His Stripper, Their Obsession

asting blood in h

ther's voice-cold and sharp like a

the venom drip slowly, the way a snake coils be

think you're still a goddamn ba

aw so tight he thought

ion dollars,

outing, switching i

o, uno stronzo

upid, brainl

iano tried, but Raff

name is bleeding because of you. Do

whip crack, slicing thr

nk they can take pieces of us. Even our own allies in Italy are questioning

like a hammer b

fucking

voice broke despite himself

cruel, cutt

sted exhale

hamed us all." And then, befor

IC

ne wen

d phone against his ear. His hand tr

time in years,

on

devastati

raped with silk curtains and gold fixtures, Don Raffaele

rom his jacket pocket. He lit it with a silver lighter, the flame briefly illumin

m, wrinkled his nose and sh

at right now?" he

. "You're always welcome to leave the room,

nder his breath but stayed se

glass, swirling the deep red liq

ne-deep sigh that said he was a

." Raffaele said bitter

trying to wash the taste

llars... gone. Cos

that, witho

into a crystal tray. "H

head once. "He sh

eavy silence

stared at the

pa

r one

e glass once

nwh

iano sat slumped behind his ruined desk. The shatter

ckles were cracked, dry blood forming jagged scabs. His green eyes were bloodshot, r

ared poi

er circle-Luca, Marco, Enzo

elbows on the chair's arms, his

y, he

ng million dollars,"

knew. They had known the mome

ch until it felt like a noose

he continued, "i

tasted l

lence f

furiously on her

," she said, her v

dshot eyes fli

ha

op around, showin

Russian broker you partn

the room li

nd

, pulling up a series of files, photos, m

arp intakes of breath

d with them for years. They must've paid him

violently as he shot up,

clenched into fists again, fresh

ess-minded one, lean

now, boss? How

him, rage a barely

ucking know how bad

both hands,

st, we'll lose everything. The clubs, the casinos, the saf

esk, his boots thudding du

oom w

econds

sud

no st

kered in his b

i

brilliant,

y. "What is it?" he dem

curved into a sl

under his breath, alr

ng say it,"

le, hands planted on either

a rob a fuc