Step Bride: A Bad Boy Mob Roman(34)
“Is she not an asset?”
“She’s family.”
“Yes,” he said, nodding, “family.”
“Do you not trust her?”
“I fear her, more like. I don’t know what she believes about us and our family. Her mother knows and is completely fine with it, maybe even smitten by it. But the girl I worry about.”
I nodded. I understood his fears. I had shared them initially when I had heard that Camille’s daughter was coming to live with us, back before I knew that I had married her.
We survived through loyalty and secrecy. If someone was disloyal, they couldn’t live in the compound. Natalie was going to see and hear things that could potentially hurt us if they ever got out simply by living in the same building that we lived in.
And truthfully, I was still worried about what she thought. She never really said much about our business, which on the one hand was good, but it did show that she feared us. Fear was useful sometimes, but I didn’t want her to be afraid. I wanted her to understand.
Still, I couldn’t voice my fears to my father. I didn’t want him to suspect or worry about Natalie. I knew that I could handle her, knew that she wouldn’t do anything to harm us. Not yet, at least.
“I trust her,” I said. “She doesn’t talk about the business, but she knows.”
He took another sip. “How sure?”
“I’m a good read, father. I’m sure.”
He nodded. “Very well. I’ll trust you, Lucas, but don’t disappoint me. Keep an eye on that girl.”
“I will keep her close.”
“Good.” He stood up and walked around his desk, finishing off his whisky.
I stood. “Anything else?”
“Get into that truck. Keep me informed.”
“I will.”
He sat down and folded his hands. “One last thing, Lucas. You were in charge of security the night of the exchange, and you failed. What happened?”
I stared at Arturo. It was the question I had been dreading. The truth was, I had failed that night, though it wasn’t entirely my fault. Rodney’s team was supposed to keep us updated and safe, but he could never have guessed that the cops would come in force and seize everything.
Rodney did what he always did. He survived. He had warned us that something odd was coming with just enough time for us to get out of there with minimal losses, but still, I had trusted Rodney.
“It was my failure,” I said. “I take responsibility.”
Arturo frowned. “Don’t protect your people. If someone failed, punish them.”
“If you want to punish someone, punish me. My people are my responsibility.”
He didn’t like that. I could see the anger twitch in the corners of his eyes, but he kept himself in check.
“Be careful, Lucas. You’re not above our rules.”
“I understand that.”
He stared at me and I kept my face impassive.
“Go. Get inside that truck.”
I nodded, turned, and then left.
Out in the hall, I headed back toward my rooms, annoyance running down my spine.
Arturo was too controlling. He wanted to micromanage every single operation that I was involved with. I understood the impulse, and I didn’t hate him for it, but he was going to get in the way.
I sighed, releasing my anger. I was glad that conversation was done and over with. Although I didn’t love how it went, I felt like I had a weight off my back.
Back in my rooms, I smiled down at the package I had bought earlier in the day. It was the thing I had been looking forward to all day long. Lou had walked in just as I was about to put it all together.
But I was finally alone. My mind ranged back to my stepsister’s body and the way her lips felt around my cock. I loved the way she swallowed my cum greedily and licked me clean afterward.
The box held a nice little surprise for my stepsister, and I couldn’t wait to deliver it.
Chapter Seventeen: Natalie
Another morning in the Barone compound.
Another morning having dreamed about my stepbrother all night.
About his lips against my neck.
About the feeling in my stomach every time he came around.
And about how angry he always made me.
Arrogant and cocky. But at least his sister seemed very nice. I had liked Louisa as soon as we had first started speaking, despite how strange she was. Or maybe because of how strange she was. Everyone in the Barone compound seemed so stiff and formal, but Louisa was the first person to actually treat me like a normal human.
I climbed out of bed, yawning. I had no clue what I was going to do all day, but part of me thought that it didn’t matter.
Maybe I’d get a job. Or maybe I could work somewhere on the compound.
Tough life. I lived in luxury and everything was provided for me. Anything I wanted, I could easily pick up the phone and get. So why did I feel so anxious all the time?