CHAPTER 2
ANGELO
I run my fingers through my hair as I step out of my car and look toward Second Circle. It shouldn’t exist, but it does. That is what power gives you—a brothel that shouldn’t exist which is patronized by people who need the discretion of the Amato family to be stronger than the desire to blackmail.
The majority of my life exists within that same gray area. It’s where I thrive.
And I didn’t have a say in it at all.
It was decided for me, and I had no other choice but to live up to it. Even though I accepted the mantle of being the head of my family and can’t imagine my life being different than it is now, doesn’t mean the weight of it isn’t heavy.
I’m just strong enough to carry it.
Romeo, my younger brother, would buckle under the expectations of being the head of the family. He thinks he wants the responsibility and believes he would be able to do a better job than I am. I know the truth though.
He would ruin this family.
He would put everyone in danger.
He would bankrupt our businesses.
He would make us look weak to both our allies and our enemies.
Romeo and his big ideas would pull us deeper into the shadows and farther from the grey area where it’s better for us to exist. He was always more interested in the violence that comes along with this life instead of looking at the organization as a business first. His ego has always been wrapped up in the Amato name and the fear it can evoke.
That’s him.
It was never me.
Which is why, even if he was older than me, I know our father would have left running things to me. Romeo isn’t built for it. He never has been.
The fact that I have to run down my brother to Second Circle, the brothel the family runs, to have a conversation proves my point completely.
Romeo was put in charge of this business by our father right before he handed the family over to me. He’s always looked at it like a consolation prize instead of an opportunity.
And in the months since the last of the cockroaches—otherwise known as the last of the Morozov Bratva—were fully exterminated, Second Circle should have been seeing a boon. But it’s been business as usual.
Romeo never understood what Second Circle represents. He views the women who work for us as less than. They’re not. He’s never respected our family’s history.
It all started with an arranged marriage and our great-great-aunt. Much like Romeo, our great-great grandfather was the second son. That doesn’t mean he had no value to the family. His marriage was all about alliances.
When Carmine Angelo Amato set out to expand the family’s reach across the country and, maybe, take advantage of the gold rush, he did so with his bride, a few men loyal to him, and the bride’s sister. The sister had a secret, one she hid well, but it came out eventually.
To ensure his sister-in-law’s safety, Carmine opened a brothel as part of his underground dealings. Then his men watched her closely. We honor that history with Second Circle.
When I took over ten years ago, I kept a close eye on Romeo. He didn’t get it, but he took the most basic approach and had limited involvement.
I was good with it, but then I started having to deal with Morozov and all of his bullshit. My father had an understanding with Morozov, but I didn’t like him. He wouldn’t have known a straight up, no bullshit deal to save his life. He was always playing an angle.
It made working with the man impossible, but there weren’t a lot of options either.
Watching from the sidelines as Morozov was taken out? It was fucking priceless.
It was an entertaining shitstorm that brought new players into the picture. I’m fairly certain Kiril Volkov and his guys aren’t certain what to think about me. Which I don’t have a problem with.
Kirill and the three men closest to him, including his brother Maxim, have fallen in love with one woman. Oaklynn exists at the center of them, and they have become a pack of wild animals to keep her protected.
I wouldn’t want to be on their bad sides and, from what I heard, Oaklynn can hold her own.
I’m a little jealous that they were able to find a woman. One who can handle this life. One who will stick by them.
Because just as much as Kirill, Huck, Baker, and Maxim are obsessed with Oaklynn, she’s just as possessive of them. I suppose fate smiled down on them.
I’m not holding my breath for the same.
When would I even have time to meet someone? And I’m not talking about the women who normally throw themselves at me because they’re lured in by the promise of power, without realizing they’ll never be able to wield it.
No, only one woman will be able to stand by my side. My father said I would know her when I saw her.
It’s another one of those old stories which was passed down from generation to generation. Carmine’s marriage may have been about strength and connection, but it ended up being so much more. Fate’s hand. That’s what the men in my family have always called it.
Fate’s hand.
But my woman hasn’t shown up yet.
And now I’m left dealing with Romeo who is ducking me because he knows I want him to have my back about pumping the breaks on some of our illegal dealings.
We should focus on the businesses that will provide growth.
And won’t put us in prison. The world is changing, and it might be time for us to adjust with it.
My gut is telling me to brace for what is about to go down. Worst case, I have to take out my own brother because he tries to start a coup. And Romeo has a way of always making the worst-case option a reality.
No one stops me when I step through the door of Second Circle and move directly through the reception area and into the main lounge. I’m a little surprised when I don’t see Romeo. He usually takes up a post at the bar because he likes the information it gives him.
The man loves leverage.
It has a time and a place, but it can’t be the only currency you deal in.
All that does is show your vulnerability.
But he’s not there.
As I keep moving toward the office area, some people try to hide their looks of surprise, but some don’t. The clients here don’t see me often. While I respect the history behind our family and the oldest profession, I think we can do better.
But no one is forced to be here.
When I swing open the door to Romeo’s office, it takes a second for me to take in what I’m seeing.
My brother has a woman pressed against the wall, her blonde hair wrapped up in his fingers as he holds her in place. She’s not crying. She’s not struggling.
But she doesn’t want to be pressed up against the wall by my brother.
The woman tries to look at me, but the grip my brother has on her hair doesn’t make it easy.
Her blue eyes meet mine and I feel something unlock in my chest. It’s powerful and I almost stagger back a step but manage to stay in place.
The curves of her body are barely covered in the lingerie she’s wearing.
Fuck. She’s glorious.
It’s not easy to do, but I tear my gaze from her delectable body. When I look into her eyes again, I can see the fear she’s trying to hide. I don’t know how I fucking know, but this woman is meant to be mine.
And I’m going to do whatever is necessary to claim her.
My brother’s hands being on her isn’t a problem. I’ll wash his touch from her body. Once she’s in my arms, the past won’t matter. There will be sweet absolution when I make her mine in all ways.
But first, I have to deal with my little brother who, clearly, hasn’t grown the fuck up.
He’s still treating women like they’re his playthings, and he always had a violent streak when it comes to his toys.
My lip curls in disgust because he never understood how sacred women are, or how our true purpose is to make sure they’re protected.
Father made sure the lesson stuck with me.
He should have done the same with Romeo.
When I look the woman over, the bruises on her delicate skin cause a fury born of brimstone to ignite in my gut. It takes me two strides to get to them and then I’m gripping the back of Romeo’s neck like a stray fucking dog.
“You better get your fucking hands off her right now,” I hiss the words. Each one hits like a whip, and I watch with satisfaction as he untangles his fingers from the woman’s hair and loosens his grip on her. I shake him like a rag doll and he releases her. “Better.”
With a flick of my wrist, I throw Romeo toward the other side of the room. He gets up, his eyes trained on me and filled with hatred. I’m not the least bit surprised.
“What the fuck, Angelo?” Romeo looks over my shoulder at the woman, but I shift and cut off his line of sight. “You know how it is around here. These bitches think they run the roost if you don’t put them in their place.”
“I’m,” the woman starts to say something, but then clears her throat and I can almost feel the way she’s gathering her internal strength and courage.
When I look back at her, her lips are parted as if she’s about to speak. Then her blue eyes meet mine and her mouth clamps shut as her lips thin.
Good fucking girl.
I wink at her before turning my attention back to Romeo.
If it were anyone else, they’d already be dead. The women who work here should be safe and Romeo should be the one to ensure it happens. He shouldn’t be the man who inflicts pain on them.
“We were just having a bit of fun,” Romeo starts to back pedal when I don’t say anything in response to his bullshit. “She likes it rough.” His lip curls while he gives her a look that I’m sure he believes is suave. It falls short, way fucking short. “Isn’t that right, Dove?”
Dove.
Her name almost slips past my lips as a whispered promise of what is to come. But showing Romeo even a hint of weakness right now would be a mistake. I keep my eyes pinned on my brother, daring him to make a move and give me an excuse to escalate the situation.
“Yes,” Dove’s voice is shaky, “that’s right.”
She’s lying.