8. Luciano
Luciano
“Tell me everything you know about her.”
Cassian Black stares at me through the computer screen, irritation etched on his face. “It hasn’t even been an hour since your guy called me with her name. What makes you think I have anything yet? Do you expect me to have dropped everything I was doing to jump at your command?”
“Yes,” I say as I lean back on the hotel’s leather sofa, a whiskey in one hand and my phone in the other.
Cassian smirks. “You’re an asshole.”
That makes me chuckle. “Agreed. Now, what do you have?”
“I sent you a secure file with a ton of information in it. The summary of it is: her name is Fallon Camille Davis; she’s twenty-three; she was born and raised in Seattle by her mother, but from what I can tell, Fallon’s been on her own since she was sixteen.
She works at Lux Salon and Spa as a hairdresser and rents her own chair.
She’s been paying Joshua Matthews two thousand dollars a month for the past year and a half and has been living with him during that time.
Prior to that, she lived at over thirty different addresses over the course of her life with her mother, who has been married and divorced five times.
Some of the places were respectable, upper-middle-class homes, while others were places that could barely be considered livable. ”
My blood races, though it’s ice cold as I listen to everything he’s telling me.
She’s been paying that asshole rent to live with him.
She’s a hairdresser, and he’s a fucking criminal defense attorney.
Unbelievable. What the fuck is wrong with men these days?
I would beg on the fucking streets for money before I ever let my woman pay me for anything.
“How much money does Joshua have?” I ask when Cassian stops talking.
Cassian types on his keyboard and looks for the information I’m seeking. It only takes him a second, which is why I’m always willing to pay him so much for his time. I’ve never met a better hacker.
“He has just over a hundred thousand in his savings account and about five hundred thousand in stocks. He also bought his apartment outright three years ago, so he doesn’t owe anything on it.”
That motherfucker. I hadn’t planned on killing him, but with every piece of information I get about the guy, I’m reconsidering my decision.
“Transfer the thirty-six thousand she’s sent him into her bank account. I will pay him a visit to make sure he agrees to give it back to her.”
“Done,” Cassian says. “Anything else you need?”
“Her phone number. Other than that, I’m good. I’ll be in touch.” I end the call and sit back, staring at the wall separating me and Fallon.
I hope like hell she’s sleeping right now. She looked exhausted when I left her. Even though I’m right next door, I can’t help but worry. What kind of life has Fallon had? Based on what Cassian said, not a good one, and that doesn’t sit right with me.
She’s only twenty-three.
Fuck.
I’m almost two decades older. And yet my dick is hard just thinking about her smart little mouth and emerald-green eyes. How those eyes would look staring up at me with my cock in her mouth.
Without hesitation, I toss my phone aside and unbuckle my belt, then open my slacks, freeing my dick from the confines of my pants. As I wrap my fist around the base and groan, her face runs through my mind. I automatically stroke my shaft, my skin prickling with a need I haven’t felt in years.
Moving my hand up and down, I lift my hips and let my head fall back against the cushions. It only takes a dozen or so strokes before my balls tighten, and my orgasm explodes so fiercely that my entire body shakes while my come shoots across the coffee table.
“Fuuuck,” I mutter, my breathing coming hard and fast. “Jesus Christ.”
It takes several minutes before I’m able to catch my breath and tuck myself back into my slacks. Then I rise and go to the bathroom to clean up my mess. Such a waste that it isn’t her tits I get to clean.
Fallon may want nothing to do with me, but there’s not a single fucking chance in this world that I’m done with her.
She can hate men all she wants. Hell, she can even hate me.
For now. That won’t stop me from seeing her.
Even if I have to proceed with caution. Because that’s something I already know about Fallon.
She doesn’t trust people. Especially men.
And after what she’s been through, I’m not going to be able to change her mind overnight.
I guess it’s a good thing I can be patient. I’m just not sure for how long.
“Good morning, asshole,” I greet when I walk into Joshua Matthews’ office without being invited. His assistant rushes in after me, her hair flying behind her as she tries to keep up with my strides.
Fallon left the hotel at eight this morning.
I watched from my SUV as she exited the lobby and climbed into her sedan, which was delivered to the hotel around five.
Our mechanic replaced several parts and did an entire once-over on it to make sure it would be okay for her to drive for the time being.
Even if I would prefer she be in a bulletproof SUV with all the latest safety equipment.
Somehow, I don’t think she would accept me giving her a brand-new car.
Joshua jumps up from his seat, his face going sheet white as he stares at me.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Matthews. I told him you were busy,” the woman pants behind me.
Joshua doesn’t say anything, though his mouth opens and closes like he’s trying to speak but can’t find the words.
“This who you were fucking last night?” I turn toward the woman and raise an eyebrow. “Your presence is not needed. Leave.”
His secretary blinks several times and then quickly scurries from the office like her ass is on fire. Smart woman.
“I didn’t call the police,” he finally informs me, his voice cracking.
Without waiting for an invitation, I move to one of the guest chairs and lower myself into it. I motion toward him. “Sit, before I make you.”
Amusement spreads through me as he drops into his seat like a dog doing tricks. I wonder if he’s pissed himself yet.
“You’re paying Fallon back every fucking cent she’s paid you for the past eighteen months.”
Joshua gasps, but I don’t give him a second to speak.
“It’s not a request, you piece of shit. How the hell can you look at yourself in the mirror?
Making a woman who makes a quarter of the money you do pay for rent and bills?
I’ve met a lot of fucked-up men in my life, but you are quickly becoming my least favorite.
And that isn’t going to bode well for you, Matthews. ”
He quickly nods. “Fine, I’ll send her the money.”
Letting out a soft chuckle, I shake my head. “No need. It’s already been transferred. At this very moment, I have men in your apartment, clearing everything out so Fallon doesn’t have to start all over again after you decided to be an even bigger piece of shit than you already are.”
“What the hell, man? How do you know Fallon?” Joshua asks.
Something that feels like caring spreads through my chest, but I force it away as I glare at the little fucker in front of me.
“It doesn’t matter how I know her. The only thing that you need to know is that I’m in her life now, and you’re going to regret the fucking day you met her.
You know who I am and what I’m capable of.
I suggest you remember that for the rest of your shitty life because one wrong move, and I won’t let you keep breathing. Understood?”
Joshua swallows, shifting nervously and bouncing his knee, as if he can’t control it. “Yeah. Of course. I understand. What are they taking from my apartment?”
Smiling slyly, I study him for a long beat, enjoying every second of his discomfort.
“Everything, Joshua. Absolutely everything. Whatever we deem yours will be donated to the less fortunate. Everything else will go to Fallon so she can start her life over since you can’t keep your tiny dick in your pants. ”
The vein in his neck throbs as his face turns crimson. “I paid for all that stuff!”
His outburst does nothing for me, and I let out a chuckle. “And?”
He gapes at me, anger burning in his eyes, but he controls it. Barely. “You know what, fine. Fine.”
It’s cute that he thinks his agreement means anything. It doesn’t.
“Stay away from Fallon. This is your one and only warning.” I rise and turn to walk out of his office but stop halfway to look back at him. “Fallon was the biggest fumble of your life. You’re going to spend the rest of it wishing you hadn’t fucked it up. But don’t worry; I’m not going to.”
Then I stride out, leaving his door open behind me. As I pass his secretary’s desk, I shoot her a glare but say nothing. Her karma is getting mixed up with a guy like Joshua Matthews, and that’s enough of a punishment.
I’m the last one to walk into the afternoon meeting with the top men of our syndicate. Alessandro is already at the head of the table, while the rest are positioned around it, the seat next to our boss left open for me.
“You’re late,” Alessandro says, though there’s no heat behind it.
Shrugging, I lower myself into my chair. “I was tending to business.”
To my right, Massimo smirks. “Heard you had an interesting evening last night.”
Slowly, I turn to Alessandro and narrow my eyes. “Fucking asshole.”
That makes Alessandro and the rest of the room laugh, but I shake my head and ignore them. As much as these men are the ones I trust the most in the world, they are a bunch of assholes sometimes. Way too fucking nosy.
“How’d things go after we left?” Alessandro asks, his expression serious.
He may give me shit, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he gives a shit about Fallon. Maybe not in the way that I do, but all of us are protective over women. He could tell, just like I could, that Fallon needs some protection.
“It was fine. I took her to The Grand Hotel, put her in a room, and left.”
Vincenzo snorts from across the table. “Your location showed you at the same hotel all night.”