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When news of the internal betrayal had hit the streets, to my surprise, it was as if the DEA had decided to forgo their investigation. Of course, I knew better. With Gio’s death, their operation had been wounded, but they were plotting and planning.

Just like I was.

“We have a new request from some dude in South Africa for a shipment of our finest goods.” Drago was grinning. “How do you want me to respond?”

I thought about the request and smirked. “Have him send his best overture.” Which meant I wanted to see how many hoops the person in charge would jump through to be able to work with us.

“What are you thinking?”

“Let me see.” I rubbed my jaw just as Carmella breezed into the room. As always, every muscle in my body tensed, every appendage stiffening. Especially my cock. She commanded a room by just walking inside.

“South African wines are to die for,” she suggested. “How about four cases to start? Maybe toss in a perfect diamond or two.”

I nodded a few times. “That’s a good appetizer. We’ll go for the meat later,” I added.

Both Drago and Rocco laughed, Drago walking closer. “I gotta say the two of you make a fascinating team.”

Team. A husband and wife running a crime syndicate was still relatively unheard of. Carmella and I looked at each other, the passion ignited as always. She shrugged as if what we were doing was nothing in the scheme of life.

“No biggie. I keep him in line,” she cooed.

“Right.” I wrapped my fingers around her arm, jerking her onto my lap.

“Get a room!” another soldier dared say and Drago growled at him. “No disrespect.”

I lifted a single eyebrow. In the three weeks since almost losing Carmella, I’d changed yet again. Harder, yes. Angrier, maybe. Determined? Absolutely.

What I refused to allow to happen was losing control of any aspect of operations, including on the Lupini side. However, the embers of what I’d learned from my handler lingered.

Sadly, he’d been right. Only two days after our conversation, he’d suddenly stopped breathing. To my knowledge, an autopsy hadn’t been ordered.

By then, I’d found the information he’d hidden in the potting shed under the floorboards. Damning wasn’t the word for what he’d collected over time, some of which had obviously been taken from secure sites. He’d lost his life to try to save mine while maintaining the integrity of the DEA.

I rubbed Carmella’s hand as I once again thought about how I wanted to play the hand I’d been dealt.

“After the camera systems are installed, allow the men to begin rotating time off. They earned it.”

Drago grinned. “Yes, boss. They’ll be happy to hear that.” He motioned to the other two men that it was time to leave. As he’d done several times over the last few weeks, my second in command turned to study the two of us sitting behind the desk.

Had there been some blowback from several of the soldiers upon learning about my former career? Absolutely. I’d been required to stand firm, refusing to take any shit. While I’d made an example of a couple of men, I’d done so in a way that would preserve the integrity of our organization while allowing the soldiers a choice.

Get in line or be expelled.

None of them had challenged me openly again. Did that mean there wouldn’t be subsequent issues, men who refused to buy my loyalty? Of course not. But I would handle them.

After Drago closed the door, Carmella wrapped her arms around my neck.

“You are on fire lately,” she said in her sultry voice.

“Just doing business.”

“Did I read that you’ve already increased the bottom line by fifteen percent?”

“Don’t believe everything you read.”

“You mean like everything I see?” She brushed the tip of her finger down the side of my face, concentrating on the new beard I’d decided to grow. “Or feel? Or hunger for?” When she wiggled on my lap, I shook my head.

“You should know better than to tempt a beast.”