I stare at Jazzy, who is sound asleep in the guest bedroom.Her roomnow, I guess. She’s only been here a couple of days, but I made sure she had everything she could want or need. I had my assistant go out and buy up everything she thought a six-year-old girl would want. The guest room that used to be dressed inplain navy and whites is now covered in pink, purples, and every other fucking color in the rainbow.
Jazzy seems happy, though, and that’s the main thing. I know she’s sad too. But for some reason, the kid hides her emotions. Almost like she’s not supposed to be sad, so she pretends to be okay. At least that’s the impression I’ve gotten of her over the last few days.
She’s a smart kid, and whatever she knows about her mother, she’s not saying anything. I have no idea why she’s here. I did take Louie’s advice and had the doc run a DNA test. I’m still waiting for the results, but I know this little girl is mine.
I don’t know how I know that, but Ifeelit.
I have this overwhelming need to protect her, shield her from the horrors of this world, and make sure she never has to go without like I did.
Hearing the elevator doors open in the foyer, I close Jazzy’s door and walk away. I asked Sammie to find me a staff member he trusted who would also be suitable to babysit. Without hesitation, he suggested Lailani, one of the reception girls from the Royal Flush. He then went on to warn me that she was strictly here to watch Jazzy and that under no circumstances was I to touch her.
I was intrigued as to why he felt so protective of the woman, but I didn’t question it. I don’t have the time to delve into my friends’ lives right now. My own is keeping me plenty busy at the moment.
“Thanks for coming. She’s asleep and I shouldn’t be too late.” I didn’t expect Sammie to tag along. “You here to babysit too?” I look from him to Lailani.
“No, asshole, I’m here to make sure you get to the Royal in one piece,” he says.
We’ve got a meeting with a rival family, the same rival family whose guy put a hit out on Louie. Except the fucker shotCharlotte instead. Granted, she did push Louie out of the way and literally jumped in front of the bullet when she saw the gun. If that’s not true love, I don’t know what is.
Sammie and I walk into the office and find Louie already sitting behind his desk, looking pissed off as fuck that he has to be here. I get it. He wants to be with his wife. Charlotte gets anxious when he isn’t around. Understandable, considering she thinks everyone is out to kill her husband.
“Bossman, you look like shit,” Sammie says.
“Fuck you,” Louie replies.
“Remind me again why we’re entertaining this meeting?” I ask.
“Because we’re avoiding a full-blown war,” he says. “Do I need to alsoremind youthat you’ve got a daughter now? I’ve got a wife, and he’s got… fuck if I know what he’s got.” Louie throws an arm out towards Sammie. “But we have more to lose now than we ever have before.”
“Good point.” I nod.
“How’s Jazzy settling in?” he questions me.
“She seems oddly fine. She shouldn’t appear so comfortable being left with a complete stranger. Makes me wonder what kind of life she’s had.”
“She say anything about her mother yet?”
“Not a thing.” I shake my head. I don’t know why she’s so tight-lipped about the woman. You’d think she’d want me to find her. Why is she so unbothered by the prospect of never seeing her mother again?
A knock at the door stops our conversation. Time for business.
When Joey Marciano walks in, it takes all of my strength to keep my expression neutral. I’ve wanted to kill this motherfucker for years. He’s a piece of shit, but he is a Don, and if I killed him, I’d only start a war we don’t want to be a partof. He’s also the father of the only woman I’ve ever wanted to keep. Of course, that’s a closely-guarded secret only that same daughter and I know about.
I tune out most of the talk between Louie and Joey. That is until I hear the fucker tell the bossman that he has a deal for him, one that will benefitbothof our organizations.
“My wife was shot. That’s not something I’ll ever forget. Or forgive,” Louie says.
“Understandable.” The old fucker nods his head.
“That said, it would be rude of me not to at least hear you out.” Louie looks directly at the man. “What kind of deal we talking?” Always one for opportunity, my friend’ll listen, hear what’s being offered before making a decision.
“A merger. Of families,” Joey says. “I have a daughter, Antonia. Twenty-one, marrying age.”
My hands curl into fists.Did he just fucking offer up his daughter?
Sammie nudges me in the side, and I school my features. But fuck that! This fucking asshole is going to marry his daughter off to some fucker like a piece of meat? Not on my watch, he isn’t.
“We’re not in the business of arranged marriages,” Louie says firmly—andthank fuck for that.
