Page 7 of Sweetest Sin (Tempting Love #1)

Our entire family belongs to North Harbor Point Country Club.

It’s where all the wealthy who’s who of Harbor Point socialize, including many politicians and public officials.

Usually, I’m the one who frequents the club since I manage the business side of things while Matteo handles the underground shit.

“Of course I did.” He grins wolfishly. “Then, I fucked her in their fancy-ass restroom after dinner.”

“You’re such a dog. At this rate, you’re going to run out of women in Harbor Point soon.”

Matteo just shrugs. “Maybe I’ll go to wherever you went to meet this woman. Which was where exactly?” He tilts his head, curious.

“She was the flight attendant on my flight to Coral Bay.”

“Ah, did you become a member of the Mile High Club?”

“I’m not a pubescent boy,” I drawl.

Matteo cracks up. “Okay, Mr. Grown-Up. So, where did you maturely fuck her?”

“I didn’t. It wasn’t like that. Besides, have you seen the restrooms on a commercial flight?” I cringe, remembering how small it was. “It could barely fit me, let alone a woman too.”

Matteo laughs. “Challenge accepted.”

“You know, every woman you treat like shit is someone’s daughter or sister,” I point out.

“Who’s treating anyone like shit?” he scoffs.

“The women who come to me know exactly what they’re getting—a good fucking that ends with multiple orgasms. If they wanted a gentleman, they’d go to you instead.

Speaking of which … this mystery flight attendant—what are you doing with her? Because unless something’s changed?—”

“I’m not marrying her,” I snap, referring to Daniella Russo.

“But, to answer your question, nothing is going on with the flight attendant. The pilot—who is married, I might add—was harassing her, so I helped her out. Threatened his livelihood if he went anywhere near her again. I just figured since I need to go back to Coral Bay, I might as well make sure he’s staying the hell away from her. ”

“Do you need any help?” Matteo asks, sitting up straight.

My brother might be a playboy who fucks around, but he would never stand for a woman being harmed in any way.

“Nah,” I tell him. “Guy would be crazy not to heed my warning. I’ll fly to Coral Bay, make sure she’s not being hassled, and my good deed for the year will be done.”

The motherfucker did not heed my warning.

How do I know that? Because I’m currently standing in the airport, watching him harass Peyton—like his life wasn’t threatened—right in front of everyone.

While he speaks to her, his brow furrowed in annoyance, she attempts to ignore him as she goes about doing her job.

“Let me guess,” Matteo says when he answers the phone on the first ring, “you need my help.”

“His name is Dale Stuart, resides in Coral Bay, Florida, and I want to make sure he can never fly a plane again.”

“Dominick,” Peyton says in surprise when she arrives at my seat. She glances back nervously—no doubt to see if Dale is in the vicinity—and then plasters a smile on her face. “Fancy seeing you here.”

“Another business trip,” I say nonchalantly. “How are you doing?”

“I’m good,” she says softly. “Can I get you something to drink? An old-fashioned?”

“That would be great.”

She disappears to make my drink, and a few minutes later, she returns with it in hand. “One old-fashioned,” she says, setting it on the tray next to me. “Please let me know if I can get you anything else.”

“Actually,” I say, placing my hand over hers to stop her from leaving, “I’ve been meaning to ask, did that pilot leave you alone after our conversation?”

Peyton’s eyes bounce all over the plane before she nods. “Yeah. Everything is great,” she lies straight through her teeth.

“Good. I’m glad I could help.”

She forces a smile and then moves on to the next person while I text my brother, asking him to bump Dale to the top of his to-do list.

Matteo: Already done, bro.

I spend the flight going over contracts and working on the plan Matteo and I have in motion to separate Antonov business dealings from the Russos and Rothschilds.

Then, when our dad dies and we refuse to follow through with the arranged marriages, Giuseppe and Joseph won’t have anything to threaten us with.

Lorenzo is on board, but because his father is still competent, even though he’s next in line, he doesn’t have the capability of making the executive decisions.

If our fathers didn’t have so much of their businesses intertwined, separating everything would be easier.

But because they do, it’s like playing a deadly game of chess.

One wrong move, and we could send up a red flag, alerting them to what we’re trying to do, and then it would be checkmate—and not in our favor.

When the plane lands, I don’t wait around for Peyton, not wanting to draw any attention to myself. With whatever Matteo has planned, the last thing I want is to lay any breadcrumbs on the ground that would lead to Peyton or me.

I’m out of the terminal and halfway to the exit when I hear my name being called. I turn around and find Peyton speed-walking toward me.

“Everything okay?” I ask once she reaches me.

She glances around and then grabs my wrist in her delicate hand, pulling me into a corner.

“I lied,” she says softly so nobody can hear.

“It’s gotten worse. Apparently, your warning messed with his ego, and now, if I don’t sleep with him, he’s threatening to lie and say I harassed him.

I was wondering …” She swallows thickly, and her tear-filled eyes meet mine.

“Could you tell him you were just kidding? Maybe if you take it back? I don’t even know if that will work, but?—”

“Hey”—I turn her until her back is against the wall, so if anyone walks by, they’ll only make out the back of me—“I’m taking care of it, I promise. He’s never going to bother you again.”

“Okay,” she breathes. “Thank you. It’s just that my mom isn’t doing so well, and I really need this job.”

“It’s okay,” I assure her. “You don’t have to explain anything to me.” And I can’t afford to get to know you more than I already do because it’s only going to make me want you that much more , I think, but don’t voice. “You don’t know me, but I promise, I am a man of my word.”

“Thank you,” she murmurs.

“No problem.”

Her lips curve into a smile—a real one this time—and her entire face lights up. I’m about to do something stupid, like ask for her number, when my phone rings, breaking the moment.

“I need to take this,” I tell her, taking a step back. “But don’t worry. It will all work out.”

Without waiting for her to respond, I take off toward the exit to answer the call.

It’s from Matteo.

“Any news?”

“I think he killed her boyfriend.”

“Who?” I ask in confusion since our last conversation was about Peyton and she never mentioned having anything other than an ex-boyfriend.

“Brielle. I think Andrey killed her boyfriend. We searched her apartment and found pictures of her with a guy. I ran his picture through the system, and his name is … well, was Owen Levine. Senior at the same college Brielle attends. Business major. He went missing a few days ago, and this morning, my guys found a dead body that matches his description. It’s clear he was murdered.

I made sure nothing could be linked back to us or Bri.

Since he wasn’t killed in Harbor Point, I had to pay off a cop in the jurisdiction where we found him to call it in. We’ll know soon if it was him.”

“And Brielle? Have you found her?” I hold my breath, praying he has and she’s okay.

“No,” Matteo says. “And his phone is missing, so I can’t check it for texts or calls.”

“Dad probably has it.”

“Yeah, which could mean he’s closer to finding her.”

“Fuck, I’m coming back there.”

“There’s nothing you can do,” Matteo says. “I have all my men searching for her, and as soon as we find her, I’ll let you know. You coming home won’t change a thing. You’re a good businessman, but you don’t know the streets like we do.”

He’s right, but I hate feeling helpless.

“Besides, Andrey isn’t going to hurt her,” he points out. “She’s the only daughter he has, so she’s his only hope of completing his ludicrous plan.”

“We need to take care of him sooner rather than later.”

“We will,” he promises. “Go to the meeting. I’ll let you know if I find anything else out.”

“All right,” I say after several seconds. “If you need anything …”

“I got this. Get the deal finalized, and I’ll see you back at home.”

We hang up, and the anger that’s been building inside me finally surfaces. Before I can think about what I’m doing, my fist hits the metal beam in an attempt to release a bit of my pent-up aggression.

Fuck!

Brielle just had to hold on a little longer, but instead, she acted in haste, and now, not only did she get her boyfriend killed, but her life is at risk too. She knew better when she chose to fall for someone who wasn’t part of our world.

Speaking of which …

My gaze lands on the beautiful, green-eyed beauty standing in the taxi line with her rolling luggage next to her.

I should leave her alone, walk away, and never look back since I know Matteo is going to take care of that asshole for her. But I can’t help the way I gravitate toward her.

“Where are you off to?” I ask when I step up behind her.

She jumps and spins, a cute shriek leaving her lips. “Jesus,” she breathes when her eyes land on me. “You can’t be sneaking up on people like that. I’m headed home.”

“Does that mean you won’t be serving me my old-fashioned on my flight home later?”

She shakes her head. “I picked up a trip for a crew member. So, unless you’re going to the Dominican Republic tomorrow morning, you won’t be on my flight.”

“That sounds an awful lot like an invitation,” I joke, making her eyes bug out.

“What? No,” she splutters, shaking her head. “That’s not what I?—”

I bridge the gap between us and lean in close so only she can hear. “The DR is beautiful this time of year. Maybe I’ll have to take a trip there.” And it would be the perfect distraction from the bullshit that has become my life.

“I’ve never been,” Peyton chokes out. “We have a one-night layover, so I’m hoping to spend tomorrow seeing some of the sights.”

“I could show you around,” I tell her, lifting her chin so she’s forced to look at me. I have a few business associates in the DR, so I’ve been there several times over the years. “Would you want that?”

“I told you that I have a lot going on and my mom is?—”

“I’m not asking you to marry me,” I say, placing two fingers against her plump lips. “And whatever is going on will still be there when you are back. I just want one day with you. Could you give me that?”

She swallows thickly, and then after several seconds, she nods.

“I need the words.”

I need to hear that she wants me the way I want her. That despite neither of us being in a position to see where this could go long-term, neither of us can deny the chemistry sizzling between us. And it would be a waste to not let it burn.

“ If I were to see you in the DR, I wouldn’t be opposed to letting you show me the sights.”

I nod and smile, so damn intrigued by this woman. “Well, maybe you’ll see me on the plane tomorrow.”

The line moves forward, and Peyton’s taxi arrives. With a quick glance back at me, she slides into the back seat and takes off.

Since I didn’t book a town car—too busy dealing with Peyton and then the phone call from my brother—I grab a taxi to take me to my meeting.

Me: You think the commercial flight was bad? You should see me inside of a taxi.

Matteo: Who are you, and what have you done with my brother?

I arrive at my meeting on time, and it goes smoothly. The other investors and I sign the contracts, and it feels good to know that the deal has none of my father’s tainted blood on it.

I’m walking out of the meeting, toward the town car that’s waiting for me, unsure if I’m going to head to the airport or book a flight to the DR, when a notification catches my eye, alerting me of a new email from Victor Rosa.

He’s a business associate of ours in the DR. We’ve been handling his shipments into Harbor Point for years, and our contract with them is due to be renegotiated.

Usually, Victor would make the trip to Harbor Point, and I’d have my brother with me since he recently started handling the port, despite our father’s objections.

But my brain goes to a certain red-haired, green-eyed woman who will be flying to the DR tomorrow, and my decision is made.

I shoot a text to my brother, hoping he won’t see through my lie, and then tell the driver I’m going to be staying in Coral Bay tonight, so I’ll need to be taken to a hotel.

Me: I have some business I need to attend to in the DR, so I’m going to handle Rosa’s contract renegotiation while I’m there.

It shows he read it, but he doesn’t respond for several minutes. When he does, I can’t help but groan because it’s like he’s Big Brother.

Matteo: Any chance the flight attendant is accompanying you to the DR?

Me: Focus on handling the fucking pilot.

Matteo: Don’t think I haven’t noticed that you haven’t mentioned her name. But I’ll let you keep your little secret for now. Have fun, bro … but not too much.

Since I don’t have any clothes with me because it was only supposed to be a day trip, after getting checked in to my hotel, I have Janet order me clothes and a carry-on suitcase to be delivered to my room, and then I spend the rest of the evening working.

Several times, I consider finding a way to contact Peyton to ask her to dinner, but I don’t because spending time with her here would feel too personal.

This is where she lives, but the DR will be neutral ground.

We’ll spend some time together, and I’ll show her the sights.

She’ll be a good distraction, and we’ll go our separate ways.

Then, I can focus on the important shit, like ending the ties between the three families so we’ll be free from our father once and for all.

“That’s all I need,” I tell myself. “One night with Peyton to get her out of my system, and then we can both move on.”