5. A Bet
CHAPTER 5
A BET
M arco
A blonde head of hair zips past the elevator as I step out. I trail the tight mini skirt and translucent blouse for a long moment before mentally cursing myself. Melanie is off-limits. She is my executive assistant, and that is all. Actually, at the moment she won’t even speak to me so I’ve been forced to tend to all my administrative matters myself.
I can’t even complain to Nico about it because he’ll only tell me this entire situation is my own fault. And he’s not wrong. I saunter into the office and shoot a flirty smile toward Janey at the front desk before I internally chastise my complete lack of self-control. Dio , I just can’t help myself. The young twenty-two-year-old has only worked with us for a few weeks now so I haven’t had the pleasure of her company just yet.
No, not at all. Never . Janey is also off-limits.
Maybe if I say it enough, I’ll start to believe it.
Nico is right anyway. What’s that saying? Don’t eat where you shit or something? There are millions of single women in Manhattan I can fuck. There’s no reason I should be limiting myself to the office. I’m doing the city’s eligible bachelorettes a disservice, really.
Now, I just have to rope in my wingman.
Forgoing my office all together, I march into the next one over, my brother’s. I swing the door open, and a sharp feminine gasp echoes across the room.
Oh, shit.
My brother’s girlfriend is sprawled across his desk, her tits bouncing as his head bobs between her thighs, her movements against him coming to an abrupt stop.
“Mother trucker, get out!” Maisy squeals as her eyes meet mine over Nico’s head.
I barely suppress a chuckle over her ridiculous curse, typical for her, and school my expression. I wish I could say this was the first time I’d caught my brother and his girlfriend in such a scandalous position, but after living with them for a few months, I’d seen it all. I’m fairly certain I’m more familiar with Maisy’s body than most of the women I sleep with.
I drop my gaze, but my feet remain planted to the spot. “It’s not like I haven’t seen it before, Mais.”
Nico’s head finally pops up and he drags his girlfriend’s skirt down to cover where his head had just been. He whirls at me, blue eyes dark and murderous. “Get the fuck out, coglione ,” he hisses, his chin glistening with her arousal.
I can barely hold the straight face for a minute longer. My brother is so completely whipped by this woman I almost feel sorry for him. I remember when he used to have women on their knees for him, not the other way around.
“Have you ever heard of a lock? You know you have one on your office door. For privacy…”
“Just get out, Marco.”
“But I have to talk to you about something,” I finally mumble .
“And it can’t wait?” he snarls.
“No. I know how you two are. You’ll be at it for hours.” I toss him an I-swear-I’m-not-jealous smirk. “Besides, Mel needs a few more details from you, Maisy, about your charity’s opening fundraiser next month.”
Nico’s girlfriend’s eyes light up, and she practically leaps off the desk as she buttons up her top. She’s so easy. There isn’t anything that woman cares more about than my brother, but her new foundation for abused women comes in as a close second. And Nico being the bleeding heart that he is, has donated millions for the cause. Sometimes I wish I could just hate Maisy, but she’s one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met. I still don’t understand how Nico snared her, especially after their rather questionable start.
Maisy whizzes past me, tugging down the hem of her skirt and running her hands through her mop of wild auburn hair.
“Careful, don’t trip,” I call out as she passes. The woman may be beautiful but she’s an accident waiting to happen.
A smack to the side of my head whirls me around to face a pair of seething sapphire orbs. “Don’t be an ass,” Nico hisses.
“You’ve got a little something over here.” Smirking, I make a move to wipe at his chin, but he jumps back. “Damn, Nico, you won’t even let me touch her c?—”
“Don’t even say the word,” he snarls. “I don’t want to associate anything regarding my little fox with you.”
“So possessive, even of her cum.” I blurt the word out before he can stop me.
Nico drags his hand through his hair, his expression lethal as he lunges for me, but I raise my hands.
“Relax, fratello . I’m only messing with you, damn, chill out.”
“What do you want, Marco? Did you find an apartment yet?” He sounds exasperated already.
“No, not exactly. But that’s kind of why I’m here.”
He looses a frustrated breath and pins his arms across his pristine jacket. Even after going down on his girlfriend, the bastardo still looks impeccably put together. “Speak,” he grits out.
“Okay, so I’m not a dog. And I was hoping you could be my wingman for a night out on the town tonight.”
His dark brows furrow as he regards me. “You’re joking, right? What does that have to do with finding an apartment? And cazzo , that’s what you interrupted me for?”
My lips quirk into a grin. “Yes. It’s simple. I’ll find a girl, and she’ll fall hopelessly in love with me and bam ! I’ve got a new place to stay for a few weeks.”
“ Merda , Marco, it’s been three days, and you’ve already given up on finding an apartment?”
“No,” I snarl. “I’m just taking a little break.”
“You’re completely helpless.”
“I am not.” Okay, I may have whined a little on that one.
Nico sits on top of his desk where his girlfriend had just been, eyes pinned to mine. “Didn’t you read Jimmy’s report on the Triad’s activities this week?”
I shake my head. “I’ve been a little busy apartment hunting.”
“Right.” Nico grunts. “Lei Wang has formally requested a meeting with the Triad council. You know that can only mean one thing.”
My thoughts flicker back to my endless walk to the Meatpacking District and those piercing dark eyes through the boutique window. “He’s going to make a play for the Four Seas,” I finally reply.
“That’s right. That guy is ten times worse than Qian, and you know it. Having him sit at the head of the Chinese gang will be a complete shitshow.” He stands again and moves closer, those eyes pleading. “We’ve made so much headway in the last few months since we settled the feud with the Valentinos… ”
I know exactly what he’s going to ask, but my answer hasn’t changed. “I’m not marrying Jia, Nico.”
“Why not? Have you seen her? She’s stunning.”
My mind swirls back to the boutique again… those fuckable ruby lips and perky breasts. My cock hardens just imagining thrusting into her wet, tight pussy. Would she be all prim and proper, or is there something lethal lingering below the pristine surface? Breaking her would be a fucking thrill.
“Marco?” Nico’s voice draws me back to the conversation. He smirks at me, his gaze dropping below my belt. “I can already tell by your raging hard-on you want a taste.”
“Yes, exactly, a taste . Why would I want to buy the cow if I can have the milk for free?”
Nico snorts on a laugh. “Something tells me the beautiful Jia wouldn’t be quite that easy to coax into your bed.”
“Ha! You really think so little of me?”
His eyes sparkle with mischief, and I realize I’ve completely walked into this one. “How about this, if you can get Jia into your bed, I promise never to bring up the arrangement again. But if you can’t, you take the deal. If you think about it, it’s really a win-win for you. If you marry the girl, you’ll just have more time to convince her to fuck you.” A wicked grin curls my asshole brother’s lips.
“You’re loving this, aren’t you? You know I can’t say no to a bet.” It’s a matter of pride. My body physically revolts at the idea of standing down. It’s been like that since we were kids.
“Oh, I know.”
A quick knock sends my brother’s gaze flitting to the door. He looks to me with a droll expression. “This is how you’re supposed to enter someone’s office, observe.” Then he turns to the door again and calls out, “Come in.”
Such an ass.
A familiar face peeks through the crack in the door. “Oh, Mr. Rossi, I’m sorry, I thought Miss Maisy was here. ”
Nico signals for the woman to enter. “She’ll be right back, Blanca, please come in.”
My brother’s housekeeper-slash-Broadway actress saunters in, dark curls twisted into a messy bun. The woman is undoubtedly attractive, with caramel skin, pouty red lips and darting eyes. Even the dingy housekeeper’s uniform does nothing to hide those killer curves.
As I ogle the maid, I remind myself she could also be a spy for the Puerto Ricans.
Maisy rushes in a minute later, pink lip-gloss reapplied and sex hair now tamed. “Sorry for the wait, Blanca! I still need a few more minutes with Mel.”
“No worries, chica.” She waves a dismissive hand, then throws my brother a sheepish grin. “I’m in no rush to get back to work.”
Maisy drops a quick kiss on Nico’s cheek, then offers me a wave before turning to the door. Blanca follows her, the two females chattering like the best of friends.
Once the door closes, I eye my brother. “You think it’s wise to let Maisy spend time with Blanca?”
“My little fox insists. Since she was the one to first catch her snooping around the penthouse, she’s taken it on as her personal mission to uncover the truth.” He shrugs. “I ensure Maisy’s safety at all times. They’re always surrounded by my guards, obviously.”
“Obviously.”
Nico draws closer, a dark glint in his bright blue eyes once more. “So about Jia and that bet…”
I grunt before drawing in a steadying breath to give myself a minute to consider despite my raging arrogance. Given my record, this should be a no-brainer. I can’t remember the last time a woman denied me. As if my looks weren’t enough—thank you Mamma and Papà—there’s the Rossi name and Gemini Corp bank account. I wasn’t in The New Yorker ’s spread for most eligible bachelor this year for nothing .
“Come on, Marco, do we have a deal or not?” He extends his hand, and I eye it for another long minute.
“Just to be clear, if I get the lovely Jia Guo into my bed—no, wait, if I fuck her anywhere, you’ll never bring up this arranged marriage shit again, right?”
“Right.” Nico offers me that million-dollar smile we share.
“And you’ll come out with me tonight?”
“Sure, why not?” He shrugs, his expression pained, like a night out on the town away from his girlfriend would be tantamount to the wickedest torture.
With a deep breath, I close my fingers around his palm. “Deal, coglione .”
My brother’s smile grows downright feral. “I can’t wait to see you walking down the aisle, fratello . You’ll make such a beautiful bride.”
I shake my head. Coglione . “What makes you so sure you’ll win this?”
“Only because before the loathsome Qian Guo was killed, he shared a tiny bit of information about his sister with me—a way of enticing our deal, let’s say.”
My brow lifts as a swirl of dread tightens my chest. “What’s that?”
“The lovely Jia is a virgin.”