Page 32 of Joey

“No problem.”

He walks out of the room, leaving Ralf and me alone. “I told you a partnership wasn’t on the table,” I remind him, and he eyes me warily.

When I push my chair back, he flinches and I suppress a smile. Walking around the desk, I grab him by the neck, pressing my palm against his Adam’s apple until he opens his mouth to gasp for air. I shove three fingers inside, pushing them down his throat until he gags and tears run down his face.

“Mr. Moretti expects the paperwork pertaining to the purchase of his new casino in his inbox tomorrow morning. If it doesn’t arrive by noon, then consider the deal off.”

He tries to wrench free, his body struggling to get oxygen, but I tighten my grip. “You understand me, Ralf?”

His eyes meet mine, and he nods almost imperceptibly. Ralf and his brother have had a free ride in this city for far too long. They stepped on plenty of people on their way to the top and can’t be trusted. The last poor fuckers who went into business with them ended up bankrupt because the Strauss brothers ran the company into the ground, bleeding it for every cent right under their business partners’ noses. But because of who they were and their perceived alliance with Salvatore Moretti, no one would challenge them. There’s no chance we’d ever go into business with him. When Salvatore was alive, the Strauss brothers traded off the fact that they were his enforcers for a few years, after my father died at least. However, their gravy train has come to an end. The casino is about to go under, and we’re going to buy it for a quarter of what it’s worth.

Ralf and Micah won’t take it lying down, but I don’t give a shit. I’ll add them to the long list of people who’d like to kill me.

I pull my fingers out of Ralf’s mouth and wipe my saliva-covered fingers on his expensive Italian suit jacket. “By noon.”

He coughs, rubbing at his throat, but when I lift my hand, he recoils and gives me a nod.

I tap him on the side of his face. “Good boy.”

By the time I walk outside, Dante’s waiting for me in the car.

“He get the message?” he asks me when I climb inside.

“Yep. Asshole.”

He laughs. “The look on his face when I asked him why he dragged me over here. He looked like he was about to shit his pants.”

“He almost did after you left.”

“You were right about having a face-to-face with him though. Remind him who he’s dealing with. And it’s nice seeing you work. You’re the most effective negotiator I know.” He laughs harder. “I’m so glad you’re on my side, compagno.”

Another pang of guilt twists my stomach. I have to tell him about Kristin soon. And stop fucking around with his sister. Closing my eyes, I lean back against the seat, but all I see are images of Joey sucking my cock earlier today. Yeah, doing the right thing and not fucking around with Joey Moretti is never going to happen.

ChapterFourteen

JOEY

“You’re not paying attention, Guiseppina,” my half sister says as she taps the side of my head.

“You’re such a bitch, Antoinette, you know that?” I snap back, bouncing on the balls of my toes as I raise my guard. She knows I hate my name. Everybody knows—but I don’t hate it nearly as much as Toni hates hers.

She laughs wickedly. “Oh, now you really pissed me off, kid.”

“Good, maybe you’ll actually bring me some heat this time,” I goad her as we circle the ring.

“Such big words for such a little girl. Big brothers aren’t here to protect you now though.”

“You’re such a bitch,” I say with a scowl.

“You already used that one, princess.” She jabs her left hook at me, but I duck out of the way. “Maybe you wish Max were here to protect you instead, huh?”

I launch forward, aiming my right hand at her jaw but she’s way too fast for me and dodges it easily.

“Oh, I do love pushing your buttons, kid.”

“Leave Max out of this,” I warn her, my eyes narrowed.

“Hmm.” She rolls her lips together. “No.”