Chapter 210
Chapter 210
TEN YEARS LATER
AUTHOR'S POV
Angelo stood at the floor-to-ceiling window of his penthouse office overlooking the city. Twenty-three years old and he owned half of it. The other half was still in negotiation.
Ten years had passed since his mother died in that guest house. Ten years since he'd made a promise over her body. Ten years of transforming himself from a broken thirteen-year-old into something else entirely.
Something dangerous.
His phone buzzed with a message from his assistant. The meeting was ready. Angelo adjusted his cufflinks and turned from the window. His reflection stared back at him from the glass, a man who barely resembled the boy he'd been. Tall, broad-shouldered, wearing a suit that cost more than most people made in a month. Cold eyes that missed nothing.
He'd built an empire in ten years. Started with the skills Don Luca taught him, the knowledge of how the underworld worked. Angelo had taken it further, darker, deeper than Don Luca ever had.
Where Don Luca built legitimate businesses to hide his operations, Angelo built operations that swallowed legitimate businesses whole. Where Don Luca used violence sparingly, Angelo wielded it like a scalpel, precise and merciless.
He walked through his office and down the hall to the conference room. His men stood straighter when he passed. They feared him and that was exactly how he wanted it.
Inside the conference room, three men sat at the table looking nervous. They should be. They'd been skimming from his operations for six months thinking he wouldn't notice.
Angelo sat at the head of the table and folded his hands. "Gentlemen. Thank you for coming."
"Mr. Angelo, there's been a misunderstanding." The one in the middle started talking fast. "We can explain the discrepancies."
"I'm sure you can." Angelo's voice was pleasant but it sent chills down the spine of those listening. "But I'm not interested in explanations. I'm interested in solutions."
"We'll pay back everything we took, with interest."
"You'll pay back everything you took. Without interest. Because charging you interest implies this is a business transaction." Angelo leaned forward. "This is not a business transaction. This is a lesson."
The men exchanged glances, sweat beading on their foreheads.
"Markus." Angelo didn't raise his voice but his head of security stepped forward from the corner. "Take them to the warehouse. Make sure they understand the importance of honesty in our organization."
"No, please, Mr. Angelo, we have families."
"So did my father." Angelo stood. "And that didn't stop someone from putting a bullet in his head. Funny how people only remember their families when consequences arrive."
Markus and two other men escorted the three out. Their protests faded down the hallway.
Angelo returned to his office and poured himself a drink. He didn't enjoy hurting people but he didn't shy away from it either. Fear was currency in his world and he'd become very wealthy in fear.
His phone rang. Emilio's name flashed on the screen. Angelo stared at it for three rings before answering.
"What."
"That's how you answer your temporary dad?" Emilio's voice held forced lightness.
"I'm busy."
"You're always busy. When's the last time you came to the estate?"
Angelo took a drink. "I'll visit when I have time."
Angelo ended the call and threw his phone on the desk. It immediately started ringing again but he ignored it.
The problem with Emilio was that he still saw Angelo as that thirteen-year-old boy who needed saving.
His assistant knocked and entered. "Sir, you have a visitor. She doesn't have an appointment but she's insisting it's urgent."
"Who is it?"
"She says her name is Adore."
Angelo's chest constricted. "Send her away."
His eyes narrowed dangerously and his mouth twisted in disgust.
"I tried. She says she'll wait in the lobby until you agree to see her."
Angelo closed his eyes. Adore was nothing if not stubborn.
"Fine. Send her in."