Royally Mine: 22 All-New Bad Boy Romance Novellas by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sweet Savage Press
Published: 2017-08-21T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter Three

I watch the sun breaking through the clouds as orange colors the cityscape. It’s an amazing sight. Sunsets I usually miss, but I like the sunrises more anyway. It’s quieter. I shudder in the icy February morning chill. I’m standing on the balcony in just my sweats, barefoot, and bare chested, but the cold is worth it for the view and the silence. This is my time, before the world wakes up and wants a piece of me.

A few moments later, I walk inside and close the sliding glass door. In the kitchen, I push a button on the espresso machine, and dark liquid pours into my cup. I watch it absently, wondering about my guest because I already hear the shower, so she’s up. The last image of her from the night before is huddled on the floor, hugging her knees to her chest and crying. Well, that and calling me a jerk. Which I am. But I didn’t need to be one with her.

My phone rings as I take my first sip of the café lungo, rich and dark and potent. I only answer because it’s Giovanni, and it’s unusual, even for him, to call this early. But I think he suffers from the same insomnia I do so maybe not that unusual.

“Brother,” I answer.

“Morning.”

“Morning. You sound chipper,” I say.

“How was your night?” Giovanni asks.

“About as good as can be expected, but we both survived.”

He chuckles. “Take it easy with the girl,” he growls. “She doesn’t know much about the life.”

“She’s a sly little thing, though.”

“Nothing you can’t handle, I’m guessing.”

“What’s with the flattery, Gio?” He hates the nickname which makes me like it even more. My brother and I are close, but it’s still fun to irritate him.

“Well, funny thing. Looks like you’ll have to hold on to her for a couple of days.”

“Why?” It’s my turn to growl.

“I just got off the phone with Arturo Antonino. Apparently, there’s some trouble he needs to handle.”

“What kind of trouble?”

“Not sure. I’m looking into it now.”

“What do you mean?”

“He got sketchy when I pressed him.”

“He is sketchy.” I didn’t know much about Arturo Antonino until his old man was laid up in a hospital bed with machines keeping him alive. The Antonino’s are a small mafia family, but they’ve steadily been growing over the last year. Since they operate out of the east coast, which is Benedetti and Santa Maria territory, we need to be sure their interests align with ours. They did while John Antonino was boss, but like I said, I don’t know Arturo. Neither does Giovanni.

“So how’s this trouble going to impact my weekend plans?” I ask. I don’t really have any, but still, it’s the principle.

“He won’t be here to pick her up until Sunday night.”

“Fuck. Can’t we put her on a flight?”

“You know we can’t.”

I do, but still. I sigh.

“Don’t tell me you can’t handle her.”

“I can handle her just fine.”

“Touchy.”

“Fuck you.”

I hear her bedroom door open and turn to watch her come

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