31. Maxim
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
maxim
I loved having her in my bed.
Pineapples.
She tasted of pineapples.
Licking her slit, I felt her explode. Her walls fluttered as she came.
Her breasts heaved as she clutched the sheets, calling my name out to the ceiling.
Fuck I was a lucky bastard.
She whimpered and groaned — wiggled against my cock as I slammed into her gripping her thighs in an iron grip that I knew might leave marks, but I couldn’t help myself.
“I can’t —” The words were lost as I came in a rush. I’d never had it happen so fast. I was almost embarrassed as the orgasm went on and on as I emptied into her. I flushed. “Give me a minute, zayka. I’ll be right as rain in a minute.”
Rolling us so she was on top so I could admire her, she smiled at me. “I love that I drive you as wild as you drive me, Max. That’s how it’s supposed to be.”
“You’re so sexy. Do you know that?”
She was an image that was burned into my mind—her curves. The softer ones intrigued me the most: the slopes of her belly, the way her nipples puckered, and how her breasts filled my hands. I loved her softness against my calluses and scars.
Running my palms up to her tits, I weighed them in my hands, pinching her nipples, rolling them, and tweaking them while I watched her face. Her dark hair fell in waves around her shoulders, the strands framing her heart-shaped face. Pleasure made her cheeks pinken and flushed as she watched me with those green eyes, her hands planted on my chest.
This was what love felt like. It was a lightning bolt.
My cock stiffened inside her as she groaned against me, rocking. I could feel cum sliding between us, and all I wanted to do was to fill her again.
“Zayka,” I moaned, rotating my hips and grinding up into her. “Ride me the way you like. Let me watch you get your pleasure.”
“Hmm, I like that idea,” she hummed.
Balancing her hands on my chest, she rode and ground—humped my cock while she leaned over me, kissing me like we were on the precipice of something. A fine sheen of sweat coated her body. Watching her was like a window into her soul. I wanted the pleasure to go on forever.
She bit into my shoulder hard enough to draw blood as she came, but the pain was sharp enough for me to grab both of her ass cheeks and thrust into her as I finished.
“I love you, Max.”
“I love you back, baby. I love you back,” I swore.
The midday sun filtered through the high windows of the old conference room, casting sharp streaks of light onto the polished mahogany table. This was neutral ground—a private estate in the Hudson Valley, far from our strongholds. The Olivetos had chosen the location, a calculated move to show they were just as wary of us as we were of them. I couldn’t fault them for that; trust was a rare commodity.
Too bad for them. We’d come prepared anyway. If they thought we hadn’t, they were stupid.
I arrived early, taking in the room’s layout and ensuring my men had secured the perimeter. It was standard procedure. I’d learned the hard way never to underestimate a seemingly cordial meeting. Angelo, Conall, and Ilias arrived shortly after me, each bringing their distinct energy. Ever the diplomat, Angelo nodded in greeting while Conall’s gaze swept the room with casual scrutiny. Ilias strode in last, his predatory confidence unmistakable.
“Neutral ground,” Ilias said with a smirk as he sank into his chair. “How quaint.”
“It’s practical,” Angelo countered, his tone light but firm. “And considering the stakes, practical is what we need.”
Conall leaned back, his expression unreadable. “Let’s just hope the Olivetos see it the same way.”
When the Olivetos finally arrived, they were led by Cosimo Oliveto himself. I’d never met him, but he looked decent enough. I’d suspect he was in his thirties, his dark hair styled back and tailored suit doing little to soften the sharpness of his features. Behind him, his men fanned out, their postures tense. As Cosimo entered, his eyes flicked toward me, assessing, measuring. I stood, extending a hand.
“Cosimo,” I greeted, keeping my tone neutral. “A pleasure.”
“Maxim,” he replied, his handshake firm but brief. “Gentlemen, shall we get to it?”
The room settled as we all took our seats. Conall leaned back in his chair again, his expression carefully neutral. Angelo clasped his hands in front of him, the picture of calm. Ilias watched Cosimo with a faint, amused smile as if the whole situation was a game he was already winning.
“We’re here to address two issues,” I began, my tone clipped. “The first: the fire at Fortune .”
Cosimo’s brow furrowed slightly, but his composure didn’t falter. “A tragedy,” he said. “But surely you don’t believe the Oliveto family had anything to do with that.”
“Tragedy, yes,” I said, my voice cold. “Coincidence, no. Fortune was a known location of ours. It’s hard to believe anyone else would benefit from its destruction.”
“I’ll admit,” Angelo interjected smoothly, “the timing was… unfortunate, but let’s not jump to conclusions.”
Cosimo’s fingers tapped lightly against the table. “We’ve heard similar accusations before, but I assure you, Maxim, my family had no hand in it. Fires… happen.”
“Fires don’t happen without a spark,” I countered. “And this spark has your name written all over it. I’m in no mood for games.”
“Well, that was evident with the state of O’Gara’s body,” he mumbled.
I didn’t bother responding to him. O’Gara got everything he deserved. I narrowed my eyes at Oliveto and his underboss.
Ilias chuckled softly, leaning forward. “It’s interesting, isn’t it? The Olivetos always seem to be near the fire but never get burned.”
Cosimo’s eyes narrowed. “Careful, Ilias. Baseless accusations can ignite fires of their own. I came in good faith.”
“And what of Caruso?” I asked, steering the conversation. “His name keeps coming up in my inquiries. Erratic behavior. Moves that don’t make sense. Perhaps you can shed some light on that?”
Cosimo’s reaction was instant and telling. His jaw tightened, and his carefully maintained mask slipped for a fraction of a second. “Caruso’s been… difficult,” he admitted reluctantly. “But he’s not acting on our behalf. If he’s caused you trouble, I assure you, it’s not at my family’s direction.”
“Difficult?” I repeated, my tone heavy with skepticism. “Difficult doesn’t explain the trail of chaos he’s left behind. Or his proximity to my interests.”
“He’s gone rogue,” Cosimo said, a hint of frustration seeping into his voice. “We’ve been dealing with him internally, but he’s… unpredictable.” He paused for a moment and put both elbows on the table, leaning forward and clasping his hands. “I’ll be honest. It’s one of the reasons that I agreed to this meeting.”
“Unpredictable is a liability,” I said sharply. “One we won’t tolerate anywhere near our operations.”
“We have been patient, Don Oliveto,” Ilias added. “Caruso has always held a particular disdain for all of us.” I guffawed. That was putting it lightly. “He has something against Maxim in particular because of his father, but that isn’t our responsibility, as I’m sure you sympathize.”
Interesting .
I wasn’t aware of the Oliveto family background or how Cosimo became head of his family, but now I was curious. Ilias knew something that was evident by the way he was needling him and the way Cosimo was reacting.
“He’s still family,” Cosimo said tightly. “We’ve been reluctant to cut him completely loose. But …”
“Family or not,” Conall cut in, his voice low and even, “he’s jeopardizing more than just your interests. If this continues, we all pay the price.”
Angelo nodded, his diplomatic tone returning. “Perhaps it’s time we consider… neutralizing the issue.”
Cosimo’s lips pressed into a thin line. “He’s still family,” he repeated, but his conviction wavered.
“Family,” I said, leaning forward, “isn’t an excuse for recklessness.”
The room fell into silence again, the weight of my words settling over everyone. Cosimo’s unease was palpable, but he gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable.
“I don’t disagree,” he said finally. “It is past time for this to be put to rest. I’ll handle this matter in the next twenty-four hours. You have my word.”
“Of course, with the understanding that you’ll be asking about the arson and if he was involved.” Angelo gave a lazy shrug. “Maybe we’re off base.”
I didn’t like it, but the others weren’t wrong that business was better if we weren’t losing resources to fighting an unnecessary war. If Cosimo Oliveto wanted to be an ally, then fuck it … we’d be allies.
“Very well.”
I leaned back, satisfied for the moment. “Good. Then we have an understanding.”
“I’ve been watching the progress you’ve been making.” He made careful eye contact with each of us. “ All of you . With your businesses. Loyalty is a trait I admire.”
“Obviously, we agree,” Conall said pointedly. “Our friendship has served us well over the years.”
“You know. I’d turn an eye toward Vallone if you thought someone wanted to cause you problems.”
“Vallone,” Angelo fairly spat out. “He is a piece of work.” Angelo shot a glance in our direction. “Vallone still dabbles.”
We knew what that meant—the flesh trade. We had done our best to close out all our contracts and cut ties, but it was amazing how insidious it was. Certain organizations seemed to breed and grow, which seemed to continue no matter how much you stamped them out. It turned my stomach. My brother’s wife, Hollis, had been a victim of the flesh trade. I’d be damned if I let it happen in this city.
“You think he might have an eye toward our business?”
Cosimo shrugged, but it was practiced. “I’m just pointing out that Vallone doesn’t care for any of you and doesn’t admire the bond that you share. Some might be intimidated by the fact that you work together the way you do. Your fathers had quite the idea that they cemented with that blood oath.”
We all went still. We hadn’t heard that anyone knew about the oath.
“How did you hear about that?”
“My father. He was ranting and raving about it at dinner one night. Your fathers bragged about it to the other dons. Their scheme made them rich. My father was incensed. He had been counting on securing his contracts with Stefano Santelli.”
Cosimo paused, his eyes glinting with barely concealed animosity. “You see, my father never let go of the insult. Losing that business—those contracts—it broke him. He blamed your fathers for it until his dying day, and he wasn’t alone. Vallone was there, watching it all unfold, watching my father descend into fury and obsession. It was a shared grievance.”
Angelo’s brow furrowed as he exchanged a glance with Ilias. “Vallone was never one to let go of a grudge,” Angelo said slowly. “But the idea that he’d still be nursing wounds from something that happened decades ago?”
“Don’t underestimate him,” Cosimo said. “He might be older now, but he’s more dangerous than ever. He has no love for your families—or this alliance you’ve built.”
I narrowed my eyes, leaning forward. “You’re telling me Vallone is behind Caruso’s chaos? Or are you suggesting something bigger?”
Cosimo exhaled, his fingers drumming lightly on the table. “I don’t have definitive proof, but I’d bet my life Vallone’s been pulling strings. Caruso is erratic, yes, but not without purpose. And Vallone—he’s always preferred to operate from the shadows, letting others take the heat. I’ve been curious about Caruso’s motivations. We’ve been looking for a mole in our organization. Caruso has always felt he was owed, but he has always been an underperformer, if I’m honest.”
Ilias let out a low chuckle, though his smile was humorless. “If this is true, Vallone’s overplayed his hand. If he wants to provoke a response, he’s about to get one.”
“Easy,” Angelo said, his calm voice cutting through the tension. “If Vallone has been biding his time all these years, it’s because he’s patient. He wants us to act rashly. We need to figure out his endgame first.”
“And where do you stand in all this, Cosimo?” Conall asked, his sharp gaze boring into the Oliveto heir. “You’ve just admitted your father held a vendetta against us. That doesn’t inspire much trust.”
Cosimo’s jaw tightened. “My father’s grudges were his own. I’m not here to settle old scores. My interests lie in ensuring the stability of my family’s future. A war with the four of you? That’s not a future I want.”
“You could’ve fooled me,” I said dryly, my tone laced with suspicion. “If Vallone’s been conspiring with your family, then this peace you’re offering might just be a Trojan horse.”
“I came here at your request and to warn you,” Cosimo shot back, his voice rising. “If you don’t want to listen, that’s your choice. But make no mistake—Vallone isn’t content to sit on the sidelines anymore. He sees your alliance as a threat, and he’s moving to dismantle it. I’m not the enemy here.”
The room fell into a weighted silence, his words settling over us. Vallone hadn’t been on our radar. That was a mistake.
“We need to watch his movements,” I said finally, breaking the silence. “Every deal, every contact—no stone unturned. If Vallone thinks he can manipulate us into self-destruction, he’ll regret it.”
Angelo nodded. “I’ll have my people start digging. He won’t stay in the shadows long if Vallone’s involved.”
“Cosimo,” Conall said, his voice low but firm, “if you’re playing both sides, we’ll know. And there won’t be any neutral ground to hide behind.”
Cosimo didn’t flinch under Conall’s glare. “I’ve told you where I stand. Believe me or don’t—it doesn’t change the fact that Vallone’s your real threat.”
“Then you won’t mind proving it. That you’re interested in peace with us,” I said coldly. “Start with Caruso.”
Cosimo gave a sharp nod, though the tension in his posture betrayed his unease. “As agreed. I’ll be in touch.”
As the Oliveto men left, the four of us lingered, the atmosphere charged with unspoken resolve.
“Vallone,” Ilias muttered, his voice dripping with disdain. “I should’ve known he’d be a problem. The old bastard never knew when to quit.”
“This isn’t just about the past,” Angelo said thoughtfully. “If Vallone’s causing problems now, it’s because he sees an opportunity. We need to figure out what he’s really after.”
“We will,” I said, my voice steely. “And when we do, he’ll wish he’d stayed buried in history.”
Me: I want full family backgrounds on all family members for those connected to mob families in NYC
Ronnie: like?
Me: Everyone
Ronnie:
Ronnie: I’ll start with the main families and go from there.
Me: Dig hard. Look first at the Vallone family and the Olivetos.
Ronnie: