Page 13 of Scarred Heir

“Why are you so invested in these people?”

“Isn’t my mother’s charity all about helping young women who don’t have a fair shake in life?” We made our way into the club. “That’s the whole point of the work her charity does, so if I can help someone out, I’m going to.”

“That’s noble of you.”

“What? You think I have another motive?”

“Do you want me to answer that?”

“Just get me the information.” I pushed my way to the bar as the excitement began to build in the crowd over the countdown to midnight.

“I’m going to say something you’re not going to like, but as your advisor, it has to be said.”

“Fine.” I nodded at the bartender who set my vodka in front of me. “Do your job, Lucas. Tell me what you think I need to hear.”

“Don’t get distracted by a pretty face,” he said. “Do I have to remind you what happened to your brother?”

“He and Lissia worked out.” I sipped my drink. “Mostly.”

“They are on the run because she killed a man.”

“I’m aware.” I was the one who had to sanitize the murder scene.

“My point is, this family needs you to stay alert and focused. Can you do that?”

“I know who I am.” I gazed around the room full ofassociates, never forgetting that any one of them could turn on me. “I know what it means to be the heir to this empire.”

My family would always come first, and I would do whatever it took to keep us on top— no matter the consequences. Just because I spared a life tonight didn’t mean I would do it again if that life chose to cross me in the future.

FOUR

Sable

One weekinto the new year and I still hadn’t managed to get Milo out of my head. I had even gone so far as to research the man who had occupied my thoughts for the last seven days.

Dark, dangerous, and mysterious. Three qualities that should make any sane woman run. If those attributes didn’t turn me off, the fact that he had my brother beaten up should have.

His family owned a luxury car dealership in the city where all the celebrities purchased their sports cars. On the surface, he appeared to be a legitimate businessman, but all it took was a deep dive into the internet to see who he really was—mafia royalty. And the women in this city seemed to eat it right up.

I found a few social media pages where beautiful women posted about Milo, his brother, and his father. These seemingly desperate women were always taggingthem in pictures and making sure they checked in at the same places where the Accetti men were. Those men had quite the following.

Why do I care?I had seen firsthand what Milo was capable of. But then again, he could have killed Chance for what he tried to do. He spared my brother. Was a man like him supposed to have a heart?

How twisted was that? I wanted to be grateful to a man who spared my brother’s life? Should Milo have been threatening to kill Chance in the first place?

I straightened up our one-bedroom apartment, trying to think of anything or anyone other than Milo. As I fluffed the worn pillows on the couch that Chance slept on every night, my thoughts drifted to black, silk sheets that smelled of spice. The same scent that lingered on my skin hours after leaving the club on New Year’s Eve.

Damn! Why can’t I get him out of my head?

I plopped down on the couch and rested my head on the back of the old sofa that came with the run-down apartment. The only good thing to come out of this day was hearing the landlord say that the rent was paid.

I didn’t know how Chance managed that. I probably didn’t want to know, but at least that gave us thirty more days. Maybe I would find a job in the next day or so and we could catch up on our bills.

“Sable!” Chance charged through the door, quickly shutting and locking it. “Good, you’re here.”

“What’s up?” I asked as he glanced out the window before shutting the blinds.

“Nothing.”