Her head tipped to the side as she examined her work, and for a second, I thought she wouldn’t answer me. Then she bent down to my eye level and stared at me for a moment.
“We all have things we don’t want to do. I have done my fair share of things I never wanted to do, as have many of the people around you. There will come a time in your own life when you have to make choices and do things you don’t want to do. When the chance arises, grab it and hold on. You will come out a new person in the end.”
The memory spirals out before I can finish my thought, and I come to my senses, feeling the plush carpet beneath my hands. Tears stream down my face, and as I wipe them away, more appear, like they are mocking me.
There is no other way around all of this. The woman had my heart from the start, and I know there is no going back. In the end, I’ll give up the mafia for the woman I love.16Mack“You had a chance to take her, and you didn’t?” I shout, pounding my fist on the table. The bitch was right within our grasp, and yet he allowed her to slip away, yet again. He better have a good fucking reason.
“Amara and I became well acquainted at the club before Lorenzo had the chance to interrupt things.” Eli smirks like he is just delighted with himself. His eyes are shining so bright, I know exactly what he is thinking about. The idea of getting my hands on her has been running through my mind as well.
“That doesn’t explain why you let her fucking go.”
“I have a plan, Mack. Let me worry about working it all out, and you worry about how you’re going to kill Lorenzo.” The way he is talking to me has me wanting to put a bullet through his head. I have to stop the impulse to pick up my gun and pull the trigger. The satisfaction of making Lorenzo bleed will be well worth it though.
“I have to earn their trust to make this work. Still working on Enzo, but I have Amara wrapped around my finger already.” He snickers. “She let me feel her up and everything. Even got a little show. Enzo won’t know what hit him. Just trust me, revenge will be much more satisfying this way.”
“You better be fucking right, and never talk back to me again, do you understand? I’m your boss now.” I look him straight in the eyes, so he knows I’m serious. I might need him breathing, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be injured.
“Yes, we’re clear,” he says, smoothly taking the seat across from me.
My mind drifts back to Lorenzo, my hate for him stirring the fire in my chest. I hate him with a passion nothing could rival. He has everything I didn’t; he took from me without a word, a simple thank you never passing his lips. I don’t want just what he has. I want so much more. I want the empire, the money, the authority, the women, and once he is dead, it will all be mine.
“Did you decide when you’re bringing her?” I ask Eli again, wondering when he will tell me the rest of this plan he’s devising up.
He smiles smugly. “I had to do a little storytelling to Lorenzo. He’s a bit shaken up with everything taking place. He killed John, Amara’s uncle…”
So, who cares? What’s the point of being a ruthless killer if you have a heart? That alone is why I would make a better king to the empire than he ever was.
“I see he’s gone more than soft then. Bargaining for his life now, is he?” The thought alone has me wanting to scream to the heavens. The man expected us to praise him while he did things like this. No fucking way.
“Not so much bargaining for his life, but for his lover’s… I think he loves her more than he let on. Taking her will close the deal indefinitely.” Eli sounds full of himself, and I just hope he is right.
“You could have already taken her.”
“Yeah, but don’t you think it will be way more fun if she comes with me willingly? If she chooses me over him?”
I stare at him for a few seconds, making sure I’ve actually heard him right. When I realize I did, I throw back my head and start laughing.
“That would be more than fun, but we can’t just assume things, Eli. We have been sitting and waiting for a decision to be made. Your job is simple. Go in, make a deal, and bring her to me kicking and screaming if you have to. If you fail to follow through, I will kill you.” My voice is cold, and I mean every single word.