by A. G. Khaliq
Everything about him screamed power, dominance, fearlessness… “Mr Abruzzi?”
“Yeah, I'm fine,” Donte said exhaustedly.
“I'm sorry if I come across as the big bad wolf.”
I couldn’t help but to let out a giggle when he said this.
“I promise I'm not usually this scary,” he 68
smiled, shrugging. “I've just had a lot on my plate.”
“Well, I'd expect that,” I reassured him, with my hands on my hips. “I mean, you own this massive place.”
“Yeah, that-” Donte began, “And five other businesses.”
“You're joking,” I said, in disbelief.
“I wish I was,” Donte chuckled. “It really is a headache.”
“It must be nice to be so rich and successful,” I commented sheepishly.
“That,” Donte shrugged, “and a pain in the ass.”
I let out another giggle. I couldn’t help but to find myself enjoying Donte’s company. He was funny, I’d give him that. I loved funny guys.
“I love how you say it how it is,” I smirked.
Donte laughed, and before I knew it, there was a long silence between us both. Both of us were just staring at each other, not knowing what to say. I scratched my arm awkwardly, as I began feeling insecure underneath his gaze. I’d seen a beautiful woman make her way to his office earlier as soon as I’d left, and I couldn’t help but to feel like I didn’t meet Donte’s expectations of a woman. If he was used to women that looked like her, like super-models off the front of 69
a Heat magazine, then he must have thought that I was pretty fucking ugly in comparison.
I'd always been insecure about my appearance, and how I looked. Whenever I looked at people like Kim Kardashian, or viral Instagram models like Demi Rose, I couldn't help but to be in awe of how beautiful they were, and feel like shit about myself in comparison.
Their skin was flawless, they didn't have stretch marks or cellulite like I did, they were pretty much fucking perfect... And then there was just me. I knew that I shouldn't feel like this, and that everybody was pretty in their own way, but I couldn't help myself.
“Sapphire,
look…”
Donte
began,
scratching his arm just like I was. He almost looked just as nervous as I did. “I didn't have the courage to say it earlier…
“But if I don't ask you, it's just gonna bug me. I'm such a pussy.”
He let out a sigh from his lips.
“What's wrong?” I asked uneasily. I did my best to make him feel more comfortable, by letting out a giggle. “I don't bite.”
“I was wondering if you'd like to go on a date with me some time,” Donte said finally. “I think you're beautiful, Sapphire…
“And you seem like a really nice girl too. I 70
had to say how I was feeling before somebody else got there before me…”
He rubbed his neck sheepishly, and I couldn’t help but to feel all undone. He thought I was beautiful, even after I’d just seen that super-model in his office, and I felt shit about myself. A man as sexy as Donte Abruzzi seriously wanted a woman like...me?
I could feel my heart hammering against my chest. I wasn’t used to this feeling. This feeling of being wanted and pursued by another man, because I’d spent years in work with Brett, and I’d never had the chance to meet anybody else. Not to mention that before I began work, I had been on the run, and had never stayed in one place for more than a few days, because of a monster that I had been running away from…
I always felt so unattractive and insecure about myself, but right now, it was like a different story. Donte seemed like he was being genuine about what he thought of me.
Being undercover in Manhattan was probably my first time stepping into the real world and living a normal life, and I couldn’t lie…
I fucking loved this feeling.
“I mean, look at you…” Donte went on, snapping me out of my thoughts. He drew in a deep breath. “You’re stunning. Any man would 71
be a fool not to jump at the chance to be with you.”
It took me a minute to process what he was saying…
It was our first day of knowing each other, and he was already asking me on a date…
I mean, he was fucking gorgeous, and I was sure that I would enjoy it…
But he had five other businesses, along with Indigo Limited alone.
And he was speaking shadily to Pedro when Pedro was hitting on me…
I had a feeling that he was part of the Mafia.
If that was the case, then I'd come to find evidence against him…
Not to go on fucking dates with him!
Suddenly, everything that Boss had debriefed me about and had explained to me was making a whole lot more sense. He said that he had suspicions that Donte Abruzzi was the Capo of the Russian Mafia, and that Indigo Limited was also a place where they conducted some shady operations.
And now that I’d had some time to get used to Indigo Limited, and I’d got the chance to speak to Donte, I couldn’t help but to feel that Boss’s theory was right. Donte was filthy rich, 72
and he’d been hinting at illegal operations when he was alone with his brothers. Not to mention that he was so forward with wanting to get to know me, and Boss had warned me that men like Donte thought with their fucking cocks.
My own safety came first…
As lovely as he was being to me.
It wasn’t like he needed me anyway…
I was just a plain fucking Jane, And he probably had girls throwing themselves at him all the time. Maybe he was just being forward because he thought I was an easy fuck, and I’d fall straight to his knees. He had the wrong fucking woman if he thought that were true. Maybe he was just treating me like another one of his whores.
Nevertheless, I couldn’t behave harshly towards him, because I needed him so that I could gather evidence against the Russian Mafia.
I would just have to let him down gently, but still make sure that he was sweet to me, and not too affected by it.
“I - I'm sorry Mr Abruzzi…” I stammered.
“But I'm not interested.”
Donte’s face fell as I said this. He looked hurt and disappointed, like somebody had just stabbed him in the fucking chest, and wounded his ego. I guess he wasn’t used to rejection, being 73
the catch that he was.
“You're a lovely guy,” I shrugged. “But I'm not really looking for a relationship right now, or to date anyone for that matter.” I took a deep breath in. “I actually just came out of a really bad break-up a few days ago.”
Donte’s face relaxed as I said this, and he folded his arms, rubbing his chin in thought.
“I need time to move on from the break-up, before I try to get to know somebody new.”
“You don't have to explain yourself to me,” Donte replied, smiling. “You're a beautiful girl, and I respect your decision. I hope you're able to recover from whatever your ex-boyfriend put you through. I'm glad you let me know.” He paused. “I was stupid to ask you anyway…
“You're way out of my league, and you can do so much better than me.”
I was taken aback by his response. I hadn’t expected him to take the rejection so well, and still speak so kindly to me. Most men weren’t good at taking rejection. Most men would say
"it's your own loss" or "you're ugly anyway, I only wanted my dick sucked". I knew too many assholes who felt like they were entitled just because they had a pretty face.
I was in a state of confusion. If he was such a bad man, and a fucking criminal, then why did 74
he respect women so much? None of this was making any sense to me.
“Are you kidding me?” I denied, trying to lighten the situation by complimenting him.
“Have you even looked at yourself in the mirror?
Girls must fucking throw themselves at you.”
Donte chuckled back in response, amused.
<
br /> “I mean, it wouldn't matter if every girl in the world was chasing me…” he smirked, with his hands on his hips. “I wouldn't care. Unless it was the girl that I wanted.”
I could feel my eyes smouldering with lust as he said this. What the actual fuck was wrong with me? Just a few sweet nothings from him were enough to cloud my vision and set my skin on fucking fire.
“And I never give up until I get what I want,” Donte said, in a raspy, sexy voice.
“Goodnight, Sapphire.”
He turned on his heel and began walking away from me. As he left, I took this chance to swallow down a lump that had caught in my throat, and let out a sigh that I didn’t know I’d been holding.
He wanted me?
My heart hammered against my chest, as I tried to spin back into reality after what the hell 75
he’d just said to me.
“He probably says that to every girl he tries to get in bed,” I muttered to myself, rolling my eyes, trying to convince myself that I was right. “I'm not that gullible. I should really distance myself from him for a while, before I start enjoying his company a bit more than I should.”
And it was true. I really, really needed to distance myself from him. It was only my first day of knowing him, but he’d already left a mark on me, and he’d been running through my mind endlessly. I was behaving like a teenager with a school crush. I couldn’t get attached to something that was dangerous for me. I couldn’t get attached to a feeling that wasn’t real.
I needed to remember that I was here on a mission…
I shook my head, angry at myself for not better composing myself. I wished that I’d been more professional around him.
They always say that if you play with fire you’ll get burned.
I turned on my heel and began walking out of the building, ready to make my way to my apartment.
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9
donte
As I made my way to my car, ready to drive to the strip club to meet my brothers Iglesias, Pedro and Arturo, along with my Dad, I whipped out my phone.
I couldn’t stop thinking about Sapphire.
She’d rejected me, and that was a pretty big wound to my chest, but I still couldn’t get her off my damn mind.
I didn’t know what the fuck was wrong with me. Usually, it took more than just a pretty 77
girl to bring me to my knees. But Sapphire wasn’t just pretty. She was full of mystery, full of untold secrets. I couldn’t help but to be left full of intrigue whenever I spoke to her, wanting to know more about her. It was like the more I spoke to her, the more I wanted to keep going back for more…
Like a fucking drug.
I wasn’t used to rejection. That was one thing for fucking starters. Women usually fell to my knees, and leapt at the chance to be with me, or have a piece of me.
So I couldn’t help but to ask myself…
What the hell had her ex put her through for her to not want to move on?
She'd said that her reason for not wanting to pursue me was because of her ex. He must have fucked her up pretty fucking bad for her to say that. God help me, if I found out he'd hurt her or done any bad shit to her, I'd bury the fucking bastard with no regrets.
I whipped out my phone, as I opened my Ferrari and slid into the driver’s seat, turning the key to the engine.
“Yeah, Arturo?” I said down the line. “I need a little favour. I want to know everything about the woman I hired to be a software developer at Indigo. Get hold of her 78
file, anything that can tell me more about her.”
“Why, bro?” Arturo asked on the other end of the line, a tone of confusion in his voice.
“No questions why, just do it!” I shot back angrily, and then hung up the phone, shoving it back into my pocket, before I rolled my eyes and began to drive.
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10
brett
I made my way down a junkyard maze on the other side of Washington, my blood running cold as I walked. The loud roaring of engines on the motorway was deafening, fucking up my ears, and just making me even more nervous.
People were walking past, some coming back from work, some coming back from a night out from clubbing…
But none of them had any idea of what I was about to do.
80
I held my phone against my ear, as I waited patiently for the bastard on the other end of the line to pick up the call.
Then I heard a Bzzzzz.
He’d picked up.
“Hello?” came a deep, low voice, on the other end of the line.
“Hi, it's me,” I murmured, my voice dropping to barely below a whisper. “It's been a while, Alek. Look, we need to meet. I need to talk to you about something. But it can't be done over the phone…
“We don't know who's watching or listening to us.”
My heart hammered against my chest, as I continued to explain my situation to him.
It was time for him to repay the favour that he owed me.
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11
donte
I arrived at the strip club, and parked my car in the car park. I was proud of this club. It was enormous, with a massive water fountain on the outside, and the prettiest lights and scenery. I made my way to the entrance, where the Bouncer was standing with his arms folded. As soon as he saw me, he flashed me a massive grin.
“You alright, Donte?” he asked.
“Bet,” I grinned, with my hands on my hips. “I'm here for a meeting.”
82
“Come right through,” the Bouncer replied.
“And make sure none of the people who come to the club tonight get access to the top floor,” I said quickly.
“Got it, Boss,” he shrugged.
I nodded, and made my way inside, stepping into the elevator to see my Dad and my brothers.
As I arrived at the private booth on the top floor, I heard voices from my Dad and my brothers speaking.
“We've been waiting for ages now,” came Dad’s voice. “Where is he?”
“I dunno, Dad,” Arturo said back.
I chuckled to myself, before walking into the room.
“Hey,” I smiled.
Dad was sitting on the couch, Iglesias was texting away on his phone, Arturo was yawning and Pedro was eating a burger.
“You took your time,” Dad grunted.
“Take a seat, son.”
I nodded, sitting down next to Pedro.
“I wanted to talk about the shipments,”
83
Dad explained. “Arturo, make sure you seal the deal with the Mexicans. How much money is coming in from the businesses right now?”
“This strip club is making around 10,000
a night, Dad,” Iglesias shrugged. “Along with the launderette and the coffee shop. I don't know about Donte's businesses.”
“Watch your mouth, Iglesias, before I punch it,” I retorted. He loved down-playing me in front of Dad, when I was the one making the most money out of all of us.
Dad chuckled, and Iglesias burst into a fit of laughter.
“Indigo Limited is making about 20 grand a day,” I smirked. “Out-competing Iglesias as always. Then the casino is bringing around 50,000 a night.”
“Prick,” Iglesias shot back, folding his arms.
Dad chuckled again. “Excellent work, Donte,” he smiled. “I'm proud of you, son. With all of the money we'll be getting in from this guns deal, as well as all of the money coming in from the businesses, profits will be very healthy. I'm gonna have to invest some of this money to open up another business to clean our money. I don't think what we have so far is cutting it.”
“That's fine, Dad,” I agreed.
84
“Let me know if you'll need any business plans making,” Pedro offered.
“Thanks Pedro, I appreciate it,” said Dad, and then turned back to me. “Donte, I don't know if Arturo mentioned it to you yet, but we also need to talk about your marriage with Sharon. We've bee
n delaying it long enough, and we need to start making proper arrangements for it to go forward.”
I rolled my eyes, suddenly pissed off. I should have sensed that this was coming.
“No offence, but fuck you and this arranged marriage, Dad,” I shot back. “I'm not marrying Sharon. I'd rather fucking die. She fucking disgusts me, she's so desperate. Couldn't you have fucking fixed me up with anybody else?”
I balled my hand into a fist, my blood boiling. I was so angry in this moment, that I was in a state of rage.
“Son, I know this is hard for you,” Dad sighed. Iglesias rolled his eyes, whipping out his phone again in boredom. “But Sharon was the only girl left that you could marry. Me and her father have a strong friendship, and you'll learn to love her eventually. Me and your mother got together through an arranged marriage, and at first, I despised the idea, but now, we're in love, 85
and we can't live without each other.”
“I don't care what you fucking say, Dad!”
I retorted. “Or how much you try and convince me! I'm not marrying Sharon, and that's fucking final!”
I was happy that my Dad had found love, but I couldn’t marry a woman that I didn’t love, even if it had worked for him. He needed to realize that we were both two different people, with different mindsets and ways of thinking. I couldn’t force myself to be with a woman that I couldn’t stand the presence of.
Dad shook his head in frustration, exasperated. “Son, the only way you're getting out of this marriage is if you find another girl you love and bring her home to us. But all you do is toy around with women, it's been years and you haven't found anybody! So of course we have to take action!”
Dad folded his arms huffily.
Why did he care so much about me and my life with women? Did he think for one second, that if I’d grown up loving a woman, that I would have half of the success that I had today?
Women were nice, and being loved probably felt nice, but to be rich and successful, you had to make sacrifices. You couldn’t afford to get distracted, which was why the only time I 86