I furiously rake my hair back and eye her empty glass on the coffee table. In a rush of frustration, I hurl the glass against the window. The act doesn’t soothe my nerves whatsoever.
Without having any solution at hand, I traipse up the floating staircase.
Cam’s in a restless sleep as I watch her through the glass wall of the adjacent bathroom while I get out of my clothes. After a hot shower, I don’t bother to trim my beard and dress in clean black trousers and a navy dress shirt.
Before I leave, I stand by the bed. Bending down, I place a feather light kiss on her head. Today, I’ll give her some space while I cool off myself. But I’m not sure I’m able to give her what she wants right now. I must finish the work I’ve started. Meanwhile, I’ll instruct my soldiers who keep an eye on her to ensure she doesn’t spot them so that she feels that I trust her. I’ll not allow Cam to slip any further away from me.
With that resolve, I speed between high-rises to the club in the pouring rain that mirrors my mood perfectly.
***
Luca’s seated across from my desk, sipping his coffee while I attempt to repair any damage from what happened between us.
I inhale a deep breath, realizing that I need Luca as underboss back in my corner.
“What did you do yesterday?” I ask.
“I spent the day with Fallon. It was actually quite nice to have a day off.” His voice is even, not a trace of bitterness. “You?”
“Busy at the sex club. A minor altercation with one of the women, but Serena handled it. Look, Luca, I stand behind my statement that you were out of line, but I’m not dismissing you. What if the roles were reversed, and I had supported an idea of Fallon’s without your knowledge? What would your first reaction be? Forget that Cam’s stronger. Think of her just as my girlfriend. How would you feel if it had been Fallon?”
“I see your point, and you’re right,” he admits. “But don’t forget that Cam was trained by James when he was boss, and she’s learned a lot from him. Sometimes, she has good suggestions and we should listen to her. Cam’s clever.”
“I realize that all too well, and it scares the fuck out of me. I feel like I’m constantly in a catch-22. As a Capo, she needs responsibilities, but as my girl, I want to lock her away. She’s uncontrollable. And while that was exciting at first, it’s fucking bothering me more every day.”
“Is that truly what’s bothering you? That she’s uncontrollable? Because I think that’s exactly what you love about her. Isn’t the actual problem that you don’t know how to protect her while you’re this busy? She has to adapt to this new situation, but so do you.” He sets his mug on the armrest of his chair.
“Perhaps...It’s so difficult to find that balance though.”
“Well, it’s difficult for Fallon and me as well, but you two also work together in this Syndicate. That makes it almost impossible to always keep it professional. But she’s become empowered since she’s been here. Taking her rank wasn’t the best idea.”
“I didn’t strip her rank. But I’m in the doghouse anyway because I might’ve done something stupid to feed her suspicion concerning Serena,” I confess.
His hand bringing up his coffee mug stops mid-air. “What did you do?”
“My mother asked to see Serena, and I took her to their apartment. Then I went home, and Cam apologized for her stunt. I didn’t want her to be upset about Serena after we finally talked it out, so I didn’t mention it. But she found out anyway.”
“How?”
“She says she overheard Serena mentioning it. I don’t know the details, but last night was just hectic, and I didn’t get home until six this morning. And she had waited up for me, completely enraged. She threw a vase at me,” I admit, still slightly in shock that she did that. “I was kind of scared.”
Luca lets out a laugh. “I think you two are going to break a lot of items while living together. And then what?”
“We fought. Well, mostly, she yelled and told me to sleep on the couch, but I showered and came back to work.”
He grimaces. “Oh, that’s never good. But I have to say, I never thought there’d be a woman who you’d allow to boss you around in your own loft.”
I scoff and smile. “It’s our loft now. And I want her to simmer down before we talk. Regardless, she has to accept Serena because Serena has attracted a lot of high rollers to the sex club, and with her girls, our weekly revenue has tripled. And we sell a lot of drugs down there. I’m only overseeing so that everything is set up smoothly with all the other members, which will save me a lot of work in the future.”
“I think she understands that, and I do too, but I’d still advise you to act on Santino. In that regard, Cam’s right that having him here is too dangerous.”
“Wade’s working on getting intel now. Apart from that, Cam still needs to let go of this vendetta against Serena, because having her girls here actually saves you and me the dirty work of finding and hiring girls – I don’t think either Cam or Fallon wants that.”
“Um, no. But I don’t believe Cam would base her suspicion on nothing; however neither I nor anyone else has seen Serena being anything but cordial to Cam – we even checked the camera feeds,” Luca explains.
“It’s not that I don’t believe Cam. I believe that she actually thinks there’s more; she’s convinced herself of that. I just don’t know how to pacify her and focus on my business and...love her.”
“Give her a little space. I agree that she doesn’t need to know everything. I protect Fallon however I see fit as well, and I won’t interfere between you two. In the end, Adriano, you can’t be without her. Both of you need to control your fears.”
His words are true. Acknowledging those words is easy. Acting on them is challenging though. “How?”
“Compromise.”
“Urgh, you sound like Fallon.”
He grins, shrugging. “I advise you out of experience, my friend. You also need to be careful because Cam’s not happy, and if she wanted to, she could get any other man.”
“What are you saying? That she’d cheat? I’ll kill anyone who touches her.”
“She won’t cheat on you, and you know that. But she’s an intelligent, beautiful woman who’s one of the most powerful members of the Syndicate. You’ve seen how men flock to her. I’d say keep her happy, and from what Fallon’s told me, she isn’t too happy with you at the moment, amico.”
“Nope, she’s not.”
Within a ten-minute conversation, Luca and I manage to get past our differences. If only it was that easy with Cam, life would be perfect. But it’s not.
The rest of the day sucks. I’m constantly holding myself back from calling her. And I realize how much I’ve gotten used to speaking to her every couple of hours. I do call her guard to find out what she’s up to, and I’m pleased to hear that she’s spending time with Fallon. Cam’s not the type to sit at home and cry over someone. Yet I miss her terribly. I miss her naughty texts.
Mostly, it’s the first time that she hasn’t tried to contact me for an extended period of time, so I learn how deep her animosity with this situation runs. And I deliberate how to fix it because I can’t function without her devotion. I fucking miss it. I miss her all day with an intensity that shatters my soul.
She’s that deeply etched inside of me.
She’s part of me.
CHAPTER 13
Camilla
I haven’t spoken to Adriano all day after our fight this morning, but I’m meeting Fallon at the club because she wants to see Luca before we go out to a bar. When I arrive earlier than Fallon, I decide to confront Serena. I need to discover a way to expose her without disrupting business. Of course, I do understand Adriano’s busy schedule. Though I feel deep in my bones that she’s not to be trusted.
I seek Serena out in the sex club. And I’m entranced by the posh, erotic atmosphere. Dozens of beds are occupied by people in various stages of undress. Behind the sheer curtains of the bedframes, I can see shad
ows of couples fucking. Employees sashay around in glittering gold-colored lingerie. It’s thrilling, titillating. The sounds of soft moans and the scent of incense add to the subdued air. The girls are remarkable, and I only now understand the allure of Serena’s girls. It’s no wonder that the club is full at ten p.m.
As I turn around, I spot Serena talking to Tez, so I go up to them.
“Camilla,” she greets, surprised. “Haven’t seen you around often?”
Tez dips his chin and leaves.
“I hear you’re here every day,” I throw back.
She tilts her head and parades out of the room into the dimly lit hallway.
“And I’d like to warn you”—I step in front of her, blocking her path—“that sooner or later everyone will know what kind of underhanded bitch you are. I’ll find out what you’re playing at.”
She stands tall with a malicious grin. “Adriano’s and my businesses are intertwined now, Camilla. Who do you think will be more important to him eventually? A Capo he’s having a fling with or the woman who’s helping him make his club millions? He and I have a history you know nothing about.”
I snort. “No, I don’t. Because it’s not important enough to him to have mentioned it even once.”
She sends me a pitying look. “So dense...Perhaps you are just not important enough for him to share it with?”
In a rapid move, I grip her throat and slam her back against the wall. Bringing my mouth close to her ear, I spit, “You’ll regret this.”
Dazed at first, she regains her composure while breathing unevenly. “No, Camilla, you’ll regret this. You just gave me more leverage against you.”
I release her as if she’s burned me, and her hand flies to her throat to soothe it.
Coughing, she continues, “Adriano doesn’t like his women to fall apart. And you’re proving to be a liability instead of an asset. In the Mafia, that’s not a favorable position to be in.”
I ignore her jibes.
“Enjoy your stay here while it lasts.”
I pace to the elevator and press the button to return to the first floor, hating that I let her get to me.
Agitated, I play with the pendant of my gold necklace that hangs between my cleavage as I enter the club, searching the crowd for Fallon and finding her descending the stairs where I meet her halfway.
“I can’t find Luca.” She looks over my shoulder, frowning when she sees Serena, who’s followed my path to the first floor. “Trouble?”
“Uh-huh. She finally admitted she’s after him,” I say.
Before Fallon can react, Luca comes down the staircase, followed by Adriano, whose intense stare pins me to the spot.
Serena also joins us at the foot of the stairs, so I put on my game face.
You want to play? Well, two can play that game.
Luca pulls Fallon into a hug, and they’re off in their own world.
Adriano assesses me as I inch closer and kiss him full on the lips. Eagerly, he returns my kiss and rests his warm hand on my cheek.
Then I pull back and put on a radiant smile. “Hey.”
“Hey.” His brows pull together, and he eyes my bare legs in my short white dress hungrily. “Not mad anymore?”
With my smile intact, I reply, “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. I just don’t want Serena to know, so I’ll keep gawking at you lovingly while I actually want to throttle you.”
He smirks and pulls me forward into his arms, but I twirl around and lean back against his chest so that I can grin at Serena, who’s concealed her expression but is forced to stand there and watch us.
Adriano’s breath is hot against my ear as his fingers skim the hem of my dress and he finds bare skin to touch. “I should be bothered by your performance, but I ache for you, so it’s turning me the fuck on.” And he pushes his growing erection against my behind while his fingers trace the swell of my ass, lingering at the edge of my panties. No one can see since he’s standing behind me, but Serena knows exactly what we’re doing.
I turn my head to the side so that our noses are touching. “This isn’t over, Adriano.”
He clenches his jaw as his dark eyes bore into mine. His scent is overwhelming, and I crave to fuck him too. My body misses his touch. Misses him.
“Luca,” Serena starts, expertly ignoring Adriano while I know her attention is focused on him. “I have two new members, judges. Tez told me to discuss membership with you. One of them is a regular of one of my girls.”
“Fine. Let’s go to Adriano’s office. We’ll discuss it there.” Luca says goodbye to Fallon, “Have fun, but answer your phone, dolcezza.”
She smiles at Luca and then holds up her key. “Shall we go, Cam?”
As Serena and Luca are heading back upstairs, Luca asks, “Adriano, coming?”
He’s scowling at me, and I rest my hands on his chest as Serena watches us.
“I’m just playing along with her game. After all, I learned from the best. From you.” I give him an open mouthed kiss, delving my tongue deep inside, causing him to groan.
He grips my hips roughly. “You’re like a tempting angel in white.”
“You and me...The angel and the devil,” I murmur, prying his hand loose, and stroll away.
“I thought you were in the doghouse,” I hear Luca say to Adriano.
“I am. She’s just learning to hide our grievances from the rest of the world,” he answers, sounding awed, yet bitter.
He loves that I’m learning, but he dislikes that I’m applying my new skills to him. It’s the conundrum we’re stuck in, being lovers and high ranking colleagues in the Syndicate.
***
“I’m going to start charging you if you keep summoning me,” Wade says, sliding into the booth opposite Fallon and me in this busy bar in the Loop.
“Puh-lease, you love helping us, because you love trouble,” Fallon taunts.
He rears back lazily. “This is not the way to get me into your corner, Michaels.”
She makes a face at him, and he smiles. These two have a bizarre, sibling-like bond.
“Anyway, what have you found out about Santino?” I request.
“Ask your man,” Wade retorts.
Shit! He’s been instructed by Adriano to shoot down my questions.
Knowing Wade has been reeled in by Adriano, I let that question go and reveal the real reason I wanted to speak with him. “I need a tail on Serena Bartoli, but it can’t be any of my soldiers or guards.”
He arcs a brow, prompting, “Because?”
“Because Adriano can’t find out, and she can’t link it to me.”
Wade simply stares at me as if he can’t figure me out. “Another one of your vigilante missions?”
“No, a vigilante mission would be if I followed her, but I’m not,” I defend.
“So I get to be the lucky one. What’s your dispute with her?”
“I’m positive that she’s up to something. She’s wheedling her way into the Syndicate via the sex club. And she’s been provoking me when no one’s around.”
“I’ll have an officer trail her. But Cam, like before, if there’s any danger, I will inform Adriano,” he cautions.
“Yes, yes.” I wave him off. “I’m telling you, she’s not to be trusted.”
“She has been provoking Cam constantly when they’re alone,” Fallon elaborates. “Only, neither Luca nor Adriano has seen it because Serena’s very sly about it.”
“As long as it’s not just based on jealousy.”
“It’s not. My gut instinct is screaming at me, Wade,” I confess with confidence. “Serena’s up to something.”
If I had just a tiny hint of a suspicion that Adriano was right and I was wrong, I would never have allowed her to drive this wedge between us. But now it’s happened, and I don’t know how to get through to Adriano anymore. And I think that someone as devious as Serena has something bigger in mind, even if Adriano can’t see it. Call it a woman’s intuition. She’s turned into a major threat, and I
need to discover what her endgame is because I fear it could have huge repercussions for all of us.
I’m positive of this as much as I’m positive that I love Adriano, and I’m only doing this to help us. In the end, he’ll forgive me for anything – I hope.
CHAPTER 14
Adriano
“Cam?” I yell, arriving at our loft and looking up to the second floor.
I’m met with silence as I light a cigarette and, while holding it between my teeth, I call Cam, who doesn’t answer, so I dial her guard. “Where is she?”
“She’s at a bar on Jackson Boulevard with Fallon, Rosalia, and Wade, Adriano.”
“What’s she doing?” I ask, annoyed that she didn’t even answer her phone when I’ve been fucking pining for her all night.
“Dancing and hanging out with them.”
“Is she drinking?”
“She only had one drink. She’s mostly watching over Rosalia and Fallon, sir,” he says with respect.
This guard likes Cam. Maybe a bit too much for my liking.
“Keep an eye on them.” I cut the call while descending in the elevator to the parking garage.
In the car, I contact Luca. “Amico, where are you?”
“I can tell that you’re in your car, so I’m probably on my way to the same place you’re going,” he replies.
“Jackson Boulevard?”
“Yeah. I don’t like Cam keeping Fallon out so late,” Luca teases. “So, giving Cam space didn’t work?”
“Fuck that. She had space all day. I’m taking her home,” I reply.
But when I reach my destination, Cam’s not calmly drinking with Fallon and Rosalia. No, these women are in some kind of dance-off where they’re rooting for some guys. Astonished at seeing this side of Cam, Fallon, and Rosalia, I stand off to the side of the bar and observe them. They’re uninhibited. Different from when they’re with us. Rosalia and Cam clap and cheer on a guy, whom I think is one of Rosalia’s friends, who’s breakdancing.
Luca steps over the threshold and spots me immediately.
For Cam (Chicago Syndicate Book 4) Page 9
