Chapter 2
Georgi
While Santino, our head of security, checks the cart containing our lunch, I read the text Adriano sent in the group chat I share with him and Augusto.
Adriano: I just had to fire another stripper, all because Georgi can’t keep it in his pants.
A grin spreads over my face as I sit down on the couch, typing out a reply. We’ve been best friends since our late teens. The five families in the Cosa Nostra are tight as fuck, and I get along with everyone, but Adriano and Augusto are my ride or die friends.
Georgi: Who?
Adriano: Sharon. She got it in her head that riding your dick allowed her to treat the others like shit. This happens every single fucking time. Stop fucking my staff.
Letting out a chuckle, I can’t resist provoking my friend.
Georgi: I can’t help you have good taste in women. The blame falls on you, brother.
Adriano. Fuck you. Go to Paradiso and be Augusto’s problem for a while.
Augusto: I banned Georgi from my club.
“Come eat,” Raya, my baby sister, says as she takes the silver domes off the plates. “God, it smells good.”
I get up and walk to the table, and while taking a seat, I shoot the group a last message.
Georgi: Gotta go. Take the next two to three weeks I’m gone to employ new strippers.
Adriano: Stay out of trouble in Bulgaria.
Augusto: Let us know how the meeting with Petkov goes.
I tuck my phone into my pocket, and looking at my plate, my mouth waters as I pick up my cutlery. I cut into the thick ribeye that has butter melting over the top, and when I take a bite, Raya grins at me. “Is it good?”
Chewing, I nod, and cutting another piece, I place it on the side of her plate so she can taste the steak.
Even though Raya’s creamy risotto looks great, she steals some of my crispy potatoes and roasted vegetables.
When I glance at her, she shrugs. “Yours is better.”
“It always is,” I chuckle, allowing her to help herself to more from my plate.
I grab a piece of bread, tear it in half, and slide the rest toward my sister.
This is how things have always been between Raya and me. She’s four years younger. Since my first memories, I’ve taken care of her.
Right after our biological parents moved from Bulgaria to the US, a fire broke out in our apartment building. I don’t remember anything about that night, but I was told a fireman found me carrying Raya through thick smoke. Many people died that night, including our parents.
Raya was only a year and a half old when we landed in the orphanage. She has no memory of our time there. Even though the staff did their best to take care of us and we weren’t abused, I’m very protective of my sister. It’s just the way I’m wired.
We were lucky our adoptive parents found us.
Every single day, I’m thankful for them.
Renzo and Skylar Torrisi are the best parents any kid could ask for.
They have never made us feel like we’re not blood, and the day Dad handed over the reins to his seat in the Cosa Nostra is the proudest of my life.
My eyes flick to Raya as she drinks some sparkling water.
“We need to talk,” I mention, leaning back in my chair.
Her gaze meets mine. “About the meeting with Atanas?” She narrows her eyes at me. “I swear if you tell me I have to stay at the hotel, I’m going to knee you.”
Santino lets out a snort before trying to mask it with a fake cough. I give him a look, silently telling him to give us privacy.
While he leaves the hotel suite, my attention returns to my sister.
I’m aware of how unhappy she is with my overprotective streak. Whenever a man catches her attention, I threaten him with the sure promise of death. I’m the reason she’s still unmarried at thirty-one.
Raya’s safety has always come first, and it makes it so fucking hard to ease the tight grip I have on her as I say, “That’s not what I want to talk about.”
My control freak nature tenses every muscle in my body because what I’m about to do will put Raya in more danger. Being a daughter of the Cosa Nostra already puts her at risk, hence my obsessive protectiveness toward her.
Even Dad sat me down before the trip and told me I need to ease up on Raya. She’s downright miserable, and it’s all because of me.
Fuck. What if I give her this power and freedom, and I lose her?
I love my baby sister more than life itself. I’d die for her in a heartbeat.
Christ.
My expression turns grave as I fight my instincts to protect Raya with every ounce of my being.
When I continue to stare at her, wondering if I’m making the biggest mistake of my fucking life, concern flashes over her features. “What’s wrong, Georgi?”
I let out a heavy sigh before forcing the words over my lips. “I’m making you my second-in-command.”
Raya’s jaw practically hits the table as shock ripples over her face. “You’re what?”
My expression grows grimmer as worry grips my heart in a brutal hold. “You’ve proven yourself over and over again. We both know I can’t run the business without you, and you deserve to be named my underboss.” Leaning forward, I keep her eyes imprisoned. “But, you go nowhere without your guards.”
It takes a moment for my sister to process her shock, then her eyes start to shine with tears, and she darts to her feet. I barely have enough time to get up before she throws her arms around my neck. Hugging me tightly, a sob sputters from her.
“God, Georgi.” Raya’s tone is strained. “I know this isn’t easy for you.
” She pulls back, her hazel eyes locking with mine.
“I promise I’ll always have the guards with me.
” Swallowing hard, she regains some control over her emotions, and a serious look settles on her face.
“I won’t let you down. Thank you for giving me this. ”
My eyebrows pull together as I stare at my sister. “If anything happens to you because I made you my underboss…” I shake my head.
Raya rubs her palm up and down my bicep. “Nothing will happen.”
I tip my head at the table, and once we’ve taken our seats again, I lean back and stare at her for a long moment before I say, “Once we’re done here in Bulgaria and we return home, you’ll take over handling all the shipments for the other four families.”
A smile spreads over her face. “So I won’t be stuck in the office all day?”
“No.”
My heart beats a little faster than normal as an apprehensive feeling slithers down my spine.
Chill, Georgi. She’ll work in a controlled environment on our turf.
I let out another heavy sigh. “Just be careful, Raya.”
She drinks some of her water, then asks, “Why the change of heart?”
Shaking my head, I let out a chuckle. “Dad sat me down before we left New York. He said you’re unhappy, and I have to ease up on you.”
Her expression turns somber, and she lowers her gaze to the dishes on the table.
“I get that we live in a dangerous world and you’re just doing your best to keep me safe, but sometimes it’s suffocating.
” She meets my eyes again, and I feel the intense emotions coming off her in waves.
“Dad’s right. I want more from life. At some point, I want to settle down and have children, and I can’t do that if you chase off every man I try to date. ”
A frown settles on my forehead, and I narrow my eyes. “How did we go from me making you the underboss to talking about dating and having babies?”
Raya throws a hand in the air and rolls her eyes before tilting her head and giving me a stubborn look. “I thought you were easing up on me?”
“I am.” I lean forward and rest my elbows on the table.
Her left eyebrow pops up. “Only with work?”
“For now.” I give my sister a pleading expression. “One step at a time, Raya. We can talk about you dating in a year or so.”
“Jesus. My ovaries are going to dry up at some point. You know this, right?”
Exhaling a huff, I get up from the table and mutter. “We’ll be late for the meeting if we don’t leave now.”
She echoes my huff as she walks to her bedroom to get her handbag. When she returns, I’m surprised by the grateful smile she gives me. “Thank you for making me your second-in-command. It means a lot to me.”
When we leave the suite and step out into the hallway, I murmur, “Give me time to get used to you being my second-in-command, then we can talk about you getting married.”
Raya playfully nudges her shoulder against my arm. “Okay.”