The Banker (Banker 1)

His eyes moved back to mine, the horror in his gaze. “My family—”

“Everything is collateral when you borrow from Cato Marino. I suggest you figure it out. Otherwise, I will butcher every member of your family.” I rapped the backs of my knuckles against his desk before I turned around. “Figure out how you’re going to get my money, Connor. Or start picking out coffins.”

When my plane landed, I got into the back seat of my car and was taken away from the airport. After the long day I’d had, there was only one place I wanted to go.

Siena.

We’d established a monogamous fling that was supposed to mean nothing, but my grip on her seemed to tighten. She said I didn’t own her like I owned everything else, and that was when I realized how much I hated that fact.

I did want to own her.

Ever since the beginning, her uniqueness caught my attention. Every time she pushed me away, I pulled tighter. My attraction turned to obsession. My obsession turned to possessiveness. Maybe this arrangement would burn out and my interest would die—but I’d never been this invested in a single woman in my life.

Maybe that meant something.

Bates called me. “What happened?”

“Connor was straight with me. Told me they’d found a promising spot for drilling. I’ll get an update in a few weeks.”

“You think he’ll make it happen? They’ve burned through half our money.”

I rested my elbow on the armrest while my hand kept the phone against my ear. I looked out the window and watched the sun disappear over the horizon. It was past eight in the evening, and nighttime had officially arrived. “I don’t know. But I told him what would happen if he didn’t.”

“Mention Rose and the girls?”

“Of course.” The second you took the money, you risked everyone you knew and loved. If the Marinos didn’t get their money, all hell would break loose. No one was immune to those rules. That was how we kept our clients in line. It was rare when someone took a risk they couldn’t gamble—and they always died in the same way. “I’ll send a coffin brochure just to get the message across.”

Bates turned quiet. Instead of hanging up, he let the silence linger. That meant he had more to say, but he didn’t know how to broach the subject.

“What is it?”

“Siena. Giovanni told me you slept over the other night.”

I kept tabs on people. I didn’t appreciate when people kept tabs on me, especially my brother. “Where I stick my dick is none of your concern. Mind your own fucking business, or I’ll burn my cigar on your cheek.”

Bates didn’t hesitate at the threat. “Did you tell her you know who she is?”

I didn’t see the point. She clearly had no interest in her family’s blood money. “Trust me, Bates. She wants nothing to do with that lifestyle. She despises money and power. She’s happy living in a little shack. She doesn’t want anything from me. She doesn’t even like me most of the time…”

“Then why is she still fucking you?”

I grinned. “Because I know how to fuck.” I thought about the way I’d left her that morning, powerless underneath me while I forced her to surrender. Watching a stubborn woman give in was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.

“Has she ever asked you about what we do?”

“Not once.”

“Has she ever asked for anything too personal?”

“No, Bates. In fact, she’s told me how much she pities me. She knows I have all the money in the world, but she sees how bored and empty I am.” I’d never admitted it to her face, but the second she said those words, I knew they were true. I knew she understood me in a way no one else did. When we met, I wasn’t looking for a connection. But I inevitably found one. Maybe that was why I wanted her so much—because she really knew me.

“You’re just in a mood.”

“Moods comes and go. I’ve been this way for a long time.”

“Whatever. Don’t let this bitch think she knows you. She doesn’t.”

The muscles in my forearms immediately tightened in retaliation. I didn’t need to defend her honor, not when she was just a fling, but my reaction was so natural, it unnerved me. “Don’t call her that. I mean it.” I told her I would hurt anyone who hurt her. That applied to my brother as well.

He laughed into the phone, but it was a sad laugh. “Jesus fucking Christ, Cato. Please don’t tell me you’re falling for her game. You’re smarter than that. At least, I thought you were…”

I was surrounded by liars and manipulators. My life revolved around staying one step ahead at every turn. The beautiful thing about Siena was there were no games. She only wanted one thing from me, and she got it. The rest of our time was simple. It was easy. We had real conversations that had nothing to do with money or power. “Good night, Bates.”