Brutal Capo: A Forced Marriage Mafia Romance (Syndicate Rules Book 5) by Lucy Monroe

Author:Lucy Monroe [Monroe, Lucy & Monroe, Lucy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lucy Monroe LLC
Published: 2024-03-06T18:30:00+00:00

SALVATORE

For her to stay safe.

Why do those words hit so hard? And why do I have this inexplicable urge to find Mr. Ruhnke and thank him?

Standing from the table, I put my hand out.

Bianca hugs the bedraggled violet more tightly to her ample chest.

"Bring it with you."

Her beautiful blue eyes narrow in distrust. "Where?"

"To the conservatory."

"I knew it was too bougie to be a greenhouse."

Her words make me smile.

"That's the De Lucas," Nerissa says snarkily. "Full of pretentious airs."

"Since you are a De Luca, I guess that means you are too." Bianca sasses my sister as she skirts around the table to join me.

She shows no fear of my intimidating second-in-command. Her courage impresses me.

I like the way Bianca calls Nerissa a De Luca too. Even though my sister never changed her last name from James, Bianca doesn't question that my second is also my family. I told Bianca that Nerissa is my sister and she believed me.

Because my beautiful lover trusts me on a gut level whether she's willing to admit it, or not.

Pulling her by the hand, I lead her into the warm humidity of the conservatory. The light, temperature and moisture in the air are kept precise for the very rare, very expensive orchids residing in pots throughout the space.

Bianca pulls her hand from mine and I have to force myself not to grab it back. She walks to the nearest orchid and fern grouping. Her fingertips hover above the petals of my Koki'o Orchid, as if she knows how rare and fragile it is.

After the barest brush over one of the perfect green leaves, her hand drops.

"It's beautiful." Bianca's head turns first to the right and then to the left. "They're all beautiful and every pot is unique."

Her brow furrows as she slides her fingers across the uneven glaze on the orange and gold somewhat misshapen pot holding my Shenzhen Nongke Orchid. It is the most expensive specimen in my collection but isn't much more impressive than the pot it is in.

Only blooming once every four to five years, the rest of the time, it looks like any other orchid plant with light green foliage. The last time it bloomed, I sold each flower for more than I paid for the plant.

I am, after all, a businessman.

"That is my mother's first attempt at throwing and glazing ceramic," I inform Bianca.

"And you have it in here."

"Housing my most expensive specimen."

"That's sweet."

"I am not a sweet man." My mouth twists with distaste on the word sweet.

I'm glad Nerissa didn't follow us into the conservatory to hear that.

"If you say so." Bianca's tone implies she doesn't agree.

I suppose it is alright if bella mia thinks I am sweet. "Don't call me that in front of others," I order.

"I can think it, but I can't say it?" she teases as no one is allowed to do to me.

"Yes."

"Fine." She points to my Shenzhen Nongke Orchid. "Is that what Nerissa meant by a rare genus?"

"It's one of them. Every orchid in here is difficult to obtain, but none as unique and scarce as that one.

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