Finding Beauty in the Darkness

“Your brother, Cecilia, and Stefan.”

I groan on the inside. My mother does this shit every few months. Calls for a family lunch where she tries to play matchmaker with Cecilia and me. I’ve told her countless times it’s not happening, but she refuses to listen. Typical Italian woman, stubborn as hell.

My brother Nico arrives next, followed by Cecilia and her father. After we all say hello, we order drinks and appetizers from the waiter. He looks scared and I don’t recognize him.

“New waiter?” I nod toward the man currently tripping over his own feet.

“Yes, but I’m not sure if he is going to work out. He’s the son of Giuseppe.” Giuseppe is a business associate of Dad’s, in Italy. His son must have moved here and needed a job.

“I hear the senator is giving you some issues,” Stefan says, getting straight to business. My mother frowns but doesn’t say a word.

“He hurt one of my girls, again. I’ll be collecting the debt he owes in full at the end of the month. I’m done doing business with him.” My blood starts to boil just thinking about what he did to Natalie a couple weeks ago.

“That’s understandable. Just make sure you keep it civil. With him running for another term as senator, we don’t want any trouble.”

“Understood,” I bite out too harshly, even to my own ears.

While my father is reckless, Stefan is levelheaded. He is always looking out for the organization’s best interests. My father trusts him with his life, and as a result, so does everyone in my family. Any time we aren’t sure what decision to make, we go to Stefan. His daughter, on the other hand, is the opposite of levelheaded. Cecilia is cutthroat when she wants something. She doesn’t think about the consequences of her actions. She’s so used to her dad cleaning up her messes, she knows nothing about ramifications of one’s actions in the real world. She comes across as pure and innocent in front of her father. All she has to do is bat her fake eyelashes and he does everything in his power to make sure she gets what she wants. If the man knew I was banging his daughter with no intention of putting a ring on her finger, he might not be so levelheaded.

“He’s been falling behind in the polls,” Stefan continues. “Ever since his wife passed away, he’s been known to have some anger issues, even slipped a few times in public.”

“His anger issues are now irrelevant,” I quip, already over this conversation.

“Doesn’t he have a stepdaughter?” Nico joins in. “I saw some pictures of her a while back. She’s smoking fucking hot.”

“Nico,” our mom scolds. “Watch your language.”

“I don’t give a fuck about his personal life or his hot daughter. As long as he pays me back every goddamned last penny he owes me, his business is his business.”

“Giovanni,” my mom chides at the use of my language.

“I read she went missing,” Nico adds.

“Yes, right after her mother died. The press questioned the senator, but he asked for his personal life to remain private, saying his stepdaughter needed to grieve,” Stefan informs us. As much of an asshole as Hightower is, it wouldn’t surprise me if that girl ran for the hills. All this talk about Hightower makes me realize I haven’t heard from him since the day he ran out of my club with his balls in his hands.

My mom cuts in, changing the subject. “I am thinking of doing a family vacation this summer. Maybe May or June, all of us in Atlantis.” She smiles excitedly.

My father nods, returning her smile. “Anything you want, Claudia.” You’d think, with the way he treats her, she hangs the moon. But if so, then why does he seek pussy elsewhere?

“That sounds good, Mom. Just let me know when.”

“Yeah, a trip to the Bahamas sounds good. Maybe Mario can join us.” Nico pulls out his phone, most likely texting our brother.

“Cecilia, would you be able to go?” Real subtle, mom…

“I think so. As long as Giovanni doesn’t mind me taking off at the same time as him.” Cecilia bats her eyelashes at me, and Nico chuckles under his breath. I give him a pointed look, telling him silently to shut the hell up.

Thankfully, the topic of conversation switches back to work. “I heard from Don you lent one of his girls money.” My dad gives me an appreciative smile.

“Yeah, as a personal favor toward him. If she doesn’t pay me back on time, he’ll owe me the money… or she can work at the club to pay it off. She would definitely be a money maker.”

I see Cecilia straighten, and I know I hit a nerve. If it were up to her, there would be no club. She detests the thought of all these women taking attention away from her. I’ve never admitted it, but I haven’t fucked any of the women who work for me. I’d rather her assume I do. If I’m not fucking her, I usually just pick up a woman at one of our hotel bars or clubs. It’s just easier that way. My father taught me a long time ago, not to shit where you eat. Fucking the women who work for me would only create an unnecessary shit storm. And yes, I’m aware I’m fucking Cecilia who works for me, but that shit started before she worked for me, and trust me when I say, I’ve learned my lesson.