Ambition of the Savage Mafia

1. Shaw

CHAPTER ONE

SHAW

Killers guarded the Gennaro brothel, a den of sin where my virginity marked me as prey. But I feared my twisted desires more than their ruthless predators. I hated myself for how desperately I wanted to be hunted inside those walls.

“We should call Trent later and make fun of him for flaking out,” Jace crowed as we walked along the dark streets of Manhattan, his voice too loud for comfort in territory where the wrong ears might be listening.

“He could’ve seen some actual tits tonight instead of jerking off to porn in your uncle’s apartment.

That dude will never get laid at this rate. ”

I scanned the shadows between buildings. The Gennaro family didn’t tolerate disrespect, and bodies of those who crossed them routinely washed up in the harbor. “Keep your voice down. We don’t know who’s watching.”

“Relax, Shaw. We’re paying customers.” He clapped my shoulder with unearned confidence. “They’re not going to kill us for giving them money.”

I made one last half-hearted attempt to save us both. “Are you sure about this? People don’t walk into Gennaro territory without consequences.”

“Come on, you can’t back out on me now.” He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, oblivious to the danger radiating from the building ahead. “I promise, it’ll be awesome. Besides, it would probably do you a lot of good.”

“Good, how?”

“You know, lighten you up some. You’re always so serious. That can’t be healthy.”

I surrendered with a sigh rather than explain. Following Jace into Mafia territory felt like a death sentence, but loneliness had overridden my common sense.

“No good can come from getting involved with the most dangerous crime family in New York,” I warned.

“You worry too much.” His cavalier attitude made my stomach turn.

“How did you even get access to this place?” I asked.

“From one of my dad’s shady friends. It’s genius when you think about it.”

“What’s genius about walking into the den of a family known for dissolving bodies in acid?”

“I meant the name. If you didn’t want someone to know, you could say, ‘Sorry, I can’t see you tonight. I have a late-night meeting at Gennaro Corporation,’ and no one knows you’re balls-deep in some hot piece of ass.”

If the wrong person heard him speak that way about their business, we might never leave the building.

“Do you have any idea what the Gennaros do to people who mock them? The last guy who crossed them was probably found with his tongue cut out before they dumped what was left of him in the East River.”

“There’s nothing to worry about. We’re customers, not rivals.” Jace shrugged as if we were discussing a restaurant choice instead of walking into a brothel controlled by the mob. “Hey, do you think there’s any relation to that asshole Dante we go to school with?”

Their mutual hatred ran deep since high school. While Jace saw Dante as his nemesis, I harbored a crush on him.

I kept my voice neutral despite the fear clawing at my throat. “Maybe it belongs to a distant relative?”

“Then again, if that fucker was actually related to someone in the Gennaro Mafia, he would’ve had me killed years ago for shooting my mouth off so much.” Jace laughed hard at his own joke, but I couldn’t join in.

“Regardless, it has nothing to do with Dante.”

“Are you defending that bastard?” His suspicious glare drilled into me.

“No, I’m not. I’m merely saying the odds that it’s the Dante we know are slim.”

Jace persisted. “Yeah, but Gennaro isn’t that common of a last name, right? If he’s related to a mobster who runs a brothel, it’s no wonder he’s such an egotistical bastard.”

“It has nothing to do with him, even if it is owned by a relative.”

“I bet he’s ashamed. I’d love to knock him down a peg or two over it.”

“He wouldn’t be ashamed,” I argued as we waited for the light to change. “He’s too arrogant. Plus, it gives him leverage. You’re the one paying for sex here. He’d destroy you for having to buy what he gets for free.”

“Damn it!” Jace ruffled his blond hair. “I want to one-up him at least once.”

“You’d never be satisfied with only one victory.” I doubted their feud would ever end.

Jace muttered a string of curses before rallying. “Fuck him! I’m not letting that bastard ruin tonight.” He punched the air for emphasis.

“Yeah,” I agreed, with more enthusiasm than I expected. A secret part of me looked forward to tonight, desperate to shed my virginity and finally touch someone after years of isolation following my parents’ death in Egypt.

Before we could discuss things any further, Jace pointed out a building.

While normal-looking office buildings surrounded it, Gennaro Corporation was a giant glass monolith that dominated the skyline, reflecting the city lights like a dark mirror.

Unseen eyes seemed to watch us from behind the shadowy windows, calculating our worth.

“At least it looks somewhat respectable.” I’d expected a cheap dive, but the immaculate glass tower spoke of blood money and untouchable power.

Making an excited noise of agreement, he led the way inside. The moment we crossed the threshold, my fear skyrocketed.

Two particularly massive guards flanked the entrance.

The taller one had knuckles so swollen they looked deformed, his gaze calculating our worth against the trouble of disposing of our bodies.

His companion had a tattoo visible above his collar.

He kept one hand near his waistband, reminding us he was ready to draw his gun at the slightest provocation.

Security cameras mounted in the ceiling corners recorded everything, a digital memory that would outlast any witness. My skin prickled with the knowledge that our every word and action was being monitored.

Three stunning women waited at the reception counter. They wore professional attire: black blazers and skirts paired with bright red shirts that accented the curves of their bodies. The blonde one smiled with practiced warmth. “Welcome to Gennaro Corporation. How may we help you this evening?”

“Oh, a man could get used to this,” my friend moaned in appreciation, undressing them with his eyes. “I’m Jace Yardley. Hugh Carter sent us. I’m here for the birthday special, and my friend’s here to remove the stick up his ass.”

I shot him a venomous look. The beautiful brunette in the middle tapped something on a hidden keyboard.

“Yes, Mr. Carter called ahead to inform us he was sponsoring a prepaid four-hour meeting for you and your friends, Mr. Yardley. As he is a VIP, you have no restrictions on who you may meet with tonight.”

“Excellent. Since it’s only me and my buddy, we’ll take two hours each,” Jace boasted.

“Two hours?” I repeated in shock.

He waved off my concern. “My dad’s friend Hugh is a VIP here. He bet me a visit here in a game of poker. The dude is loaded. I would’ve been fucked if I lost that hand.”

“You won?” I knew how much Jace enjoyed card games, but his luck wasn’t always the best.

“Hell, yeah, I did! I told him I wanted four hours, thinking it would be an hour for you and Trent and two for me. But since it’s only us, that means more time for you. It’s his loss, right? Enjoy it, man!”

“As this is your first time here, we will escort you to the conference area, where you can sign our contract and choose who to meet with tonight.” The way she said “contract” made it sound like we were signing our lives away.

The Japanese woman on the right walked out from behind the counter and gestured for us to follow her. I cringed when Jace kept his eyes trained on her pert ass the entire way to the elevator.

My heartbeat quickened as we approached a second security checkpoint. The bulkier guard shifted his weight, deliberately blocking our path until he received a nod of approval from her.

The second guard assessed us with clinical detachment. When his gaze landed on me, my mouth went dry when his hand casually moved to rest on the gun holstered at his side.

She pushed the button for the seventh floor with a perfectly manicured finger. “We have something for every interest. Please let us know if there’s anything specific you’re looking for.”

“Anyone with a huge rack and a tight ass.”

“We can arrange that, sir.” She didn’t blink at his crudeness.

The doors pinged open with a pleasant sound that belied the danger surrounding us. We exited into a hallway that looked like a standard office corridor as she led us to what looked like a high-end executive meeting room.

I scanned the floor, confused by the sudden absence of guards. Instead, tiny black domes dotted the ceiling at regular intervals. Each camera swiveled as we passed.

My hand glided along the polished wood of the long conference table as I sat down.

“Once you complete the forms and sign the contract, we’ll establish your accounts.” She gestured to the portfolios she placed in front of us. “These contain our employees’ profiles. When you’ve decided, press the intercom button.”

The whole thing felt like signing a deal with the devil, but I still had manners. “Thank you.”

As soon as she left, Jace started filling out the prerequisite forms on a tablet while I read every line, searching for hidden clauses that might bind us to something sinister.

My eyes widened at the prices for certain services, but more alarming was the waiver of liability for “unforeseen circumstances” and agreement to “complete discretion regarding all Gennaro Corporation matters.”

I filled out the forms, disturbed by requirements for criminal and financial background checks.

“Are you seriously reading the fine print?” Jace had already finished and was browsing the employee profiles. “You’re not that big a nerd, Shaw.”

I ignored him. Given the digital paperwork, it surprised me the portfolios were a print book. Each photo had been carefully staged to showcase the “merchandise,” but their eyes held something cold and calculating.