Stroke of Midnight (Cinderella 1)

“Good afternoon, boys,” Leo Morelli greets from the doorway of the conference room. “Sorry to keep you waiting. We had other business to attend.”

I turn my head to pass a glance over our guests. Leo and the Morellis’s most-trusted henchman, Trenton Alto. Trenton remains poised, ready for a fight, the muscle in his neck jumping in time with his pulse. Leo, the fucking bastard, grins.

“Does Lucian know you’re fraternizing with the enemy?” I ask in greeting.

Leo, unbothered, saunters over to the chair beside Perry and sits. “Lucian has other issues to deal with. Until this one becomes one, I don’t see the point in involving my brother.”

“A man of his word,” I rumble. “I can respect that.”

Trenton remains near the door, his watchful eye never leaving me. Unlike these barbarians, I don’t pack heat. All the heat I need is in my big fucking wallet.

“Let’s get to this,” I say, flipping open my laptop. “I had my attorney draw up a generic agreement. As soon as we finalize the details, I’ll fill it in, and we can be on our way.”

Leo barks out a laugh, elbowing Perry. “Is he always this much of a dick?”

“Where we come from, we call it power,” Perry bites back, giving off impressive ‘don’t fuck with me’ vibes.

“Power.” Leo shakes his head, his lips twisting into a sneer. “Just because you can’t see or understand ours, doesn’t mean it’s not there.”

Interesting.

In his desire to throw his dick around, he’s fed me a kernel of information. I knew they were heavily doused in illegal underground operations, but I didn’t realize how much so until this moment. It’s a thinly veiled threat stating they have one hell of a punch they’re packing, even if I can’t see it.

Where they have fists, I have financial lordship. They might have legit corporations bringing in money while they do dirt on the side, but I own the buildings, businesses, and people whose pockets they’re sticking their hands into.

“I’m not here to talk about your nefarious business dealings, Morelli. I’m here to strike a deal.” I pin Leo with a hard glare. “State your terms.”

Leo sits up, resting his forearms on the table and steepling his fingers. With his dark hair and wicked stare, it’s as though I’ve welcomed the devil himself into my conference room. Little Leo is nothing compared to his brother Lucian, though. Just a small boy trapped inside a man’s body hoping for scraps his brother will throw his way. I eat people like Leo Morelli for lunch. But, because he’s homed in on Ash, I’m playing things differently than I normally would.

“I want you to sell me the Baldridge Plaza building.” His brow arches as he smirks. “That’s it.”

That’s it?

The building alone is worth millions.

“Go big or go home,” I say, leaning back in my seat. “I admire those Morelli balls, but that building is non-negotiable. Surely we can just settle on a dollar amount that will satisfy you.”

“I don’t want your money!” Anger flashes in his eyes. “It’s a stupid building. Why do you care about it? I said sell it to me, Constantine, not give it to me.”

If only Lucian knew his brother was showing his hand so willingly to the enemy. It makes me want to dial up the eldest Morelli brother to tattle on this little prick. Almost. If I involve Lucian, he sure as fuck won’t want a dumbass building.

“Why the Baldridge Plaza building? It’s a medical building. Certainly a little more legitimate than what you’re used to dealing with.” I flash him my signature asshole grin, elated when the vein on his neck pops out with fury. “Choose something else.”

“No,” he snaps, slamming his fist down on the conference room table. “I want that building.”

Perry taps away on his computer and then turns the screen toward me. It’s the land records of the buildings that surround the thirty-six-thousand-square-foot Baldridge Plaza building. They all have the Morelli name on them.

“I see,” I say to Perry. “Someone’s been playing too much Monopoly.”

“It’s one building, and it’s not even that big,” Leo snaps. “You’re surrounded by us. You can’t tell me whatever revenue you make from the tenants there will outweigh the sale of it.”

Selling the Baldridge Plaza building means giving up an entire block in this city.

It also keeps the Morellis away from Ash.

“It’s a choice location, so I’ll accept thirty-eight point five mil. Not a penny less.” I start typing on the contract. “This agreement states that all Morellis are to keep Miss Elliott’s name out of their mouths. It extends beyond her employment with Halcyon. If she should cease her employment here, the contract states it’s forbidden for her to take positions that directly lead back to any of your businesses, both legitimate and non-legitimate.”

Leo laughs. “I don’t want her to work for me.”