Boss of Brooklyn (Empire of Hearts: Billionaire Mafia Men #2)

Chapter 1

Luca

I stand at the floor-to-ceiling windows of my penthouse, gazing out at the city skyline across the East River. At thirty-nine, I'm already at the pinnacle of my power – feared, respected, and completely untouchable. The city sprawls before me, a maze of lights and shadows, each block a piece on my chessboard. This is my kingdom, won through blood and cunning, and I’m the boss of it all.

My phone buzzes in my hand, breaking the silence. I scowl at the caller ID before answering.

“What is it, Al?” I bark into the phone, my voice sharp with irritation.

“Boss, we've got a situation,” Al's nervous voice comes through. “The Venezuelans are saying-”

“I don't want to hear it.” I cut him off. “Do you have any idea how much money we're losing every minute that shipment sits there? Every minute they deny our access?”

“Y-yes, Boss, but these guys-”

I growl into the phone. “Fix it! Grease some palms. Do whatever it takes. Or do I need to come down there and do your job for you?”

“No, Boss! We'll handle it, I swear!”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, feeling a headache coming on. “You have one hour, Al. One. If that shipment isn't moving by then, you'll be the one sleeping with the fishes. Understood?”

“Understood, Boss. It'll be done.”

I hang up without another word, resisting the urge to hurl the phone across the room. Which I may have been known to do a time or three.

I get all of five seconds of peace before my phone buzzes again. A text from my right-hand man, Leo.

“Word is out that you're back from Monaco. Want me to set something up with Russo?”

My jaw clenches. I've known this conversation was coming, but that doesn't make it any easier. Vince has been more than just an associate; he's been a friend. And now... now he's gone straight, thanks to that Bennett woman I heard about. The thought leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.

I type back a quick reply. “I'll surprise him at home tonight. Pick me up at 8:00.”

Pocketing my phone, I move to my desk and pick up a dossier. The label reads “Romano, Sofia.” I flip it open, revealing a photo of a young woman with fiery eyes and sensual lips. Twenty-three years old. A rising star in the culinary world. And now, unknowingly, a thorn in my side.

I sigh, rubbing my temple. The Romano family has been quiet for years, content to stay in their little corner of Brooklyn. But with Sofia opening her restaurant right in the middle of disputed territory with Queens, the Esposito family wants her gone. Whispers of past feuds are stirring in the streets.

I need to deal with this quickly and decisively. Show everyone that the Boss of Brooklyn isn't going soft.

I find my eyes drawn back to Sofia's photo. There's something about her – a spark, a fire that resonates with me in a way I can't explain. In another life, maybe...

“You're being ridiculous,” I mutter to myself, snapping the folder shut. “Handle it like you always do. Quick and clean.”

But as I grab my jacket and head for the door, I can't shake the feeling that something is off.

The elevator doors slide open, Leo waiting for me. “Boss,” he nods, falling into step beside me. “The car's ready.”

The ride to Manhattan is quiet, the city lights blurring past as I lose myself in thought. Monaco was a clusterfuck, no two ways about it. What should have been a simple job – convincing a reluctant business partner to see things our way – had spiraled into a shootout at the casino.

Weo barely made it out, and now the heat is on. If it hadn’t been for the quick thinking of young Dominic Esposito I may not have made it out. And now his family is trying to call in the favor by getting me to run this girl off. The old Luca would have reveled in the chaos, but now…

Now I'm tired. Tired of always looking over my shoulder, tired of the constant power plays and backstabbing. Maybe that's why Vince's decision has hit me so hard. He found a way out, a chance at a normal life. Something I've never allowed myself to consider.

We pull up to Vince's building, a sleek tower of glass and steel overlooking Central Park. As I step out of the car, I straighten my jacket and school my features into a mask of cool indifference. I always enjoy having the element of surprise.

The concierge at his building asks if I’m on the guest list. Hmm. Looks like I’m crashing a party. I drop my name and he ushers me into the elevator, nearly falling over himself to apologize for not knowing who I am. He’s lucky I’m in a generous mood at the moment.

The penthouse is exactly what I'd expect from Vince – luxurious but tasteful, with panoramic views of the city and park. After his man Marco answers the door, I make my way toward the sound of voices when I see a beautiful woman I don’t recognize in front of me. “So you're the woman who tamed Vince Russo.”

She turns to look at me.

“I'm Luca,” I say, offering my hand. “Luca Del Toro. Vince and I go way back.”

She shakes my hand, her grip more confident than I would have expected. “Emily Bennett. It's nice to meet you, Luca. I didn't realize you were coming today.”

I smile at that. “I'm full of surprises. Just dropped in to say hello to the family.” I look past her to see Vince approaching, and he doesn’t look entirely happy to see me.

“Luca,” Vince says, his tone carefully neutral. “I didn't expect to see you here.”

I shrug noncommittally. “You know me, always turning up where I'm least expected.” I smile at his girl. “It was lovely to meet you, Emily. I can see why Vince is so smitten.” With a wink, I walk off to see who else is here.

*****

A few hours later.

“Drink?” Vince offers, moving to the bar.

I nod, taking a seat on the plush leather sofa. “Scotch. Neat.”

He pours two glasses, handing one to me before settling into an armchair across from me. For a moment, we just sit there, two old friends separated by more than the coffee table between us.

“So,” I finally break the silence. “I assume you wanted to talk.”

Vince takes a sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving mine. “Yeah, I did. Look, Luca, I know things have been... strained between us lately.”

I snort. “That's one way of putting it.”

“I get it, I do,” he continues. “What I did, going legit, it wasn't just about me. It affected all of us. But I need you to understand –”

“Understand what?” I cut him off, my voice sharp. “That you turned your back on everything we've built? That you left me to clean up the mess?”

Vince winces, but doesn't back down. “I found something worth changing for, Luca. Emily... she showed me there's more to life than this game we've been playing.”

I down my scotch in one gulp, the alcohol burning a path down my throat. “And what about loyalty, Vince? What about the family business?”

His face is blank for a moment. “I found something that means more to me.”

I feel the anger rising in me, hot and familiar. “So what, you're just going to walk away? Pretend none of this ever happened?”

“No,” Vince shakes his head. “I'm asking you to walk away with me.”

The room goes silent. I stare at Vince, certain I've misheard him. “What?”

“Think about it, Luca,” he urges. “We've got the resources, the connections. You could go legitimate, build something real. Something you could be proud of.”

I laugh, but there's no humor in it. “You've lost your mind. Maybe you could do it, but there's no walking away from this life for me.”

“There is if we do it together,” Vince insists. “You're the Boss of Brooklyn, Luca. If you decide to change course, the others will follow.”

I shake my head, backing away. This is too much, too fast. “It’s time for me to leave.”

Without waiting for a response, I stalk across the room. As I leave Vince's penthouse, my mind is a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts and emotions. The boss of Brooklyn, considering walking away from it all. It's laughable.

And yet...

As my car weaves through the late-night traffic, I’m surprised to find myself thinking of that Sofia Romano girl again. Of the fire in her eyes, those lips that were made for sin, and those curves. Of a world where I could walk into her restaurant as just a man, not a monster to be feared.

It's a dangerous thought. A weakness I can't afford.

As Brooklyn looms before me, my kingdom of concrete and steel, I shake my head to clear these crazy thoughts. I can never show weakness. And I’ve got to deal with this girl soon.