by Soraya Naomi
She won’t actually be treated as an equal, because to me, she’s most important. Still, I feel the need to order them to protect Cam in our first phase of transitioning to boss and Capo while also being lovers in the Syndicate. It’s a precarious situation where I’ll be walking a fine line to keep all the Capi pleased without favoring Cam.
“The day-to-day operations will continue as usual with each Capo assigned to his own territory to sell the drugs. But there’s one major change: I’ll be closing down the strip club in this house. As you know, Luca and I own Club 7. All leisure activities will now take place on the underground floor of Club 7. Logistically, it’s easier, and I don’t want any strangers, strippers, or anyone else in here anymore. The sex club will have a private area for my soldiers, and we’ll meet new buyers there, not here. Headquarters will be available to all members for accommodations, and this will still be our main safe place. However, important meets and drug deals will take place in the sex club, so we won’t have to drive up here constantly anymore. Remember, this is a new world for us. We can’t trust anyone outside our Syndicate. Any questions?”
“Do we already have new drug buyers?” one Capi asks.
“Yes. We need to keep a supply of cocaine in the sex club because we sold a fortune down there during the last four weeks. And soldiers who work in the Loop area will get busier as my clientele there grows. As far as the sex club itself goes, I’m currently restructuring it. I’ve hired a manager, and I need to find legitimate girls who can work for us, professional girls, but that’s proving to be problematic. I’m not interested in buying slaves or getting involved in human trafficking like Sal was. That’s why I closed down the second underground floor, which housed the fight club and some kind of BDSM club. The sex club is a posh establishment and will stay that way. But until I find trustworthy and discreet escorts, I can’t accept more clientele in the sex club. Currently, we have the girls from the strip club working there, but they’re not elegant enough. In time, it could be our most profitable venture if we can procure escorts who bring in high rollers. And the sex club can be easily used to launder our money if it becomes as prosperous as the dance club. Although my main concern is any new businessmen we work with, everyone needs to be screened carefully if they want a regular supply of drugs.”
“Do you still have your software company, Security Simplicity?”
“Yes, but more money will be laundered through Club 7 in the future because SS isn’t profitable enough anymore to be used as a front. My Consigliere, Carmine, will discuss any changes in cash flow with all the Capi,” I explain, looking to Carmine standing off to the side.
Carmine’s an up-and-coming lawyer and has just started to provide for himself. But until he graduated, I paid for his expenses, just as I do for the rest of my family: my parents and my sister, Mary. Mary lives with my parents on one floor of the Astoria Tower, and Carmine has his own apartment on a different floor. I revealed to Carmine what I actually do for work when I became boss, and I offered him the position of Consigliere because, as my brother, he’ll never betray me.
All of a sudden, I remember to disclose the last change. “Lastly, we have one new associate, Richard Wade. He proved to be trustworthy during the raid of Club 7. His connections, mostly in obtaining the latest government technological developments, will aid us. But keep in mind that he’s just an associate of this Syndicate; he works for us but isn’t an official member. And he’s an intelligent CIA agent, so my instinct tells me that we can use him. He has access to state-of-the-art electronic gadgets and will help in building a new security system in Club 7, but that’ll take a couple of months, so until then, I want extra manpower in my club and around our women.”
Luca adds, “We’ll assign new guards today.”
“Any other questions?” I ask.
Everyone shakes their head.
“Report all urgent matters to Luca. If a pressing matter arises and you can’t reach Luca, you contact Carmine or James. No one may contact me directly anymore.”
“Si, Capo crimine.” Yes, boss.
I’m not sure I hide my grimace when they call me by my new title. Cam catches my gaze, and amusement twists her sensual mouth. We share a private joke because she and I know what just went through my head. She’s the only one who really knows me besides Luca.
I look away since the mere sight of her with her legs elegantly crossed in an indigo wrap-around dress causes a blaze of passion within me, and I end the meeting. “You can go inform all the soldiers and do your business as usual.” Then I fix my eyes on Cam. “Except you.”
Everyone but Cam clears out, and when James closes the door behind him, I lock it.
I’m not sure when I’ll have a moment alone with her again, but I refuse to continue this day without having tasted her.
CHAPTER 3
Camilla
“How do you think it went?” I ask Adriano as James exits.
“Very well. Not a lot of changes for the members, and they realize that. As long as they’re loyal to me, everything will be fine.”
Beneath the casual façade he presents, I see desire blooming as well.
“So about me...I went down in rank. Now, I’m a Capo and below Luca and Carmine. Before, I was ranked as highly as James as his daughter,” I tease.
He perks a brow and crosses his arms. “Do you want to be underboss?”
“No,” I admit. “But I do wonder, between Luca and me, whom would you choose if there was a burning building and you could only save one of us?”
“Don’t ask me that, woman! I’d always choose you.” And he adds on a whisper, “Then I would go back to save Luca.”
I purse my lips to hide my grin, but he notes it and smirks.
“So how do you think it went?” he asks.
“I also think it went well. I was surprised about how easily they all accept you as the Capo crimine now. I could see the loyalty in their eyes.”
“Like I said, the change is minimal for them. James already knew they were loyal to me when I was a Capo. They understand how powerful Luca and I are together.”
“It’s like you decide everything now? Like God?”
“Not like God, Cam. More like Satan,” he says with another smirk, and I laugh.
“So you can order anything you want? Kill anyone or kick anyone out of this Syndicate? Even kick me out?” I stand up and move closer to him.
“I am the boss. I can do that.” A mischievous gleam flashes across his eyes.
“You can kill me...” I let the words trail off and pose it more as a statement.
Calmly, Adriano cocks his head. “I could. If you cheated on me, I’d have to kill you.” Then he smiles, but it’s tinged with a hint of threat as he lurks toward me. “And the fucking man you cheated with and anyone who knew. It would be such a massacre.”
“Same goes for you.” I try to grab his groin, but he’s faster and snatches my wrist, cool and collected, without even moving his body.
“Too slow, Cam.” He tugs me flush against him, dipping his head and squeezing my ass. “I guess we’ll have to keep pleasing each other to make sure no one strays and ends up dead.”
I let out a laugh, enjoying how he can always dispel my nervousness. Hooking my arms around his neck, I stand pressed close against him as his lips touch my neck. My breath lodges at that innocently sensual gesture.
“I love you, Cam. And there are a lot of changes on the horizon, but right now, I just want to eat your pussy,” he growls. “Let me show you how much I need you. I won’t wait until tonight.”
When he crushes his mouth to mine, our tongues clash desperately in a teasing foray. Groaning, Adriano kneads my ass cheeks and bites down my throat. Then he pulls back and his pupils have dilated, his dark-brown irises almost invisible, making him treacherously bewitching.
“I want you naked, Cam.”
Passion flares to life in my lower stomach as he hurriedly unknots the lace cord of my dress and slides it from my should
ers where it anchors at my elbows before he lets it flutter to the floor. Without taking his eyes off me, he skillfully takes my panties off while kissing his way down my thighs and then back up. With a flick of his wrist, he undoes my bra, and his gaze scorches my skin as I stand before him naked.
We crash together, kissing and roaming our hands over each other as he lifts me up, guides my legs around his hips, and positions me on the edge of his desk. Adriano feverishly touches me, and I throw my head back, gripping his shoulders as he sucks my nipple.
I moan, reveling in how quickly he can play my body. Rapidly, he cradles the back of my head and kisses me hard, forcing me to lie flat on my back. And then he places my feet on the edge of the desk so that I’m spread wide open while he kneels down between my legs and blows.
“Ah...” The sensation is absolutely enthralling.
His palms move down the inside of my thighs, and my eyes roll back when his tongue slices through my core. I raise my head, but he spins me around so that my head hangs off the side of the desk, facing his cock in an upside down position. He unfastens his slacks and pumps his huge erection, tracing the head of his shaft over my lips.
“Open your mouth,” he orders as he bends forward and forces my legs apart again.
I wrap my lips around his arousal, and he locks his arms around my thighs. My pussy against his mouth, he fucks me with his tongue in carnal pleasure while driving his cock down my throat, wild and brutal. I’m sure to be bruised tomorrow from grinding against his desk.
When he swirls his tongue over my center, I lose all sense of time while sucking him. I hear Adriano groaning as I pump his cock, and I moan when his thumbs spread me and he fucks me deeper with his tongue. Mashing my pussy against his face, I arch off the desk, and his cock pops out of my mouth when I thrash my head as I explode and a million stars endlessly rain down on me. Trembling in the aftermath, I go slack as he licks me with the flat of his tongue, and after infinite quiet minutes of him slowly lapping me, I’m so sensitive I could climax again.
But Adriano stands up straight and kneels, cradling my head and pressing his lips to mine in an upside down kiss to entwine our tastes. It’s dirty. It’s obsessive. It’s us. I can’t help but whimper in reaction to him.
“You’re the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted,” he whispers against my lips.
Unluckily, we’re interrupted by a knock on the door. Startled, I sit up, but he swirls me around and positions himself between my legs, looping his arms around my waist.
“It’s locked,” he says to me and then shouts, “Yes.”
A guard speaks from the other side of the door, “Adriano, Tez called. He needs to talk to you. It’s urgent. I have him on the phone.”
Adriano fastens his pants and drops his forehead to mine when he sees my dejected face.
“I’ll be there in five minutes,” he calls out and tells me in a desirous tone, “We’re finishing this tonight, or I’m going to have the worst case of blue balls.”
I let out a laugh and press my body into his.
“Don’t entice me, Cam. Or I’ll quickly fuck your ass before I go.”
“Maybe I want that.” I feel a grin tugging at my mouth.
Adriano’s hands fold around my neck with slow deliberation. “Aren’t you satisfied yet, Cam?”
Smiling, I admit, “Oh god, I am.” And I jump off the desk.
He chuckles and swats my ass when I bend down to retrieve my clothes. This is what I love most about him; he’s intense and authoritative but always with a devilish charm that melts even the most jaded of hearts.
Adriano takes my panties and pockets them with a grin. “Mine.” And he hunches down, taking my bra and dress in his hand. Then he looks up and kisses me between my legs as I caress his hair.
With gentle efficiency, he clothes me again. As we stare at each other in this soundless moment, we don’t need words to convey our feelings.
When I’m decent again, he sifts my hair behind my ears like he knows I want it and frames my cheeks. “What are you doing today?”
“I have to go to the shooting range, and then I’m meeting your brother. Carmine needs me to sign some papers from James. And later tonight, I have self-defense class with Fallon. I’ll grab some dinner with her. You?”
“I’ll be late. Meetings at the club all night.” His touch softens. “I’m taking you out to dinner this weekend. I promise.”
“It’s a date. As long as you don’t engage with any skanks at the club,” I warn, only half kidding. We’ve had several incidents of employees flirting shamelessly with Luca and Adriano, and he knows I don’t like it.
“Never, Cam. You’re all I need,” he assures and secures his arms around my middle.
“I love you...” Unexpectedly, I feel his arousal prodding my stomach. “You’re still hard?”
He doesn’t even attempt to hide his signature smirk. “I was fucking you in the ass against the window in my mind while I was dressing you.”
I smile, gesturing toward the bulge in his pants. “I’ll go so that you can get that under control.”
His mouth slants over mine, and he gives me a tantalizing kiss that holds a promise of what’s to come tonight, when we’re alone.
“Don’t go anywhere without your gun,” he orders.
“Yes, boss,” I mock salute, feeling his eyes burning into my back as I walk out the door.
***
I’m in the car with Fallon next to me as we drive to Francitalia to have dinner after self-defense class.
Fallon’s phone beeps, and when she checks it, she blurts, “Oh, shit. I accidentally also made plans with Wade tonight. Do you mind if he joins us for dinner?”
“No, that’s fine.”
“He’s at my apartment. Can we pick him up, or should he meet us there?” she asks.
“We’ll be passing your building, so we might as well just pick him up.”
“Okay, I’ll text him that we’ll be there in five minutes.”
My phone chimes and I answer, “Hello.”
“Cam, it’s Rosalia.” My twenty-one year old, younger half-sister, James’s other daughter.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“I’m in trouble...” she starts.
“You’re on speaker, by the way. I’m in the car with Fallon,” I warn.
“Anyone else?”
“No.”
“I need you.” There’s music playing in the background.
“What’s wrong? Where are you?” I demand, anxiousness crawling up my spine.
“I don’t feel good. I think someone drugged me.”
“Rosalia, where are you?” I repeat with bite and hit the gas when the traffic lights switch to green.
Checking the rearview mirror, I signal to the right, braking in front of Fallon’s high-rise where Wade’s waiting.
“I’m in Ukrainian Village,” Rosalia replies in a caught tone.
“What?” I chide. “What part of Ukrainian Village? Please don’t tell me you’re at their sex club?”
“Um...Yes, I am and my father can’t find out. Can you help me?”
Wade opens the door, and Fallon whisper-shouts, “Get in.”
“Are you alone?” Fallon asks as I pull out onto the road again and race toward West Town where the Ukrainian Village neighborhood is located.
“My friend ditched me,” Rosalia explains quietly. “I’m in the bathroom now.”
“Okay. Stay there,” I order firmly. “I’ll call you back when I’m close by, Rosalia.”
With one hand on the steering wheel, I disconnect the car charger and instruct Fallon, “Put Ukrainian Village in the GPS.”
Fallon snatches my phone from my hand. “Fine, but you watch the road. Should I call Adriano?”
“No! If James finds out, Rosalia will never be able to leave the house again. We have to help her.”
Wade leans forward between our seats. “Hello, ladies. Never a dull moment with you two.”
“Hi, Wade,” I gre
et and add, “Make yourself useful and find me an address.”
“Yes, ma’am. What’s Rosalia gotten herself into?” Wade asks while taking out his smartphone from his pocket.
“She’s at the Ukrainian sex club,” I reply.
Wade’s eyes grow so wide that the whites are clearly visible. “How the hell did she end up there?”
I blow out a sigh and change lanes. “I have no idea.”
In the rearview mirror, I detect a black vehicle following me, so I switch lanes and step on the gas. The other car waits, and when I don’t switch back, it moves into my lane and starts tailing me again.
My phone rings, and Fallon utters, “Uh-oh. It’s Adriano.” She holds it up for me to see his name flashing across the screen.
“Answer,” I say, and she taps the screen.
“Cam, where are you going?” Adriano sounds controlled but not calm.
“Rosalia’s in trouble. I have to go pick her up.”
“Where?” he demands.
Fallon looks at me expectantly, and Wade merely smiles.
“Ukrainian Village.”
“What the hell is she doing there?” Adriano responds in a sharp tone.
I hear Luca’s brusque voice in the background. “Did she drop off Fallon?”
“Fallon’s still with me,” I fill in.
“Hey! Thanks for ratting me out.” Fallon’s brows rise, and she grins. “He’s going to flip.”
I tune her out and say, “I don’t know what the hell she’s doing there. But she thinks someone drugged her.”
“Where is she exactly?” Adriano asks tersely.
Again, I hear Luca, and then Fallon’s phone rings.