Chapter 9
NINE
Milo
“Three fucking Lamborghinis?” I shouted at Lucas. “How did we lose three cars?”
“I’m investigating,” Lucas said. “They were en route to the dealership.”
“They made it all the way overseas and somehow disappeared where?”
“If I knew that, they would be with us and not lost.”
I gazed out the penthouse windows looking down at the chaotic city. All the commuters headed back to their respective homes. It was well after five o’clock, but it seemed as if my night was just beginning.
“How can I be expected to funnel money for Juan if I don’t have products?”
Juan was our liaison for the lead cartel we worked with. They were vital in keeping my family in control of the city. As long as they were happy and well-compensated, my father could run his territory .
“This is just a setback,” Lucas said. “I’ll find the cars.”
“If it isn’t a mistake, I want the people responsible for holding up my business.” I chugged from my glass of vodka, but not even the smooth drink settled my rage. “We need to get this situation resolved.”
“I’m on it.” He packed his laptop into his briefcase. “I’ll work through the night to get this figured out.”
“In the meantime, have three more sent to us. If the others show up, fine, but I can’t wait. I have buyers who are expecting their cars.”
“I’ll get it done.”
“Thank you.” I set my glass on the coffee table. “I appreciate all of your help with my father and Marchello being away.”
“No problem.” He checked his phone. “Sable is on her way up.”
I had sent over a package with a new dress and requested she join me here tonight. I had to stay in the city overnight to deal with arising issues, and I didn’t want to spend it alone.
“How did her first day at the house go?” I asked.
“She pretty much kept to herself, interacting with Antonella a bit, and she did meet Ricardo.”
“Interesting.” There was only one way she could have encountered Ricardo. “I take it he did his job?”
“Ricardo did not allow Sable access to Chance.” He pulled on his suit jacket. “Maybe that means she’s less of a problem than Lissia.”
“God, I hope so.”
Lissia had a way of manipulating Ricardo, which was why I assigned him to Chance and not Sable.
“I hope you know what you’re doing when it comes to the siblings,” Lucas said. “Because Marchello may have had his hands full with Lissia, but now you’re dealing with two outsiders while trying to keep your family on top.”
“Find the missing cars.” I waved my hand in the air because I was done with this conversation. “I’ll deal with the rest.”
As Lucas opened the door, Sable stumbled out of the elevator, probably trying to navigate in the stilettos I bought her. She smoothed out her hair and adjusted the top of her new Versace dress. The ruby silk accentuated her ivory skin.
When she caught me staring, she stopped fidgeting. I motioned for her to come to me. She obliged without hesitation, but that wasn’t enough to make me forget she had disobeyed me earlier when she went to see Chance.
“Keep in touch with me tonight,” I told Lucas. “I’ll have my phone nearby.”
“Sable,” Lucas said. “That color looks lovely on you.”
“Thank you.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder, revealing her ear. There were holes where earrings should be, but there were no diamonds adorning them. “It’s a very pretty dress.”
It’s four-thousand-dollar Italian silk. It should be pretty.
I nodded at the guards standing outside the door before shuffling Sable into the penthouse. She jumped when the door closed.
“Are you always this jittery?” I ran my hand along her exposed back. “Or is it me who elicits that reaction from you?”
“Being around you certainly intensifies my anxiety.” She glanced at me before looking around the penthouse. “This place is stunning.”
“Thanks.” I took her hand and led her into the sitting room. “I prefer to spend my time here, considering the city is where I do most of my business.”
She gravitated toward the long windows that overlooked the spectacular view. The lights and bustle of the city always lured my guests to take in the view.
“It’s always so vibrant and busy here.” She stared down at the cars and pedestrians. “I don’t like city life.”
“It hasn’t been very kind to you.” I traced my fingers along her arm, admiring how perfect she looked. “When you and your brother chose to flee Brooklyn, you picked a tough place to start a new life.”
“We didn’t have many options.”
“I can give you options.” I wrapped my arms around her waist from behind her. “But I can only do that if you abide by the rules.”
“What if I don’t like your rules?”
I smiled into her hair, breathing in the citrus scent of her shampoo. Is she feeling feisty tonight?
“You’ll learn to like my rules.” I gripped her hips. “Because if you don’t, you might not like the consequences.” I turned her around. “But who knows, maybe you will.”
“What do you want from me?”
“Everything.” I cupped the side of her face and gazed into those eyes that could make me forget who and what I was in a heartbeat. “For tonight, I’ll take your body as payment.”
Her muscles stiffened when I yanked her closer to me. Why was she so tense? Last night, she didn’t seem to mind my hands all over her, especially when she came in my arms.
“The dress,” she said. “I didn’t thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me.” I kissed the corner of her mouth. “Seeing you in it is enough. ”
“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.”
“I have.” I fought the urge to fall victim to her mild nature. “You did something different with your hair.”
“I curled it.”
“You packed a curling iron but not a coat?”
“Everyone is so obsessed about my coat or lack of one.” She shook her head and softened her tone. “I didn’t pack a curling iron. Antonella showed me Lissia’s bathroom and said that I could use whatever I needed to get ready for our date. I hope that was okay.”
“Lissia won’t miss anything.” I smirked. “She doesn’t even know what she has.”
“She seems really interesting.”
“She has turned the Accetti household upside down, but that’s one of the reasons we love her.”
“Maybe someday I’ll get to meet her. When are they getting back from their honeymoon?”
“It’s open-ended.” I motioned to the bar by the windows. “Can I get you a drink?”
“I’m good.”
“Are you hungry?” I poured myself another glass of vodka.
“Antonella made it her mission to feed me today.”
“What was your mission today?” I pressed the glass to my lips. “Because it certainly wasn’t following my wishes.”
Sable stared out at the view that I took for granted. Was it easier for her not to face me as I called her out for disobeying me?
“I bought you the dress because I had anticipated spending the evening getting to know you.” I set my glass down on the bar and then stood behind her. “I made a reservation at one of the best restaurants in Manhattan.”
Her body tensed when I clutched her arms .
“I’m disappointed the evening isn’t going to go the way I had hoped.” I spun her to face me. “Instead of me getting to know you, you’re going to learn what happens when you defy me.”
“You can’t be serious.” She tried to get out of my hold, but I tightened my grip. “You can’t keep me from seeing my brother.”
“I can and I did.” I tugged her to the staircase. “The longer you act like a petulant child, the longer I’ll keep you from him.”
“I have done everything you’ve asked.”
“So, you didn’t go to the pool house today?”
“I did but…” She gazed into my eyes. “What do you want from me?”
“I think you know what I want.” I guided her up the stairs. “I tried to be reasonable. I wanted to give you time to adjust. I wanted to be patient, but tonight isn’t the night to try me.”
I pushed her into the bedroom and slammed the door. She stepped back, stumbling into the bed, but she caught herself and straightened her posture. She swiped her copper locks to the side, daring me with her tempting stare.
“Take that dress off.” I loosened my tie and slid it from my neck, keeping it in my grasp. “Or I’ll do it for you.”
I unbuttoned my shirt and slipped it over my shoulders, waiting for her to grant my request, but she was too busy watching me take my clothes off. Her mouth opened as she took in my chest, but she still hadn’t done what I wanted. I took off my shoes and socks before coming closer to her.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“What you should be doing.” I spun her to face the bed.
“I don’t like being ignored.” I yanked on her zipper, lowering it to the base of her back.
“When I tell you to do something, I expect you to do it.” I spread the dress open and pulled it down her body, letting it fall at her feet.
“No questions, no hesitations. I don’t like when people waste my time. ”
I tugged her back to my chest and kissed the side of her neck. “No bra?”
“I didn’t have one for the cut of this dress.” She tensed when I grabbed her arm and wound my tie around it. “Why are you doing that?”
She tried to wiggle out of my hold, but I reached for her other arm and secured it behind her back, tying her wrists together.
“Teaching you a lesson.” I shoved her onto the bed.
Once she hit the mattress, she rolled onto her back.
“You need to understand that when I tell you not to do something, it’s for your own good.
” I removed her heels, tossing them over my shoulder.
“I had my reasons for not wanting you to see Chance today.”
I made that demand to see if I could trust her. She proved I couldn’t. We would have to work on consequences.
“You came to me, remember?” I unbuckled my belt and unbuttoned my pants. “You gave me all the power for a ten-thousand-dollar debt.”
“You know why I did that.”
“And you know why I paid it.” I pulled her off the bed and steadied her on her feet. “You owe me.” I gripped her hair and yanked her face to mine. “I’m about to collect.”
She closed her eyes when I took her chin between my fingers and brushed my lips along hers.
“I should warn you I didn’t have a very good day,” I said.
“I’m sorry.”