Lust for Danger: A Mafia Romance -- Book One: The Family [Erotic Mafia Romance Book] by Angela Jordan Read Free Book Online

now, it was the only family he had.
     
    “Vinnie,” Dominic called out, waving his cousin over from his post near a corner of the room. “Status.”
     
    “Bar’s packed, cousin,” he replied. “Things are picking up. There’s a small line outside, nothing major. Pretty good for a Thursday.”
     
    He nodded. “Any problems?”
     
    “Nothing serious,” he said. “There was an argument near the bathrooms between two drunk college kids, but we sorted them out and sent them home.”
     
    “Hmm. American?”
     
    He laughed. “No, boss. Italian. Why would they be American?”
     
    Dominic looked sideways at his cousin, who had that same jovial smile that he always wore on his face. “…No reason,” he said after a beat. “No reason. Listen, Vinnie, I’m going upstairs to my table. Can you send up a glass of Scotch? Make it a double.”
     
    “Sure, cousin, no problem. You want ice in that?”
     
    Dom sighed, rubbing a hand on his forehead and shaking his head. He had to smile.
     
    “Vinnie, you ask me this every fucking time.”
     
    Vinnie’s face clouded over. “Hmm,” he said thoughtfully. From his face it was obvious he had no clue what to say.
     
    “Vinnie, goddamnit,” he laughed. “No ice, okay? No ice!”
     
    Vinnie’s wide grin came back in an instant. “Got it, boss!” he said cheerfully, and sped off to the bar to place the order.
     
    As Dom climbed the stairs to his private table, he suddenly realized he was in a very good mood. Despite the guilt he felt about Carlo, and the looming mess with the Berlottis, Dom could put all that aside for now and just enjoy himself.
     
    Even the American girl wasn’t bothering him – although Dom had to admit, it was strange that he’d had Americans on his mind during the conversation with Vinnie. But no matter. Dom had always been a sucker for beautiful women. And by this point, he’d seen it all.
     
    A few of Dom’s associates were already seated around the table. There was Carmelo, a member of the family who was one of Dom’s trusted informants; Alexei, a Russian immigrant who was the family’s main source of weapons; and Salvatore, another Pirelli who helped oversee the docks down in Fiumicino. They were all good people, and Dom had known all of them for years. He hoped tonight’s conversation could be a mix of business and pleasure.
     
    “Evening, gentlemen,” Dom said, as the three of them stood up to greet him. “How are we doing? Alexei, it’s a surprise to see you down here in Trastevere.”
     
    “Carmelo called me down here,” Alexei replied. “He said you were needing some extra firepower.”
     
    Dom raised an eyebrow. “Carmelo?”
     
    “Boss, it’s getting hectic out there,” Carmelo replied. “Drugs are changing everything. Small-timers are getting dangerous now, and the Chinese are moving in. Some pistols for our guys in the street would help them stay protected.”
     
    Dominic’s face darkened into a scowl. “I don’t want any guns for our small-timers,” growled. “It’s too big a liability. They shoot the wrong person, we’ve got a war on our hands. Carmelo, you know this.”
     
    “But boss—” Carmelo began, but Dominic cut him off.
     
    “We’re not moving into the drug trade,” he said firmly. “That shit ruins families. We’re sticking to what we know: goods, gambling, and the protection racket. Carmelo, just look at this club. We built all this –” Dom gestured his hand toward the massive nightclub space – “without a dime of drug money. And I’m going to keep it that way. Tell your guys to stay the fuck out of the drug business. They stay away from that, they won’t need any guns in the first place. You got it?”
     
    Carmelo was sullen. “Yeah, boss. I got it. Sorry.”
     
    There was a long, silent moment. Alexei coughed. “Perhaps I should go,” he said, rising slightly from his chair.
     
    Dom put up a hand. “Hold on, Alexei. As it turns out, I may need to speak