Page 12 of Mafia King: Matteo (Borrelli Mafia #1)

MATTEO

I toss Alena’s dossier on my desk and collapse into the well-worn leather chair.

I lean back with my fingers laced behind my head, satisfied that whoever sold me out didn’t plan on us having a chance encounter.

If it was a one-time fuck, I might never have known she’s a precious gem, a gem that belongs to my enemy, a gem that will soon be mine.

He took what was mine. Now, I’ll take what is his.

When I ask Gio for a status report on Alena, it’s no surprise she’s currently at the hottest club in the city. This makes my blood boil, knowing the place is full of wolves, worse than the likes of me.

What is her father thinking, allowing her out at this time of night with no protection? Obviously, no one watches her as much as I do—otherwise, they would be onto me.

Gio’s phone rings.

“Pronto?” There’s a pause while he listens. “Yes, I’ll be sure to tell him.”

“What now?” I grumble when he hangs up.

“That was our Human Resources person calling to say Alena Pasnov has applied for the design consultant job at Indio Designs. She has an interview tomorrow.”

“Perfect timing. I was hoping she would see the ad. It was a long shot, but she’s taken the bait.”

“Hook, line, and sinker.”

“Make sure she’s hired and starts immediately.”

“Yes, sir,” Gio says as he leaves to pass on my instructions.

Knowing Alena is out at a club in the middle of the night has my blood boiling with jealousy.

Unable to sit still, I start pacing back and forth, hoping it will help me focus.

I need to put a stop to these extracurricular activities.

Just thinking about her with another man makes me angry.

She won’t have time for anything else if I can keep her busy at her new job.

I rub a hand over the ten o’clock shadow on my jaw. I have an idea.

Alena will join the team I have in place at Indio.

She will be working alongside Sophia, a woman I used to fuck until she made the mistake of thinking our casual sex was going to lead to something more permanent and exclusive.

She was wrong, of course, and I’ve been ghosting her.

When Sophia finds out I’m engaged to Alena, her claws will come out, and she will make Alena’s life a living hell as retribution for me taking her out of the marriage equation.

Alena won’t know what hit her.

Gio returns to tell me it’s done.

“Great. Sophia has been nagging me to give her more staff to help redecorate the hotel. This will shut her up.”

“Are you sure you want Sophia around Alena? What if something happens? You know how she gets when she’s pissed off.”

“That can be said for just about every woman,” I chuckle. Someone used Wu to fuck me over my first week as the don. That won’t happen again. “I can control Sophia if she gets out of hand.”

Satisfied my plan is in motion, I return to the leather chair and light a cigar. We need to discuss the marriage contract.

“Alena will be pissed when she figures everything out. She won’t like being a pawn in my game. The contract needs to stipulate the marriage has to be consummated and Alena needs to be pregnant within a year. I need an heir.”

“She’s not gonna be happy about being told what to do. Her father has spoiled her by allowing excessive freedom.”

“It wasn’t intentional. He’s just an old prick, too busy working to pay attention to his daughter. He has no clue what he’s been given, but he’ll learn when I take her. I will make sure she has enough guards to fight off an army if necessary.”

Mandating a shared marital bed in the contract will make it difficult for her to resist me. I can’t wait to fill her with my cum. My cock twitches just thinking about it.

Fuck.

Now I have to see her. Why wait? I’m the don. I can fuck who I want—when I want.

I order Gio to get the car.

“We’re going to the club.”

“That’s not a good idea. You have a plan, a perfect plan. Why risk screwing it up?”

“You don’t get a vote.” I’m quick to remind him. Gio is my best friend, but we have clear boundaries. I rely on his wisdom, and he helps me run an empire, but tonight, I’m a man first, a don second.

“Fine, but I’m going with you to run interference if needed. That place is crawling with every mafia family in the city. We don’t know who will come for you next.”

“Fine, get your gun.”

Gio nods, then calls for the car to be brought up. Within minutes, we’re in the G-wagon. I sit in the back, and Gio sits up front with the driver. It’s a painstakingly long ride to get from Long Island to Manhattan.

Alena loves the limelight—that much is obvious. She lives in a condo overlooking Central Park. If I know anything about New Yorkers, they’d rather give up sex than give up life in the city. If I take Alena away from this lifestyle, she may become restless and resentful.

“Have the penthouse floor of the Central Park hotel prepared for me.”

“Are you planning to live there?”

“I might need it to keep Alena happy during the engagement period. Its location will ease her into a more secluded lifestyle after we’re married.”

“Speaking of marriage, will you be taking a honeymoon?”

“Doubtful. It’s not safe to travel as long as someone is trying to unseat me.”

“Any idea who it might be?”

“My best guess is it’s one of my uncles.

I’m not worried about Carlo so much, but the other two,” my voice trails off, and I shrug.

“There’s always the possibility it’s one of the other Italian families here.

Santino Moretti is Cosa Nostra, and he’s well-connected in Chicago, Detroit, Boston, and Philadelphia.

The Morettis have the most to gain from taking over our territory. ”

“No one has seen the old man in some time.”

“It’s better that way, isn’t it? It keeps your enemies guessing. I’m surprised his son isn’t running the business by now. Santino’s getting up there in age.”

“There is no age limit on crime. Besides, many of these guys end up in prison or sickly.”

“Speak for yourself,” I growl under my breath.

“Oh, well. You, my friend, are the exception,” Gio adds to recover from his unintended insult.

As the driver pulls up to the club, Gio pulls his gun from the holster under his jacket and puts it in the glove box.

Then he gets out and opens my door. I step out and button my Armani suit jacket as we walk straight to the front of the line.

Bouncers, knowing we mean business and have money to spend, let us in immediately.

Once inside, I glance around the cavernous club.

There are two levels: the top, no doubt, the VIP level.

I size up the competition dressed in expensive suits with personal security as their wingman.

Some of these men are local officials or politicians, but I don’t recognize anyone I’ve bribed recently.

“Alena will be at a VIP table,” I say, scanning the faces on the second floor. “There she is,” I point out, spotting my future queen in a skin-tight red dress. “Who’s that with her?”

“His name is Kirill. He works for Pasnov. He’s a low-level threat and probably just her friend.”

“Or are they something more?” I growl, pushing past people to cross the dance floor. At the bottom of the steps, I stop abruptly.

“What’s the matter?” Gio asks.

“I need to lay low until the deal is sealed. Get me a napkin and a pen.”

Gio snatches a cocktail napkin off a nearby table, and the couple sitting there looks annoyed, but when I glare at them, they get up and leave. Good.

He hands me the napkin and fishes a pen from inside his coat pocket. I write “Meet me by the restrooms. Mr. Grey.” I fold it in half and hand it to him.

“Find a way to give it to her without tipping off Kirill. And make sure she’s not followed.”

“Got it.” Gio leaves to carry out my mission. I watch him climb the steps and bump into their table like he’s drunk. It’s a classic move and one I’ve used a few times myself.

Message delivered. I make my way towards the bar, and my heart races. What the fuck am I doing chasing after a woman in a club? Then I remember we met in a sex club and that we have a pattern of fucking in new places.

That’s what’s turning me on, the adrenaline rush of having sex in public. It’s the risk of getting caught that makes me horny.

Needing a drink, I order a vodka martini from the bartender and take it with me as I explore the club. Spotting a short corridor, I walk down the dark hallway until I find a door with a sign that reads Manager. I check the doorknob, and it’s locked.

I backtrack to a spot near the restrooms and wait, hidden behind a fat man who could use a gastric bypass.

My pulse quickens as she approaches. When she’s within reach, I grab her arm and pull her towards me.

“Oh,” she gasps before she realizes it’s me.

“Someone’s out late,” I say, sipping my drink.

“I’m beginning to think you’re following me,” she replies and playfully tugs on my tie.

I take a mouthful of martini and close my lips around hers so I can funnel the drink into her mouth. She swallows and sucks the vodka off my lips.

Our tongues merge in a deep kiss that leaves my cock so hard I could use it as a kickstand. I lean against her, pinning her to the wall. Her body melts into mine, and she slides her arms around my neck.

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