Page 141 of Sins of the Orchid

“My brother. Does Savio know you took over the cartel upon your husband’s death?”

Her jaw tightened. “No.”

“Isn’t the Perèz Cartel his main drug supplier?” It was a known fact.

“Yes, and as such, I charge him extra,” she retorted with a self-satisfied grin.

She loved having the last word.

I left without a backward glance, the door shutting behind me.

CHAPTER52

Amore

Ihad been back a week and couldn’t get away from Santino Russo no matter how hard I tried. Everytime I turned around, he was there. At Regalè Enterprise, at a fashion show, after parties, at my father’s house. You’d think the man lived here. I kept running into him.

I teetered on the edge. He was invading all my thoughts and fucking dreams too. Adriano has been avoiding me, and I have no fucking clue what that was about. I had yet to see him since I got back. And his messages were short and evasive.

Men were just idiots. There was nothing else to say about that.

And my grandmother… I just had no words. She assigned Santi as my bodyguard. A fucking don was my bodyguard. Those two were up to something. Otherwise, why would Santi agree to that role? It wasn’t like he needed money.

My eyes lowered to the picture of the note in my hand.

I read the note again.

Sins of the father are the daughter’s to pay.

You crumbled my empire.

Now I’ll crumble yours.

Blood for blood.

It’s her turn to scream.

I found the picture of the message on my father’s desk, drafted on a steel wall, surrounded by death. So many dead women, all with red hair. It was dated two years ago. Two fucking years and no words. No wonder Dad and Grandma agreed to send me to Italy. And now that I was back, everyone was on edge. Even my grandmother. And where in the fuck was Adriano?

Italy was so much better, I thought dryly to myself.

“Hey, sis.” I started at my brother’s voice. Luigi gently tugged on my ponytail. “Dad wants you in his office.”

I quickly shut down my phone. It wasn’t a subtle movement, so Luigi didn’t miss it, but to his credit, he said nothing. I got to my feet and followed him. Dressed in my hot pink shorts and white tank top, I padded barefoot towards Dad’s office. It was hot as Hades today; September in New York city was a sauna.

When I entered his office, my step faltered with surprise. Adriano was here. Dad sat behind his desk and Adriano in the chair across from him.

“Hey, didn’t hear you come in.” I greeted him with a kiss on the cheek. He gave me an odd look, almost like a warning. I raised my eyebrow, wondering what that was about but he just shook his head.

Pà smiled at both of us, like he was pleased about something. Though I couldn’t quite figure out what that could be.

“Shut the door, Luigi,” he told my brother.

I turned to see my brother close the door and take a stance in front of it, like he was standing guard, and it was only then that I saw him. My heart instantly plunged to my feet. Would this reaction ever ease up?

Santi Russo stood against the mantle of the fireplace, casually leaning. Standing like a statue in the middle of the office, I stared at him while my heart thundered under my chest. It only happened around him. While he watched me with indifference, his dark gaze almost angry, I struggled for breath. Like he sucked all the oxygen out of the room.

His hands casually in his pockets, he didn’t seem to be suffering the same effect as I had.