by Soraya Naomi
I ignore his questions. “If we let you go, how can I be assured that you won’t turn us in?”
Santino studies me with a calculating stare. “Because I know it would get me killed.”
“That’s right. You’ll never escape us if you talk.”
“I realize that you’re everywhere. The Syndicate took over Sal’s entire establishment in one night. I’m not stupid enough to fight that. I know how powerful you are.”
“Then you also know we can, and will, find you again if you do betray us.”
He rears back with a bleak expression. “I get that. So are you planning to release me? Because I overheard that they’re taking me back to Club 7 tonight.”
“I’m not making any promises, but I’ll talk to the boss and let you know. However, if any of the soldiers uncover information you’ve withheld, it’s completely out of my hands.”
“Why? Are you protecting yourself, the Syndicate, or Adriano Montesi, Camilla?” he mentions suddenly, his demeanor harsher. “You need to realize what you’re involved in. He is the boss, and you are his lover. But when he’s had enough of you, what will happen to you?”
My blood boils instantly, and I become defensive. “Don’t talk to me about Adriano.” Before he can get under my skin, I stalk off and order, “Lock it.” And continue to my car.
Well, Santino’s a wild card, which makes him a liability. Unsure of what to do with him, I decide to forget work and drive home to the Astoria Tower to shower and change to meet my one love.
***
My driver, David – who was my first guard and has been reinstated because Adriano will accept nothing less than the highest caliber of protection for me – maneuvers the car through the busy streets of the Loop while Fallon and I sit in the back. We’re going to meet our men, whom we rarely see lately, at their new club.
We hurry out of the car and inside through the back entrance. The guards know us, and one follows us down the hall to the double doors where I already feel the bass of the music thumping. Another two guards grant us access while touching their earpieces. Probably informing Adriano that we’ve arrived.
The large, lustrous and modern space is packed, and the beat pulses against my eardrums. Edging around the glass bar that spans the right wall, I watch people dancing in the center of the room on a black and white tiled dance floor with a raised podium where the DJ is playing. There are also smaller raised platforms scattered around where professional dancers are performing. The lights of dozens of gold chandeliers hanging from the fourteen-foot-high ceiling dance off people as they move. At the far end, there’s a black staircase that leads to the balconied second floor where Adriano’s office is located on one of four straight hallways that are arranged into a square.
“There they are.” Fallon’s zeroed in on Luca and Adriano within seconds as we reach the bar.
Standing out like some kind of dark angel, Adriano’s taking a slow, steady perusal of those around him. My gaze lands on him, bringing sweet joy to my heart, and he immediately turns his head and finds my face in the crowd. He examines me closely for a long moment, then directs a wicked smile my way before prowling toward me.
Women gawk at him, and one obnoxiously blocks his path. But he expertly sidesteps and ignores her as his stare brands me to the spot, marking me with such a simple gesture.
Adriano’s commanding six-foot frame radiates power and sin, and since he doesn’t usually wear jackets, I love seeing him in his alluring black tuxedo that doesn’t hide his muscular physique in the least. Combine that with his dark, messy hair that never stays in place, and I’m as drawn to him now as the day we met. A warm sensation pools in my lower stomach when his eyes trace a path up my body. His lips tilt up into a naughty grin as he closes the distance between us, and then it’s just him and me, even when we’re surrounded by so many others.
With every day that passes, I can’t believe how attached I am to this man. This man who resides permanently in my heart.
CHAPTER 2
Adriano
“If you kill me, you die as well,” Fat Sal says with one wrist cuffed to the rail of a bed in a deserted room on the underground floor of Club 7.
Luca and I stand before him, dressed in our tuxedos. I take one last drag of my cigarette and flick the butt away.
“Oh, vague threats; I love those,” I taunt, pointing my thumb to Sal while grinning at Luca. “I’m part of the mafia. I’m used to looking over my shoulder. That’s the best you’ve got? That I’m going to die?”
Sal’s lips curve up into a knowing smile. “Oh no, there’s more. If I die, everyone you care about dies: Carmine, Mary, Luca. But you only have one true weakness, and word of who she is has spread. So the beautiful ingénue, Camilla, won’t die. No, I’ve ensured she stays alive. Every enemy of yours will fuck her ass and use her just because she was your bitch.”
In a flash, I let out a growl like a caged animal and snatch my Smith & Wesson from the back waistband of my pants, pressing the end of the barrel between his brows. Whenever anyone mentions her name, I flip out in an unstoppable instant. Unfortunately, as boss, I must learn to temper that reaction. But when it comes to my Cam, it seems impossible.
“I can guarantee you two fucking things. One, you’re stupid to antagonize me by mentioning her. Two, no one threatens Cam, so you die. Because I don’t fight problems; I eliminate them.” Then I pull the trigger while holding his arrogant stare.
“No!” Luca protests. “There was something in his smug face and his words that made me want to question him further, Adriano.”
“Well, I don’t think he’ll answer anymore.” Tucking my weapon back in place, I walk out the door where two guards are waiting. “Dispose of the body.”
They nod as Luca and I proceed down the hall to the elevator.
“Okay. So, I might have overreacted a little,” I confess once inside the elevator.
Luca smiles tersely. “Yeah, maybe a bit. But I haven’t liked Fat Sal’s attitude since we captured him. With what he said, we should have extra guards around everyone in the upcoming weeks.”
“That’s fine. But look, Sal might have had a back-up plan in place in case he was found dead, but that’s nothing we can’t handle. We’ve covered every angle. I told you that the men watching us on the dock at the last drug exchange were Wade’s men, who were only observing us because Wade wanted more information about us. And we also know that the only glitch during the raid was due to a system malfunction; that’s the only reason the lights went out and I lost Cam; no one else besides Henry had access to that system.”
Luca unbuttons his suit jacket. “Still, with all the recent changes in the Syndicate, we need to double check all new prospects and Capi. We don’t trust or hire anyone new for a while.”
The elevator doors open into the hallway at the back entrance of the dance club.
“I agree. We can discuss it tomorrow when we share all the plans for the new hierarchy with the rest of the Syndicate. But right now, I want to be with my girl.”
I stop in front of the massive double doors and turn down the lever, opening them to my new empire: the hottest dance club in Chicago, Club 7, which is open seven nights a week from nine p.m. until three a.m. But I’m not just a simple club owner. No, I’m a ruthless mafia man who seized his opportunity. I’ve been the Capo crimine/boss of the Chicago Syndicate for one month, since I invaded this club. And I became boss for the sole purpose of being with my Cam.
“I love you, Cam. I love all that you are and all that you’ll be.”
“I love you too, and I promise to stay by your side.”
Before, I was a Capo/captain under James’s regime. But with all the changes and my busy schedule, I’ve barely seen Cam lately, so I’m anxiously scanning the enormous room for her familiar face.
“Do you see them?” Luca asks, equally excited to see his woman, Fallon, who’s meeting us here with Cam.
“Luca, Adriano.” The manager of our sex club, who’s also the n
ewest member of our Syndicate, Tez, comes up to us. “I have some people that want to meet you.”
I disregard him and smile when I sense a prickle in my neck and turn around to see Cam sitting at the bar with Fallon.
“There’s only one person I want to see right now,” Luca says to Tez, “and that’s my wife. We’ll meet our guests later.”
I’m already making my way through the crowd, and Luca follows suit.
Perched on a bar stool, looking absolutely appetizing in a tight-fitting, cream-colored dress that flows down to her knees, is my Cam.
“Adriano!” Some redhead I don’t recognize stops in front of me, but I step around her without taking my eyes off my target.
“Hey.” I wrap my arm around Cam’s middle and press my lips to hers. Then I greet Fallon, who’s standing next to Cam. “You look lovely, Fallon.” And I kiss her cheek.
“Thank you,” Fallon says while Luca tucks her into his side and whispers into her ear, conveniently giving me a moment alone with Cam.
“And you look undeniably delectable.” I rake my hand down her spine, splaying my fingers right above the swell of her ass.
“So do you in your tux.”
Her captivating brown eyes glaze over with lust as I pull her forward and capture her mouth again. Ravenously, our tongues touch, and my cock stirs to attention when she presses her breasts against my chest. I brush my fingers through her short auburn hair that’s tucked behind her ears, getting rock-hard from tasting and feeling her. I break our kiss before I fuck her right here.
With a sultry smile, she licks her lips. “I missed you. I didn’t even hear you come home last night.”
I rub her delicately boned cheek with the pad of my thumb. “I didn’t want to wake you, because you looked very peaceful.” I watched her sleep all night while anxiety about our new positions worried my mind.
“Next time, wake me. I don’t like not seeing you for an entire day.” Her fingertips graze over my beard.
“I will, sweetheart. And I promise we’ll have more time together soon when the new operation is set up.”
“Okay. What did you do with Sal?”
Just then, Luca raises both brows and looks at me, urging me to answer her.
“I killed him,” I reply.
Cam senses Luca’s disapproval and glances from me to him. “Why did you suddenly kill him?”
“Because he threatened you.” I lean in close and utter, “We’ll discuss it later, not here and now.” I send a pointed look to Luca telling him not to mention Sal’s bounty on my head yet, and he understands me perfectly.
Cam drops it. “So do I get you to myself tonight?”
“That was the initial plan”—I tighten my hand in her hair—“before I heard about your little excursion to the warehouse, which I’m not too happy about.”
She appears regretful and not even surprised that I already knew. “Listen, I was going to tell you, but you were busy the entire morning.”
“What did you discuss with Santino?”
She shakes her head. In turn, I loosen my grip and tuck her hair back behind her ear, inhaling a calming breath. Even though I don’t like Cam venturing out on her own, she is a Capo. And I would accept this behavior from any other Capo. So, the first problems in our new positions arise. I get agitated beyond reason if I’m not up-to-date on Cam’s whereabouts twenty-four seven. Sometimes I wish I could lock her up in my loft. Though, I also secretly get turned the fuck on by Cam’s wild side. She’s a resilient woman, a strong Capo – fit to rule by my side, and I’m extremely proud of her. But every day that I love her more, my fear of losing her grows.
“Discuss?” she spits spitefully. “I didn’t discuss anything. I only asked what he’d do if I released him.”
I plow both my hands through my hair. “Cam, I’m not letting him go.” She’s about to say something, but I add, “Not yet, anyway. Something’s off. His records are perfect and easily traceable. He’s too clean. You always know that something’s up when someone’s background can easily be traced or when something seems too perfect – like with Luca and me. He’s not who he claims to be; it’s impossible.”
A defeated expression is aimed at me. “Fine. He’s tightlipped anyway. He said you were moving him back here.”
“Well, I wanted to talk to him as well but didn’t have time to drive up north. We’ll discuss him tomorrow. We might need to eliminate him, Cam.”
She doesn’t protest, making me feel relieved. And I decide not to come down too hard on her about taking off by herself to visit Santino. I learned long ago to give Cam space to be her own person. If I give her too many restrictions, she’ll be uncontrollable. But I can be quite convincing in other ways.
“Regarding your little mission; maybe you need punishment.” I change the subject back.
“Why? Do you feel that I disobeyed the boss?” she retorts teasingly.
And just like that, she obliterates any discontent and centers me like only she can.
I grab her ass cheeks and jerk her off the stool and against me. “Yes, and I’ll punish you however I see fit.”
She looks at me beneath her lashes and smirks. “When?”
“Incoming,” Luca warns.
Regrettably, before I can answer Cam, we’re interrupted, and I release her.
Tez comes up to us wearing an apologetic expression. “I’m sorry, but the investors are leaving within an hour, so if you want to speak to them...”
I catch Luca’s eyes and nod. “Give me a minute.” Then I say to Fallon and Cam, “We have to talk to them.”
They both seem disappointed, but Cam replies, “I understand.”
“Where’s your gun?” I ask.
“In my purse,” she answers haughtily.
Smiling, I swat her ass. “Have fun with Fallon. Stay and dance where we can see you.” She knows I don’t like her being here if I can’t keep an eye on her.
Cam bobs her head. “We will. When you have time, find us in the crowd.” She takes Fallon’s hand in hers, and without kissing us goodbye, they saunter away to the dance floor.
I gawk at Cam as she leaves me wanting.
“They have too much influence on each other,” Luca remarks around a grin before we head to the staircase to go talk money. And he adds, “Adriano—”
“I got it.” I anticipate his request. As we pass a bodyguard, I instruct him, “I want two guards watching over Fallon and Cam every second. Ensure no one bothers or lays a hand on them.”
He confirms as Luca and I carry on to my office to meet with our potential new investors.
Unfortunately, business keeps me at Club 7 until three in the morning. I could spend the night there, but I sleep at home every night. Even if it’s just for a few hours, because I can’t sleep without Cam anymore. I’d rather get into my car and drive for hours to sleep one hour at home in our bed with her than stay wherever I am and try to get a good night’s rest.
***
Just a couple of hours before sunrise, I arrive at my spacious studio loft with its exposed brick classic elements on the fortieth floor of the Astoria Tower in the South Loop neighborhood. After tossing my keys onto the bar of my open kitchen, which looks out into the living room and is angled toward the eighty-five inch TV hanging on the opposite brick wall, I hurry up the floating staircase that extends across one side of the loft to the mezzanine level that’s utilized as our master bedroom and opens up into a terrace.
Cam’s asleep in our bed, so I strip my clothes in the adjacent brown marble bathroom before I lift the sheets and smile to see her in my white dress shirt and lying on her side. Deftly, I remove the shirt, and she’s naked underneath. Because I can’t help it, I bite the swell of her ass, but she groans. I slip in behind her and lock my arm around her waist, pulling her against me. Her luscious ass pushes against my groin and my cock twitches. The sweet fragrance of her vanilla perfume invades my nostrils, tempting me, and I stroke my tongue along the delicate skin behind her ear.
<
br /> “Cam...” I whisper against the shell.
Fuck. I’m rock-hard, but she merely mumbles. I rub her stomach and bury my nose into her hair. She’s exhausted, so I let her sleep, even though I’d love to fuck her ass. Lazily, I slide my palm up to cup her breast. Yet fatigue pulls at me, and I drift off as well now that I’m home with Cam in my arms.
***
Dawn breaks too quickly.
When Cam and I wake, we have to hurry and drive up north to headquarters to announce the new hierarchy of the Chicago Syndicate.
With our hands entwined, we step inside the foyer of the three-story house that is our center of operation. On the second floor is my office and a strip club where the men can unwind. On the third floor are two private rooms.
Ascending the stairs, we’re quiet, realizing we’re inside this headquarters for the first time in our new roles.
“Are you ready?” Cam asks while I touch the door handle.
“I am, as long as you’re by my side.”
Her lips curve up into a heartfelt smile that eradicates all my apprehension. This was the goal. To be with her, even if it meant taking over the role of Capo crimine from James. While I never wanted to be boss, for Cam, I’ll do it. Only for Cam.
She edges closer and brushes back strands of my hair that have fallen over my forehead. “I’m never going anywhere.”
“I’m nothing without you,” I whisper against her lips.
“Don’t you forget it,” she retorts in that husky tone I’ve come to adore.
And our mouths meet for a brief kiss before I turn around. “Then let’s inform the team.”
As we enter the mahogany furnished room, the other members, including Luca, James, Carmine, and a dozen Capi/captains, are already waiting for us.
Reluctantly, I let go of Cam as she takes a seat next to Luca in front of my desk, which used to be James’s.
“Gentlemen and lady, good morning.” Claiming my chair, I get down to business. “After the raid at Club 7, I informed you about some changes within this Syndicate. Along with our former boss, James, we’ve decided on the new hierarchy. As mentioned, I’m your new Capo crimine and first in rank. Luca is still the underboss, second in rank, and reports directly to me. My brother, Carmine, is my new Consigliere and third in rank. Carmine is a lawyer, and with James’s guidance, he’ll be the perfect counselor. And all Capi are now fourth in rank. The current Capi will remain at their positions and directly instruct all the soldiers. Cam is now officially a Capo.” I study all the faces and see some surprised reactions regarding Cam, but most hide it. “Let me be clear that I expect everyone to treat Cam as an equal Capo.”