Chapter 1

Antonio

We arrived at one of our warehouses where we have meetings and keep supplies overnight until we can unload and sell to our offshore distributors. I was slowly controlling my temper before going inside and dealing with a major fuckup with a snitch that’s stealing from the Cartel. The Don would probably kill a few guys over this. Opening the large, stonewall door that was over hundred years old, I could still hear the rusty creaking noise. Bruno and I used to ask my father if this place was haunted. He just repeated, “Tony, the dead can’t haunt what it can’t see.”

Many times, I’ve tried to understand his meaning. It took me learning his world and role as the Don of the Cartel to gain the perspective.

Nobody, No sound.

I reached into my pocket and, checked my phone, just in case Sabrina had texted me back from last night. I was wasting my time here when I could be laid up under her, wrapped in her arms and kissing her soft, sweet chocolate skin.

Walking closer to the table, I began, “Gentlemen, we have a problem, it’s come to my attention that we have someone telling our secrets.”

Glancing around the room, I saw that everyone looked nervous. I quickly gave Carlo a nod, and he noticed the anxiety in the room. Archie bit his lip. Danny was sweating profusely. Kane sat impatiently in his seat and checked his watch every five minutes.

“Are we keeping you from something, Kane?” I interrogated, staring him right in the eye.

I’d hoped he’d give me one good reason to end his life. I should do it just for fucking up my night with my baby.

“I’m not in a hurry, Antonio.”

Kane looked me directly in the eye. I nodded back at him. I hope that let him know he was on my radar.

“We know what happens to people that talk,” My Father smirked in my direction.

I glanced over at Bernardo Arturo as he started to speak. He was my father’s second in command.

“Are you serious? Who’s the piece of shit? Let me kill them with my bare hands,” Bernardo spoke with so much anger.

“No need. We have our ear to the ground, and I’ve put someone in charge to take care of this situation before it gets out of hand.” Father walked over to me and placed his hand on my shoulder. Everyone looked at each other and then at my father with a desperate look. “Bernardo, I’ve spoken with my son, and he will be taking on more responsibility, and it begins with this situation.

“Now, since that’s settled, let’s look at the numbers.”

“Bernardo, you can begin with your area.”

Before he could say anything else, Dad snapped his fingers for Bernardo to open the books.

“We have all of Downtown coming in line with payments. My other concern is Derrick at the Lobby, and of course, the Italian deal,” Bernardo whipped his hand across his face in frustration.

“Don’t worry about that deal. It’s being handled, personally, by Alfredo.”

As Dad continued talking, Alfredo De Luca walked in, the older version of Bruno. He was Bruno's favorite uncle and Jimmy De Luca’s younger brother. Alfredo walked toward each of us and kissed everyone on the cheek.

“Did I miss anything?”

Alfredo sat next to his brother.

Dad nodded his head toward Bernardo to start talking.

I leaned back in my chair, closing my eyes to all surrounding noise. I was trying to block out the whispers and the yelling.

Carlo came in late and sat next to me.

“You’re late,” I hinted.

I wasn't too big on being ignored.

I noticed out of the corner of my eye, Carlo was fidgeting in his seat and looking down at his phone. Before I could say anything, Bruno yelled out at our dad.

“He’s too weak to handle something like this!”

“Watch your mouth, Figlio.”

“I need to speak with you,” Carlo confided in my ear.

Suddenly not feeling like dealing with everyone, I rose out of my seat and started to speak.

“Bruno, at this moment in time, I couldn’t care less what you think or feel about me. Our father put me in charge, and until he changes his mind, all questions, concerns, and deals will go through me, Capire?”

Capire meant ‘understand’ in Italian. When I was upset, the Italian in me would surface.

I narrowed my eyes at him and the surrounding men in this room. I never cut my eye contact. I was letting them all know that from this day forward, I was the new Don in charge. No one was to question me.

Suddenly, I heard hand clapping beside me.

Carlo stood up and yelled, “Il Nostro Nuovo capo!”

“Our new Chief!” he repeated again, this time in English.

After that drawn-out meeting, shaking hands with the underbosses and my father, Carlo and I got inside my car and headed to my family’s home.

“Why were you late?” I requested.

“Camilla came to see me,” Carlo explained.

I groaned in my seat.

This can’t be happening right now.

“What does she want?” I inquired.

“It doesn’t matter, Tony. I told her to stay away from you.”

Carlo looked down at his phone again.

“Hot date or something, whose texting you?”

“We need to keep an eye on your brother.”

I nodded my head in agreement, not letting his change of subject divert me from his phone.

“Put Lenny and Sonny on it, are you going to tell me who’s buzzing you nonstop?”

Carlo passed his phone over to me, and I grabbed it. Looking down at it, I passed it back over to him.

“Tell her I’m not with the games, we’re over,” I ordered.

I leaned down in my seat, thinking about Sabrina and how she was going to be mine real soon. Camilla better stays out of my way and not fuck up my plans.

Carlo nodded in agreement and turned his phone off.

We were headed over to my family’s home for dinner.

I tried once a week to have lunch with mom by herself, and she insisted we continue family dinner traditions. I could do without seeing my brother constantly berating me for being the head of the Cartel and my father pushing me to get married into another Cartel family. The last thing on my mind was marriage.

Closing my eyes, I drifted off to my happy place of being with Sabrina.

“Bella, I miss kissing your lips,” I declared.

“I miss you too baby.”

“When are you coming home?” I inquired.

“I’m not sure, it’s pretty busy at work today. We just closed a big deal.” Sabrina countered.

“What are you wearing?”

“Antonio is that why you called me. Not to say hi, good afternoon, how’s your day, like any normal boyfriend. ” Sabrina joked.

“Babe, I haven’t touched you in over 8hrs, I need my fix.”

“You are so spoiled,” Sabrina responded.

“That goes both way’s baby. Are you alone in your office?” I inquired.

“Yes.”

“Touch yourself for me. I want to hear you scream my name.” I urged.

“I’m at my place of business Tony. What if someone walks in or hears me?”

“Get up and lock the door.”

“You owe me for this mister. I want three orgasms and a foot massage later today.” Sabrina informed.

I burst into laughter at the other end of the phone.

“Baby you can get as many orgasms as you want. I’d lick that pretty pussy all day and night. Just thinking about how sweet you taste. Is already making my dick hard.”

“Tony, did you hear me? Tony,” Carlo jerked me out of my thoughts, nudging me in the arm.

“Sorry, what did you say?” I asked.

“Are you paying attention, or are you daydreaming about that Sabrina?”

Carlo walked up to our family home and opened the door. I walked in behind him.

“Focus on your own love life and let me worry about mine.”

My mom walked in from the kitchen, and I greeted her with a kiss on her cheek.

“Ciao, Madre.”

“Figlio mio.”

After greeting me, she asked whether my father rode with us. As she was talking, I shook my head and took my jacket off and rolled up my sleeves.

Grabbing my phone out of my pocket, I felt it vibrate. I was hoping that it was Sabrina. The only name I saw was Camilla, I rejected her call, and then I deleted her voice message. Blowing out a breath of frustration, I thought about my next move toward my Tesoro. That word had many meanings, and one of them was Italian for sweetheart. I was already calling her names in my native language. I was sure that she would appreciate being called sweetheart in Italian.

Carlo kissed my mom’s cheek and hugged her as my father and brother walked through the door.

“If I would have known you’d cheat on me with this little hoodlum, I’d sent him away years ago.”

Father pulled my mom into a hug and kissed.

“Honey, you have nothing to worry about.”

“I better not.”

He smiled and gently kissed her forehead. He grabbed her hand and led her toward the living room.

Everyone followed and took a seat on the couch. My father pulled my mom onto his lap and rubbed her back while looking into her eyes and smiling.

The love they had makes me want the same things with Sabrina. I needed to work overtime with making her mine.

I was startled out of my thoughts by my brother.

“What’s up with the meeting tonight?” Bruno asked.

I got up and walked over to the bar. I poured myself a glass of scotch, taking the time to try to get a hold of my next words carefully, so I didn't blow up on Bruno in front of Madre.

Carlo grabbed a glass of...