Page 23 of King of Obsession (Kings of the Underworld #1)

Luciana sighs, her eyes turning into two slits. “Donata intends to take Augustus’s place. She’s constantly plotting. She wants to secure the power for her son, who everyone knows is a spoiled, coke-addicted, hiding-behind-mommy’s-influence prick.”

“What about you and Adamo?” I ask, taking full advantage of her being chatty. Or maybe she trusts me more than she likes to admit. Whatever the reason, it gives me a clearer picture of how to make this work.

“After his father died, he’s desperate to prove himself. And he asked me to marry him.”

The pressure I apply on my plate with the knife forces a little crack.

She places her hand on mine, giving it a little squeeze. All my anger vanishes, eradicated by her caring gesture.

“I obviously refused him. I don’t respect men in general.”

“It seems to me you don’t respect women much either.”

She shrugs, biting on her bottom lip. “Perhaps. But I respect you.”

“And Augustus.”

She brings another bite to her mouth, and after delicately chewing, she says, “I have to.”

I hate that man to the point I want him gone—annihilated because he’s the one in my way, keeping her from being just mine.

Possessiveness grips me in a chokehold that I want to raid any obstacle in making her mine for good.

However, starting a war with the Council must be planned accordingly.

Their influence spans worldwide. Throughout history, those who have tried to overtake them have lost their money, influence, or life. Sometimes, all of the above.

“How come you and Mikail united what seems impossible to unite, the Bratva and the Mob?”

Our talks always delve into deep waters, treading through murky, unexplored territory, exchanging opinions and sharing thoughts. There’s nothing surface level with us.

“Times change. We’re legitimate businessmen by day and whatever we need by night.”

“You mean criminals.”

I arch a brow at her. “You’re in no position to judge.”

She shrugs. “I don’t. Just stating facts.

Drugs, human trafficking, corrupt politicians, staging coups, funding wars, taking over companies.

I’ve seen it all, Enzo. Human depravity and greed know no bounds.

The Council has its hands in everything.

I’ve yet to meet someone in our world who wouldn’t sell their humanity for more money and power. ”

“As long as there are humans, there will be violence. As long as there is a nightlife, people will want to taste the forbidden. We’re filling a need. But I abhor human trafficking. That doesn’t happen in my city and whoever dares to do that on my coast ends up dead.”

“You’re losing a lot of money. It’s a billion a year market.” Her tone, while neutral, has a cold undertone, as if testing me.

“Don’t be cynical, Luciana. I am not pretending to be who I am not, but I follow a code.”

Her eyes bore into mine, as if wanting to peel away every layer. “Would you have thought the same if your sister weren’t a victim?”

That’s a sensitive subject for me, swiftly causing me to be defensive.

But if I want her honesty, I need to be honest in return.

So, I push through, saying through gritted teeth, “Because I have a sister and a mother who I love and respect, I can’t tolerate the thought that someone might take advantage of a girl’s youth, innocence, and vulnerability to fuck them up for good. ”

Fuck, after what happened to my sister, I went on a killing spree for weeks, eradicating every human trafficking cell I discovered nearby.

I swore no girl would ever go through something similar in my city and its surroundings.

The ones who thought to steal our empire are all dead, serving as a reminder that there’s no mercy.

But not even all that spilled blood and massacre could ever return what they stole from my sister.

I am not a hypocrite—drugs, guns, gambling, ruin people’s lives as well. I just believe in free will. And there’s none in human trafficking.

“I could have become a nun, a whore, or a killer. Those were the options I had.”

“The nun outfit was not fashionable enough?”

She slaps my hand playfully, giving me an eye roll. She can pretend all she wants, but she loves how I challenge her.

“You would have stopped worshiping God once you met me.” I try to bring the discussion to a lighter topic, but with her, our talks always move to meaningful, exposing the other to our rawest, most honest selves.

Cocking my head, I add, “A whore. You definitely have the skills to make a man lose his mind. I prefer you’re my personal slut, though.”

She lets out a gasp, and I continue. “There’s no place for indignation or fake coyness between us.”

She has this faraway look on her face before she expels a long breath ringing of resignation.

Turning her hand over, I trail a finger over her delicate palm.

“A killer… revered, feared, remarkable. I’d prefer you not spill my blood. I guess you would have been magnificent in whatever you’d chosen to do, Luciana… to me, it doesn’t matter. In the end, the outcome would have been the same—destined to be mine.”

“I’ve met many men, Enzo. Studied every one of my kills. Some were cunning, some were idiots, some were brilliant. Most of them were scum and all of them too arrogant for their own wellbeing, but no one like you.”

I smirk. “Thank you for the compliment.”

She retracts her hand and slaps her palms on the table. Casting a threatening look at the people who glance our way, she peers into my eyes. Her silver eyes bore into my soul, touching the deepest parts of me. “That wasn’t a compliment. You’re screaming for someone to take a chance to kill you.”

Thrusting my arm out, I drag her to my face by the back of her neck. “I guess you’ll have to keep me safe, my Silver Death. But many tried, and no one succeeded. You were the closest.”

I slam my mouth on hers, feeding her my essence so she’ll forever be transformed as mine—and I become her everything.