” I asked with a mocking tone. I was in a foul mood and shouldn’t take it out on her, but I couldn’t help it.

She didn’t rise to the bait. Good old Chika. She was a consummate professional.

“You have a visitor.”

My eyebrows raised. Nobody visited me at the manor unless specifically invited. “Who?”

“Kaspar Baskin. He’s down by the guard house.”

My eyebrows went up through my skull and disappeared into the stratosphere.

Kaspar, on my turf? That was the most bizarre thing I’d ever heard. I didn’t think I’d see him again for a long while, not after the last meetings.

“Alone?”

“Alone as far as we can tell. He even consented to a search.”

“He let you search him?” I shook my head, completely blown away. “Did he say what he wants?”

“To meet with you.” Her face betrayed nothing. I could strangle her on the spot.

“Send him in. Keep three men nearby at all times, and I want you on hand.”

“Yes, sir.” She turned and walked off.

I stood and paced. I had to burn off some of this uncertain energy. What the hell was Kaspar doing here? He wasn’t even supposed to know this location—but of course he did.

I didn’t know much about the man. He was one of the more mysterious men in the Oligarchs. His family went back generations, back to the founding of America. They were rich before that, made their wealth in the Old World as money lenders, and became speculators when they emigrated in the early days of colonization. Kaspar controlled vast sums of money and large stakes in several important mining companies.

But more important than any of that, he controlled the Hungarian mafia. The Jaros Family was a relatively small outfit mostly concentrated in the Midwest, but they were ruthless and strong. Kaspar never had much ambition, or at least that’s what I always assumed—but he’d been hanging around the edges of my feud with Roman like a vulture, and I was beginning to wonder if he hungered for more.

Kaspar entered behind Chika. He didn’t smile, only looked around with an appraising frown. Chika gestured toward the table then silently left, and I caught sight of the guards standing out in the hall.

I nodded to Kaspar, but remained standing. “You don’t normally make house calls.”

“No, I don’t. Though there are very few Oligarchs that would allow me into their homes.”

I quirked a tight smile. “Maybe that makes me foolish.”

“I like to think it makes you smart. Should we sit? I could use coffee.”

“Chika, coffee.” I didn’t check to make sure she heard. I sat and Kaspar took the chair across from mine. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m here to talk about Roman.”

“I thought you might be. You’re not convinced?”

“You spun an interesting story. I’ll admit that I’m not so sure marrying the Kane girl will do much good, but it’s an interesting theory.”

“You backed it at the hotel.”

“I have my reasons.” He tilted his head and didn’t continue.

We lapsed into silence. I wanted him to elucidate on those reasons, but I sensed that wouldn’t happen. Chika appeared with the coffee, placed it in front of Kaspar, and retreated again.

Kaspar took a sip and smiled. “Very good. Did she make it herself?”

“Chika’s talented.”

“I should poach her from you, though I suspect I’d be a much worse boss. Tell me, how involved in this business are your sisters?”

I stiffened and tried not to show my anxiety. I hated speaking about Penny and Erin to anyone outside of this house, especially with a man like Kaspar. I didn’t know what he wanted to know about them, but I was sure he was aware of what happened to Liv. All of the Oligarchs attended her funeral, as was proper, including Roman. It rankled me, letting him anywhere near my sister’s casket after what he tried to do to my brother, but he paid his respects and left without making a scene. I had to respect that at least.

“I’m not sure my sisters are your concern.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m concerned, but I am curious. Family seems important to you, and you’re going to bring this Winter girl into the fold. I wonder what they think of the whole thing?”

I narrowed my eyes. “What are you getting at?”

He smiled broadly. It would’ve been handsome and charming if it weren’t for the utter lack of warmth behind his eyes. “Nothing at all, only trying to make polite conversation. You do that, don’t you?”