Page 11 of Arturo's Temptation
“Don’t know, to be honest.” I didn’t tend to think about how my clients lived. “But now you mention it, I thought your office would have been darker.” The other thing I hadn’t expected was for him to crack a smile. But with his wife around he seemed… at ease. Relaxed.
“It was darker once, but my wife thought it needed a makeover, her words not mine.”
“And you let her?” A flicker of a smile told me everything I needed to know. Ricci’s wife was his everything. And from that exchange out there, there was no denying that she was his equal.
“When you marry someone, Ramos, you quickly learn which fights to pick and which to let go. This was one I lost, graciously might I add.” He raised his hand in a gesture that offered me the seat opposite him.
“Yeah, well, I don’t plan on gettin’ married.” Lorenzo’s raised eyebrows and smug smile said exactly what he was thinking, that he thought I was an idiot. A part of me wanted to agree but I knew it was never going to be on the cards for me. I’d made many enemies over the years, and I wasn’t prepared to put that on anyone. “So, did I come over here for your unsolicited advice or did you want to make me an offer? And be quick about it, I’ve got plans I need to keep.” I lowered myself into the chair opposite as he leaned back.
“To the point, I like that.” He tapped his index finger on his lips for a couple of seconds. “I know the background you have and there is no denying it’s impressive.”
“I kill people so folks like your wife and daughter can sleep better at night. I’d hardly call that impressive.” He knew as well as I did that I was being humble. But I truly didn’t believe what I did could be described as anything other than wrong.
“And there is a reason we hire people like you and that’s because you get the job done cleanly and without letting anything or anyone stand in your way. That Mr Ramos is the type of person I need.”
“To protect your daughter, yes, I remember.” I rubbed my jaw, looking at the back of many framed photographs on his desk. “But an organised fella like yourself is bound to have trained her. Are you telling me she can’t protect herself?” His eyes narrowed.
“Trust me, she knows how to protect herself,” he replied. “But now that my son has stepped aside, she’ll need it now more than ever.”Well, that I didn’t know. Interesting.“I will take care of preparing her to become my successor, and I’ll expect you totake charge of her protection, plus, of course, training her to be capable of doing what must be done.”
“What do you want me to do, carry her shoppin’ bags for her?” I laughed, but of course, he didn't join in.
“My daughter isn’t the type to need a man to carry anything.” His face was impassive as I noticed his brows knit together. “She’s smart, tough, and would lay down her life for this family, hence why she stepped up when her brother was needed elsewhere.”
“Look, Mr Ricci, with all due respect, I’ve never trained someone before and I’ve certainly never acted as a bodyguard.”
“I understand that, but something tells me I can trust my daughter with you.”Trust… Huh. That was new.“I know you’re a man of your word and you’ve never betrayed a single client, not even when blackmailed. You can get her to where she needs to be, somewhere not even I can get her to.” I knew that took a lot for him to admit, and frankly I admired him for it. “You’ll push her to breaking point. For as long as it takes you will become her shadow. You will be everything she needs until she takes my place. And when that day comes, she will then decide if you should stay or if you should go.”
“There’s a song in that speech somewhere.” I glanced away from him to consider what he’d just said. All in all, I was pretty sure by the end of this process that I’d want her to let me go. I didn’t like playing with others, and I sure as hell didn’t like being ordered around. But perhaps having an ace in my back pocket in the form of a solid connection to the Ricci clan could play in my favour, no matter how much of a pain in the arse Lorenzo’s daughter should prove to be.
“Alright, I’ll do it.” The words were out of my mouth without a second thought. “But I want two hundred grand upfront. No arguments.” I didn’t know if this was the right choice, but there would only be one way to find out.
“I’m well aware of your starting fee, Arturo. And I also understand you were planning to put this life behind you.”What was he getting at?“But let me reassure you, working with us is different. We won’t try to pull you back into a life that destroyed who you once were.”What was that supposed to mean?“Besides, you won’t be on my team, you’ll be on Isabella’s. And who knows, maybe being here will change your mindset on how things in this business should run.” Fuck, he was good.
“I’ll be the judge of that.”
“There will be a few requirements expected of you of course,” he said, reaching for a cigar.
“Naturally,” I replied, toying with the lighter in my jacket pocket.
Nodding, he leant forward. “While working for me and my daughter, you will be living here.” I narrowed my eyes and started to say I’d do no such thing when he held a hand up. “You’ll, of course, have your own room and I will cover the cost of your apartment here in the city. You’ll be given an armoured SUV to drive Isabella wherever she needs to go. There’s no way I can allow her to drive herself, especially once word gets out that she’ll be taking my place.”
“Sounds fair enough, but no need to cover the lease. I can manage it.” I hated charity.
“Nonsense, it will be part of your payment package for as long as you wish to keep it.”
“Fine.” He could tell I was less than satisfied that he’d insisted on pushing the matter, but to his credit he didn’t point it out or question why.
“Final condition,” he said, rising from his chair and buttoning his suit jacket.This ought to be good.I leaned back in my seat and waited for what he had to say next. “Under no circumstances are you to make any moves on my daughter.” Ah, there it was! “The only time you’ll lay so much as a finger onher is in training or if you need to pull her out of harm's way. That’s it. That’s where it ends. And if I find out you’ve so much as looked at her inappropriately, I’ll take your eyes, then your balls, and finally your heart before gutting the rest of you with a smile. Am I making myself clear?” There was not a shred of humour in his tone.
“Mr Ricci,” I replied, staring him in the eye, “I have no intention, now or ever, of making any such moves on your daughter. You have my word.”
“Then I hope I can trust your word.” He held out his hand.
“I don’t give it out lightly,” I grinned and rose from my seat, gripping his calloused hand tightly.
“Good. I’ll have Red drive you to your apartment to pick up the things you need. Emmet will move your bike into the garage.”
“Fine by me. He good to go now? I’d prefer to hit the ground runnin’ with Isabella first thing tomorrow mornin’.” I turned for the door, pulling my phone out of my pocket.
