Angelo’s lips touched mine and I opened, drawing
strength from his kiss as I clung to his shoulders.
When he finally broke the kiss, he stared into my eyes,
looking almost angry: how dare I turn him on this
much? “How do you do this to me?” he rasped. Then he
kissed me again. “Tonight, I’m going to do everything I
just told you.”
I nodded weakly...then shook my head as a memory hit
me. “I can’t. I have to go out tonight.”
He cursed under his breath. His hands tightened on my
waist again, fiercely possessive. “Tomorrow, then,” he
growled. “I’ll call you.”
I nodded. “I have to go,” I said. And, with a last kiss, I
broke away and set off towards Fenbrook, feeling his
eyes following me. The cold wind was lashing my
cheeks but it didn’t do anything to cool me down. I
knew I was panting and red-faced, my lips tingling and
swollen from all the kissing, my hair slipping from its
bun thanks to the way he’d manhandled me. I had to
get to a restroom and get myself together before I went
to my next class...and, at the same time, I didn’t want
to. I liked being this way, liked being marked by him.
This isn’t like me. But I knew, deep down, that that was
a lie. I’d always known there was this part of me. I’d
hidden my lust away because the few guys I’d been
with made me feel I had to—Russian men think sex is
for them and expect their women to tolerate it, not
enjoy it. But for Angelo, my pleasure seemed to be the
whole aim.
And it was more than just sex. I’d only known him a few
days but I liked him. I dared to let myself dream. Maybe
I can somehow talk Vasiliy around. We wouldn’t meet
like this and feel like this if we were going to be
separated, would we? Fate wasn’t that cruel.
I was right. Fate was much, much crueller.
12
Angelo
“It’s not on straight,” said Rico from behind me.
I pulled on both ends of the bow tie, trying to get it into
shape, and the whole knot fell apart. “Fuck it!” I
snapped. “I hate these fucking things!”
Rico sighed and twirled his finger in the air. I turned
from the mirror and finally allowed him to help me.
“Why do I have to go to this party, again?” I growled.
“You ask that every year, boss,” said Rico. “I got the
same answer for you: we got to kiss up to Heinwell.” He
pulled the bow tie tight, perfectly straight and balanced:
how did he do that?
“I hate kissing up to Heinwell,” I muttered. What I
meant was, I hated kissing up to anyone. Even a big
property developer like Heinwell who we needed on our
side.
“Champagne and lobster and two hours of hanging out
with all those rich chicks. I’m digging real deep but I
ain’t finding much sympathy,” Rico told me.
I knew he was right. Going to Heinwell’s charity
fundraiser had been almost fun, the last few years. It
was full of rich, eager society girls who got all wide-
eyed at the prospect of meeting a real live criminal. I’d
wound up taking one back to my apartment, last year.
But now I couldn’t even remember her name and the
idea of hanging out with them again just left me cold.
The only woman I wanted to see was Irina. Good thing
she was busy tonight. I’d forgotten all about the party
until Rico had cornered me about it. He’d even picked
up my tux for me. I don’t know what I’d do without
him.
“Fine,” I grumbled. “I’ll give Heinwell the fucking check
and then I’m out of there.”
* * *
The party was at Heinwell’s place out in Long Island, a
big white-painted mansion complete with columns, as if
he thought he belonged in the White House. Maybe, if I
take care of Heinwell fast, I can call Irina and meet up
when she gets back from wherever she is. Just the
thought of it made my cock swell in my pants...and I
didn’t want to admit it, but my chest got a little tight,
too, like I was a fucking teenager all over again.
I threw my keys to the kid parking the cars and strode
inside, feeling the eyes of the other guests on me.
There must have been a hundred people there: minor
politicians, some business leaders, a couple of sports
stars who wanted to be seen to be doing their bit for
charity. I saw a few mouths tighten as I passed. One
guy dared to mutter, what’s he doing here?
I stopped and pinned him with a glare. I run half this
fucking city, my glare said. What do you do? I enjoyed
watching the cocky piece of shit turn pale and look at
his feet. It wasn’t just about making them afraid.
Sometimes, people need reminding that it’s guys like me
who keep the wheels turning.
I saw Heinwell across the room and headed towards
him. I wanted to intercept him and hand him my check,
then maybe I could make an excuse and leave before
the actual dinner. But I was aware of someone else
pushing through the crowd to my left, trying to get
there first. Oh no you don’t. I sped up, deliberately not
looking at my competition. They sped up, too. We
reached Heinwell at the exact same moment and I
slapped him on the shoulder. “Jerry!” I gave him a big,
bullshit grin. “It’s been too long. Got a big fat check for
you.”
Jerry Heinwell tried to smile, but it wouldn’t come
together. His eyes kept flicking to the side, towards
where my competitor for his attention was standing.
“Angelo. Yeah. Haven’t heard from you since last year.”
He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing nervously. “A
lot’s changed, since then.”
“Perhaps you should stay in better touch with your
partners,” said a voice from my left, deep and rich and
heavily accented. A voice I recognized. I finally turned
towards it, my hand slipping from Heinwell’s shoulder.
“Hello, Mr. Baroni,” said Vasiliy Malakov coldly.
My brain froze up for a second. Vasiliy had been on my
mind a lot, especially since I found out I was seeing his
niece. But I couldn’t wrap my head around him being
here. This was my turf. Heinwell was my contact.
I watched in horror as Vasiliy put a friendly arm around
Heinwell’s shoulders while keeping his gaze on me. “A
wise man once said, ‘the only constant is change,’” he
told me. “I find this is true.”
My eyes flicked between the two of them. “Jerry?” I
asked. “What the fuck?”
Heinwell swallowed, but then lifted his chin. “Times
change, Angelo. Sorry.”
Times change?! I glared at Vasiliy. It wasn’t enough that
he was trying to take territory from me, now he was
trying to steal my contacts? Heinwell was worth tens of
millions: whoever he was cozied up to got all the prime
construction contracts, plus tip-offs about future projects
the city was planning so they could snap up the right
real estate and make a fortune. I’d had Heinwell in my
pocket for years and my dad had him before that. No
way was Vasiliy taking him—no way!
I took a step towards Vasiliy...and someone stepped
between us. Big, but not some hotheaded young thug:
an older guy with a scar across his cheek and a sober
manner. The sort of guy who could fit right in at a posh
party like this but probably knew thirty different ways to
kill you.
“This is Yuri,” said Vasiliy with a hint of pride. “My
protection.”
“I don’t want any trouble tonight,” said Heinwell quickly.