Chapter 1
Present day…
“We looked into the Italians like you said, sir,” Dante, my head of security and right-hand man, reports as he places a stack of photographs on my desk. “You might be right about them brewing something, but we can’t be sure yet.”
I glance at the pictures. The first one shows Leo Camporese and some of his men getting into their cars. Leo is one of the Italian mafia dons who controls a small slice of territory down on the Lower East Side, right next to his rival—or rather ex-rival—Don Adriano Sabatino.
Ever since my nephew, Rian, killed Adriano two years ago, Leo and the other Italian dons have been relatively quiet. Until now…
I flip to the next picture. It’s Leo meeting with Francis, another Italian don, in front of a nondescript building. And in the one after that, they seem to be entering through a side door with their backs turned.
The Italians and the Irish mafia haven’t had the best relationship over the years, but after Rian’s father, Aiden, married Elisa—the daughter of one of the old Italian dons—there’s been a tentative truce between us.
So why would two of our allies be meeting secretly in the middle of the night?
“Were you able to sit in on their meeting?” I ask, though I doubt he was. He would have mentioned it.
“No, sir,” Dante replies, shaking his head. “Both Dons had their men on high alert, as if they were expecting trouble. It was too risky for me to get close to them.”
I nod. If my hunch about them is right, they were most likely expecting trouble. But fuck, I hope I’m wrong. “Keep watching Leo.”
“Are you going to inform the boss, sir?”
I shake my head. I want more concrete evidence before bringing this to him. Besides, it’s been a very eventful few years for the young king. I’m not going to disrupt this new peace in the family if I can help it.
“What’s next on my schedule?” I ask, moving on.
“Your lesson package for Miss Bree, sir.”
My lips tighten before almost immediately curling up into a brief smile. How could I forget about that? Especially since Rian texted me last night with a reminder. He thinks I might back out since I was so reluctant to agree to do it in the first place.
Truth is, I do have mixed feelings about it.
On the one hand, I’m glad we’re finally about to stop shielding our girls from the harsh reality of our world, and I’m honored the family trusts me enough with this task. But on the other hand, I feel like it’s a waste of my time and expertise.
As one of the most feared Dons with one of the biggest territories in the Kilpatrick syndicate—as well as being consigliere to the King of the entire underworld empire—I have a lot of important responsibilities on my plate.
But I can’t deny that I’m looking forward to seeing my niece. That’s one good thing about this, at least. I get to spend time with my nieces and boss them around.
Being among the oldest and most powerful men in the Kilpatrick family, I’m one of the very few people who can take a firm hand with Bree Kilpatrick—especially since I’m not technically blood-related.
She’s practically royalty, the daughter of Nolan and Valentina Kilpatrick. The little printsessa is spoiled, as most Kilpatrick girls are. Any other person would be too scared to offend her and risk getting on the bad side of her parents, uncles, and cousins.
Besides, after almost losing Melina in Berlin last year, I consider it my personal duty to expose the other Kilpatrick girls to the harsh reality awaiting them outside the tall, guarded walls of their family’s mansions.
I stand up and adjust my cufflinks before putting on my suit jacket. “Where am I meeting Bree?” I ask Dante as we walk toward the elevator. He winces. That can’t be a good sign.
“She’s currently staying at her parents’ house in the east Hamptons. That’s where the lesson will take place.”
“Fucking great,” I mutter. There’s nothing I hate more than being cooped up in a car for hours. But taking my private jet or the helicopter is out of the question, unless I want to give my insolent nephews and nieces more fodder to tease me about…
Those fucking kids. They’re lucky I love them.
During the long drive, I keep myself busy with work, replying to emails and even having a thirty-minute Zoom call with the owner of a startup I want to invest in, so at least my time isn’t completely wasted.
The Hamptons are beautiful—the ocean, the opulent homes, the boats lining the marina, and even the fresh, slightly salty air. But I prefer my home in Brooklyn. Not only am I in the thick of things there, but I love living among my men. It reminds me of where I was before I met Aiden’s father all those years ago.
I lock my phone as Louis, my driver, pulls into the long driveway and parks in front of the stately home. He gets out to open my door, bowing briefly as I step out. Pausing for a moment, I take in the grandeur of the two-story Georgian mansion before making my way inside.
“I’ll wait for you out here,” Dante’s voice croons through my earpiece. He and a few of my other men drove in a discreet car behind us. While it’s quiet right now, it’s never quiet for long in my world. This is simply the calm before some storm, I’m sure of it.
With a discreet nod, I punch in the code and walk into the house. A butler greets me in the foyer and bows so deeply I’m surprised I don’t hear his spine creak.
“Where is she?” I ask.
The butler doesn’t meet my gaze as he informs me the miss is already in the library, ready for her lecture, and that he’ll escort me.
“Very well. Let’s get on with it, then.”
I thank the butler at the library door, and he provides another dramatic bow before leaving me alone. With a sigh, I push the door open.
Bree is sitting on one of the oversized armchairs, looking incredibly small in it.
I’m taken aback when her whole face lights up with a genuine smile at the sight of me. “Uncle Maksim!” Her smile is infectious and prompts one of my own as she springs to her feet and bounces toward me, flinging herself into my chest.
Uncle. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to hearing that.
All the Kilpatrick children call me uncle, because even though I’m not biologically related, I’ve always been a quiet member of the family. I was there for their births and watched them grow up. But moments like these, when they show they care for me just like I care for them, lightens up my dark heart.
“Little Bree, how have you been?” I ask as we pull apart from the hug.
She lets out a dramatic sigh. “Better now… I guess.”
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing really… I was just so annoyed that Rian and my dad signed me up for some boring lesson with one of their creepy employees, but I’m so glad it’s you. I–” Her words are interrupted by an audible thud behind her.
I follow the sound and furrow my brow upon seeing a young woman standing several feet away in front of one of the bookshelves. “I–I’m so sorry,” she stammers as she bends down to pick up the book that fell from her hand.
She’s a slip of a thing, probably not more than 5’3, with a shock of thick auburn hair and sharp blue eyes. She’s gorgeous and young… and something about her seems oddly familiar, though I can’t quite place it.
I would definitely remember meeting someone this beautiful, wouldn’t I?
“Who is this?” I ask, unable to take my eyes off of her.
Bree coughs softly, then waves the woman over. “Uncle Maksim, this is my friend Cece. Cece, my Uncle Maksim.”
Cece flushes and whispers, “Nice to meet you, sir.”
“What is she doing here, Bree?” I finally turn to face my niece.
She gives me a demure smile, “Well, we traveled here together from Manhattan. Cece just moved to the city so she doesn’t know the area yet, and since I’m her only friend here, I asked her to come to the Hamptons with me and keep me company for my lesson with you. Only I didn’t know the lesson would be with you.”
I raise a brow at that and glance at Cece, who’s biting her lips and wringing her hands together. Turning back to Bree, I ask, “Did your father approve of this? Your cousin?”
The last thing I need is more distractions.
She shrugs innocently, “I was told that my teacher was in charge of the lessons… so I thought I’d ask for their permission... so I suppose now is the time. Please, Uncle, you won’t even notice she’s here.”
Bree clamps her hands together pleadingly.
I sigh, unable to deny the brat—and here I was supposed to be tough on her. “Fine, she can stay.” But I make a mental note to do a background check on her after class. “What’s her full name?”
“Cecilia Lombardi, sir.” The girl answers, meeting my gaze with a boldness that catches me off guard.
“I hope you know how to sit still,” I grunt, nodding for her to take a seat at the front of the room. She does as ordered, but it only takes a few steps before something catches her foot.
“Shit!” she curses, stumbling forward directly into my arms.
A sudden stiffness overtakes me as her delicious honey and vanilla scent fills my nostrils. Something about that scent is so familiar, it niggles in my brain.
Cece tries to push off me, and a tiny grunt escapes her lips.
That sound is enough to unlock it all.
Her head snaps up, our eyes meet, and a moment of recognition passes between us, as though we both just realized who the other person is.
She’s the girl I fucked last week.
Fucking hell.