Page 1

CHAPTER ONE

“Power doesn’t corrupt people; people corrupt power.”

~ William Gaddis

Saros

It was a beautiful November morning. The sun was out, the air was crisp, my coffee was perfect, and most of all, I was enjoying it in silence. That was, until a door slamming from somewhere in my estate echoed off the walls, followed by stomping feet… That must be Cosmo .

I sighed and readied myself.

Three, two, one.

“Were you even going to tell me you were meeting Frazee tonight at The Sky?”

“Good morning, Cosmo. How are you this morning?”

He rolled his eyes and shot me a strained smile. “Morning, Boss. I’m actually irritated this fine fucking morning, if you must know.”

In this situation, if someone were to walk in on us, they’d likely think it was Cosmo who was the head of this family, feared by many, more powerful than anyone that sat behind the desk in a house made of white. But they’d be wrong. Cosmo was my second in command and my brother-in-law. The fact that he was married to my sister was why he wasn’t choking on his own tongue right about now…and he knew it.

“I’m sorry you’re upset—do sit and have some coffee.” I narrowed my gaze and sneered. “I insist.”

Cosmo sat across from me and poured himself coffee from the carafe. I let him have a moment to collect himself before I spoke once more.

“When you married my sister, you became my brother. It gives you more leeway than anyone else, but if you storm into my house like that again, making a scene, you’ll be walking with a limp for the rest of your life. Do I make myself clear?”

Cosmo swallowed loudly and placed the mug on the table. “My apologies; you’re right.”

“I know I’m right. What if I had someone here? I’d have had to explain to Dafni why you had two black eyes and then when she found out the reason, she’d break your nose.”

Dafni wasn’t violent, but she was tough. She understood this life and how everything we said and did mattered. I loved Cosmo, trusted him like no other, and I knew Dafni did too. So if he forced my hand, she’d know her husband had fucked up.

“It won’t happen again.”

“I know.”

We sat in silence for a beat, and after a breath, Cosmo started over. “Are you going to The Sky tonight to meet Frazee?”

“I am.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

I huffed. “Because you have to be at your daughter’s recital tonight. Marco is going with me.”

“This is Frazee, Saros. You can’t just take Marco. He’s a snake.”

I rose from my seat and buttoned my jacket. “We’re all snakes, Cosmo. Frazee isn’t going to try anything seven hundred feet from the ground, in a public place. Marco will be just fine.”

“I’m going.”

I pointed my finger at him. “You’re in more danger if you miss Maeve’s recital.”

“Saros, she’s three. It’s not even going to be dancing—more like little piglets jumping in a circle, smashing into each other. She won’t remember if I’m there or not.”

“Idiot.” I grinned. “Dafni will know, and she’ll serve your balls to you if you’re not there. I’ll be fine. Video the dance for me…but only my niece. I don’t give a shit about all the other little fucklings.”

“Fine, but I’m talking to Marco before you go.”

I waved him away. “Whatever you want.”

He mumbled something under his breath, but I was already out of the room and on my way to the study for a phone call.

The Sky was one of the most luxurious, expensive, and elite restaurants in all of Eastbury. The owner was a friend…well, maybe friend was pushing it. He was a man who’d had a dream and zero money. He’d pitched the idea of The Sky to me, and I’d loved it, loaned him the money, and because of that I was able to eat there whenever I wanted at no cost. Something Fernando wasn’t completely on board with. As the years went by, he’d become quite rich and the bright-eyed man full of hope and wonder had become a pretentious snob. Not to me, never to me, but it was sad to see someone go from beautiful to ugly.

“Mr. Tancredi.” I peered up and saw a grinning Frazee. Technically Barrett Frazee, but for as long as anyone had known the man, he’d simply gone by his last name.

“Frazee, good to see you.” I stood, we embraced, and we settled in.

Marco was near the bar, and I could see one of Frazee’s men close by.

“Shall we get to the business portion of this meeting, or order first?”

I gestured toward the server. “Let’s get food squared away.”

I ordered beef Wellington, lightly seasoned vegetables, and mashed potatoes. I regarded Frazee as he placed his order.

He was forty; his blond hair reached his shoulders and was streaked with gray. He kept himself fit, but the lines on his face weren’t because he smiled a lot. His blue eyes were dim, and the hard life he’d led made many believe he was older than he appeared. He dressed in expensive suits but I knew what he had in the bank didn’t even come close to my fortune.

Frazee and I couldn’t look more different. I was thirty-two, I didn’t have many lines on my face, and the ones I did were definitely from smiling. My hair was black, cut, and styled at all times. My blues eyes were bright because I saw a future that would always bend to my will, and I didn’t let anything enfeeble me.

The server nodded and left us to our beverages. “Let’s cut to the chase, Frazee. You want more territory, money, and power.”

Frazee snorted into his whiskey. “Don’t we all?”

“No. I have all those things already. I don’t call meetings asking for more.”

The other man sat back, the briefest glare crossing his face before he righted it. “You just go and take it.”

I lifted a shoulder. “If I have to. Otherwise, I like to negotiate.”

“Which demands a meeting.”

I snickered ominously and swallowed the rest of my bourbon. “Negotiations happen when the other party wants something from me, and I only agree if they have something I want.”

“And what do I have that you want, Saros?”

Using my first name would be seen as disrespectful if Frazee’s opinion mattered, but it didn’t. He couldn’t bother me because I wouldn’t let him.

“I want accessibility to PTA.”

Frazee’s brows furrowed. “Pell Tennor Airport? But you have other airports.”

I did. But PTA was important. “PTA is a smaller airport, less eyes on it, and as of three months ago started letting flights in from Brazil. A destination I do a lot of business with.”

“I thought you used the ports as well.”

I nodded. “I do.”

Frazee huffed. “PTA is the only area you don’t own, and you want it.”

“I won’t take it from you, Frazee, I just want access to it whenever I require it.”

“I suspected there was something you wanted, otherwise you’d have never agreed to this meeting.”

I beamed at the man. “Now you’re getting it.”

The server arrived and placed our food in front of us and asked if we needed refills, which we accepted. Once she left to get our drinks, Frazee continued.

“There are three abandoned warehouses in Eastbury. You aren’t using them—no one is. I want them.”

“Warehouses are clichéd, Frazee. Not to mention, suspicious as fuck. It’s why no one uses them. They’re watched.”

“If you don’t want them, it shouldn’t be an issue.”

I thought about it as the server brought our beverages. I didn’t answer right away, savoring my delicious meal. Frazee didn’t push me to answer, either.

“What are you using them for?”

He wiped his mouth and met my gaze. “We don’t ask about each other’s businesses.”

I shrugged. “It’s in my territory, and there are certain things I don’t allow.”

“I know what you allow and don’t in your territory; it’s nothing like that. But sharing my business dealings with you isn’t happening.”

I could just tell him no, but I wanted access to PTA and didn’t feel much like going to war over the use of it.

“I’ll give the buildings to you, but if I find out you’re breaking my territory rules, this won’t end well for you, Frazee.”

“And you’ll have access to PTA whenever you need.”

“Deal.”

We finished our meals and spent the rest of the time being cordial, asking about our families…you know, normal things.

One of the reasons I liked doing business at The Sky was that there were no wiretaps. The restaurant was swept every hour. If Fernando got word they’d tapped the place with a warrant, he’d tell me. It was also too high for anyone to listen in unless they hovered with a helicopter, and that would be very noticeable. I had a deal with Fernando: I wouldn’t take a cut after the loan was paid off and he’d keep The Sky however he wanted, and I’d never interfere with the stipulation that my words were safe here.

“Thanks for dinner.” Frazee shook my hand as we stood from the table.

“My pleasure. I’ll get those papers over to you by the end of the week.”

“Good doing business with you, Mr. Tancredi.”

Now I was Mr. Tancredi again. “Same.”

I waited until Frazee had taken the elevator down before approaching Marco. “Tell Benny to bring the car around.”

Marco texted, and we took the elevator to the bottom. Once we got out, I went the opposite direction from the main entrance. I didn’t like being seen unless there was a reason. So, I used the back exit.

Marco and I stepped outside, and the door had just closed when a shot rang out. A second later, Marco fell to the pavement.