Cruel Vows

MASSIMO

Axel pulls into the layby off the highway on his Harley, turning off the engine. He hops off of it and marches arrogantly toward me, an angry look in his eyes. “Where the fuck is the product you promised me?” He stops a foot from me, standing as tall as he can. “You promised I’d have it without fail yesterday.”

“There are a few ground rules we need to cover first.”

Axel’s eyes narrow. “If you’re backing out of the deal, then I need Paisley back.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “Do you understand?”

There’s zero chance of me ever giving her back, even if this deal doesn’t happen. “It’s one stipulation, really. No cutting the product to a dangerously low level.”

“That wasn’t part of our agreement. We make a profit by cutting it, Morrone.”

I nod. “Right, but I want an agreement on a cut percentage.”

“Why?”

“Because dead fucking druggies from our products look bad on us.” I run a hand through my hair. “We can’t have our other clients backing out because you’re cutting it so much.”

Axel’s brow furrows. “I can’t keep it pure, you know that.”

I nod. “I just don’t want people dying.”

He shrugs. “There are always casualties in the drug trade. I don’t know what you want from me.”

“Our product is high quality.” I clear my throat. “You can’t flood the streets with sub-standard product less than fifty percent pure.”

His eyes widen. “We normally cut it seventy percent.”

“No chance.” I shake my head. “If you cut it that much, the deal is off.”

“What percentage then?”

“Forty percent, maximum. And make sure you cut it with something that won’t leave a trail of bodies.”

Axel brushes his fingers over his beard, contemplating. “Forty-five percent and we have a deal. I can’t go any lower than that.” Axel holds out it his hand.

“We’ve got a deal.” I reach for his hand, but he moves it away.

“If you get the product to me within an hour. I made promises and you’ve let me down.”

“Done,” I reply.

He shakes my hand and then his brow furrows. “I didn’t want to ask in front of Rick, but why did you want Paisley?”

Hearing her name on his lips angers me, especially since I saw the way he took her out of the party they crashed, as if he owned her. “It’s none of your business.”

He arches a brow. “That’s not the right way to start a partnership.”

I sigh heavily, hating being questioned. “Why the fuck do you think?”

“To fuck her, she’s pretty fuckabale,” he replies.

I grab hold of the lapel of his jacket and lift him off the ground. “Never fucking talk about her like that again.”

Axel’s eyes widen, and he holds his hands up in surrender. “Calm it, Massimo.”

I let him go. “If you must know, I’m marrying her.” One thing that has bugged me since that night is that her brother didn’t fight very hard to stop me from taking her, not the way I’d fight for my sisters. I don’t expect he’ll cause me any trouble or try to stop the wedding.

Axel’s mouth gapes open. “What?”

“You heard.” I push my hair away from my face. “I’m fed up with my father shoving suitable girl after suitable girl into my face, and Paisley took my fancy.”

“Right, so you’re basically rebelling with the worse possible choice of wife.”

I growl. “What right do you have to question my choice, King?”

He holds his hands up in surrender. “Calm down, I was only jesting.” His brow furrows. “But Paisley is a firecracker. Be careful, you might get burned.”

“I can handle her.”

He nods. “Well, good doing business with you. Where can I expect my drugs?”

“One hour at the bar.”

He nods and turns around to mount his bike. “Her brother is pissed, though. He keeps saying he’s going to hunt you down for taking his sister, but we think he’s full of shit.” He winks and then puts on his helmet, driving away from the hardstanding carpark on the edge of the city.

“Are you ready to leave, sir?” Arturo, my driver, asks.

I nod and, without a word, slip into the back of the SUV. “Take me to Sal’s.” I am due to meet my brothers for a drink, although part of me just wants to return to my room and duel with my pretty fiance.

“Of course, sir.”