Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
After making it back to the Royal Flush, I left Molly in her room. She looked exhausted and said she needed to catch up with Angus. I have no doubt plotting and scheming how she’s going to attempt to take over my city.
A smile crosses my lips. A part of me wants her to win, just so I can see the look of achievement on her face when she does.
Of course I have no fucking intentions of letting her.
I’m not a fucking idiot. I’ve got a business to run.
And if she comes in with her knock-down, rebuild bullshit, that’s going to impact my business.
I walk into my father’s office.
“You done gallivanting around the country with the enemy?” he asks without lifting his gaze to mine. All three of my uncles are in the office with him. Uncle Sammie, Uncle Carlo, and Tío E.
“She’s not the fucking enemy,” I grunt. “She also has a name.”
“Molly Olive, right? Or have you already gone and made it Giuliani?” He smirks at me like he’s told the fucking joke of the century.
“Only fools marry a woman they’ve known for two days, Louie,” Tío E retorts. “Alfie is smarter than you.”
“Fuck you. Marrying Charlotte was the smartest thing I’ve ever done,” my dad says proudly.
“I agree,” Uncle Sammie states. “So, this woman… Is it serious?”
“He carved her initials into his skin, so I’d say it’s pretty fucking serious.”
I turn at my brother’s voice. I glare at him, telling him with my eyes that he’s fucking dead.
“If you ask me, she’s way out of his league. Far too good for him,” Hudson adds.
“No one asked you,” I grunt before looking to my dad again. “Did you find out what happened with Aleksei? How the fuck his head exploded?”
“Yeah, he was under the foot of a larger Russian group trying to move into town. Head up by Sergei Ivankov.” My father picks up a remote and then the screen on the wall comes to life. A series of pictures and information spread across it.
I take it all in. “I’ve never seen any of them,” I admit.
“No one has. They’re using people like Aleksei to gain a foothold,” Uncle Carlo explains.
“Okay, so where are these fuckers? I’ll pay them a visit?”
“Not yet,” Dad says. “We need to find out who else is working for them first. Clean the streets.”
“If you take off the head of the snake, the tail dies too,” I tell him.
“If you take the head out, another is already sprouting in its place,” Dad counters. “There’s always another fucker waiting to take the throne.”
The throne. My mind flickers to how Molly claims she’s coming for my throne, and I smile.
“Something funny?” Tío E questions.
“Nope.” I shake my head. “If you’re here, does that mean you brought my sister home?”
“You mean my new daughter? She’s at the estate with Emilio.”
“Good. I’m going to go pay her a visit,” I say, walking out of my father’s office.
“I’m coming.” Hudson walks out behind me.
I haven’t seen my little sister in weeks. I hate when she’s gone for so long. But she’s happy. I know she is.
“So, what’s the plan for tomorrow?” Hudson asks once we’re in the car.
“Plan for what?”
“How do you plan on keeping Molly away from those owners she’s desperate to chat up?”
“I’m not going to. She can chat all she wants. They won’t sell, no matter what she has to offer.” I’m confident about that.
“Okay then.” Hudson busies himself with his phone for the rest of the drive, leaving me to my thoughts. Which all seem to have a way back to Molly.
By the time we’re walking into the Lopez estate, I have a different woman on my mind, though. I call out for my sister, who comes running down the stairs before jumping at me. I catch her midair.
“Oh my god, Alfie! I missed you so much!” she squeals.
“Then maybe don’t leave town,” I retort while holding her close.
“Um, I’m right here too,” Hudson grumbles.
Frankie rolls her eyes at me and winks. “So needy, this one. That’s why you’re my favorite sibling,” she says before wrapping her arms around Hudson.
“Okay, follow me. I’m getting drinks and then you’re going to tell me everything I’ve missed out on.
Like who the hell is this Molly Olive?” My sister looks squarely at me.
“How do you know that name?”
“Elias says you have a girlfriend, and I told him he was delusional because there was no way my brother Alfie would ever have a girlfriend.”
“You’re right. I don’t have a girlfriend,” I tell her.
“He has her initials on his abs.” Hudson laughs.
“What?” Frankie reaches for my shirt, trying to untuck it from my pants. I swat her hands away.
“Stop.” I scowl.
“Why would you put her initials on you if you didn’t like like her?”
“Like like? What are we? Twelve?” I laugh and tap my sister on the nose.
“So, Mom says she’s going to be your date for the gala. I can’t wait to meet her.” Frankie smiles as though she’s up to something.
“Frankie, there will not be any trouble caused at Mom’s gala. She’s gone to a lot of work for this event,” I warn.
“What trouble could I possibly cause?” Frankie asks with a face far more innocent than she is.
“Hey.” Emilio walks into the room. I was wondering how long it would take him to show up. He’s like my sister’s fucking shadow, always fucking there.
“Hey, I didn’t want to wake you up.” Frankie walks over and kisses him, right in front of me. I will never get used to my little sister growing up and being married.
“Okay, enough,” I groan. “Emilio, I expect you to keep her out of trouble tomorrow night.”
“I always keep her out of trouble,” he says. And he does.
I didn’t know just how much until Frankie spelled out every little fucking thing Emilio has done for her over the years. He even took the fall for killing some asshole she stabbed. He was prepared to face life behind bars so she wouldn’t have to.
It’s been a long fucking night. By the time I finish up work, it’s three in the morning. I head home, instead of up to Molly’s suite like I want to. After showering, I climb into my empty bed and regret the decision instantly.
I’ve known the woman for three fucking days. I cannot be addicted to her already. Except I know I am. I debate calling her but then remember what time it is and that she’s probably asleep.
My phone dings with an incoming message. Reaching over, I pick it up, sitting straighter on the bed when I see that it’s from Molly.
Molly Olive:
Are you awake?
I hit the dial button next to her name. “What’s wrong?” I ask as soon as the phone connects.
“Nothing. Why are you awake?” she replies.
“I just got home.”
“Oh.”
“Molly, why are you awake?”
“I thought you might show up in my room again.”
“I wanted to let you sleep.”
“Okay, well, now that I know you’re not coming, I’ll let you go,” she rushes out.
“Molly, do you want me to come to your room?”
“You’re already home,” she says.
“That’s not an answer. Do you want me there or not?”
“Is it weird that two nights is enough to get used to having someone else in my bed?” she sighs.
“Probably. I’ll be there in thirty.” I’m already climbing out of bed.
“You really don’t have to,” she says.
“I want to. I’ll see you soon.” I cut the call and walk into my closet, throwing on a pair of sweats and a shirt. I then slide my feet into a pair of sneakers and find my keys and wallet.
I make it back to the Royal Flush in twenty minutes. I hand my keys to the valet and watch as he does a double-take at me. I’m usually dressed a lot better when I come here. He’s probably never seen me so casual.
I let myself into Molly’s suite and find her sitting up in bed. “Hi,” she says.
“Hi.” I peel the shirt off over the back of my head, step out of my shoes, and tug my sweats down my legs before climbing into the bed in my briefs.
“I’m sorry I made you come back here.” Molly lies down, rolling onto her side to face me.
“You didn’t make me do anything. I wanted to.” I pull her into me and press a kiss to the middle of her forehead. “Go to sleep,” I tell her.
“Really? We’re just going to go to sleep?”
“Yes. When we wake up, I will thoroughly fuck you if you want. But right now, you need to sleep.” She’s barely slept since I met her. I don’t know how much she usually sleeps, but I can tell she’s exhausted.