apart.” “How?” He releases my wrist and I stumble backward. “How do you think ?” I shrug. “Beats me.” He stands up and yanks on my arm until I fall on my knees. “Nothing stirs up a friendship between three men like a pretty girl does.” I can hardly believe my ears. “You want me to sleep with them?” He clicks his tongue and runs his thumb across my lips. “No. Never . Your pussy is for me and me only . You know that. Don't ever let me catch you giving another man what's all mine. You hear me?” I nod and relief flows through me, until he says, “But you will give them your mouth.” His thumb presses on my lower lip until my mouth opens and he slides his thumb inside. “You will seduce them, suck them off and make them think you're the next best thing since sliced bread. I want them to fight over you, ready to tear each other's hearts out.” “What if Ricardo catches on?” “Then you distract him until he's so drunk off you he can't think straight. Until he's willing to sacrifice his 'so called brothers' and takes his rightful place in the family. Trust me, I know my son. A beautiful woman always does the trick. Hell, he was almost putty in your hands when he thought you were about to cry before.” “What makes you think I can accomplish all this?” “Bambina, you managed to make the most feared mob boss in all of New York fall in love with you. And I don't even like anyone. I think you can manage to seduce a few young men until they go crazy.” “Are you sure about this?” “Positive.” “I guess I don't really have a choice then. When will I see you?” “I'll be out of town for a little while on business but I'll make time for you when I can and I'll call you a few times a week so you can keep me updated.” “Will you miss me?” He picks me up off the ground and kisses my forehead. “You know I will.” “Okay. I'll do it for you, mio amore.” “Good girl.” I look at my suitcase but he grabs my jaw and forces me to look at him. “This is not a vacation. You're on a special assignment, Lucianna.” I nod but his face hardens and his fingers dig into my skin. ”And I meant what I said—do not fuck them. If I even suspect otherwise, I swear to God...I'll slit your goddamn throat and kill the motherfucker.” I swallow hard. “I understand. Don't worry, Bruno. I would never do that to you.”
Chapter 3 (Ricardo)
I shake my head as I watch her teeter and totter to my car in her high heels. She's so wasted she looks like a baby deer taking her very first steps. I knew all that wine was going to catch up to her before we left. I dig my keys out of my pocket and a hand clamps down on my shoulder. “Wait a minute, son.” I grit my teeth because I hate it when he calls me ' son '. I swear he only uses the term to get under my skin. And to remind me exactly who I am. I turn around and face him. “Can you make it quick? I'm trying to make it back to the city before the end of the weekend traffic hits.” The Hampton's are swamped during weekends in the summer and making the drive back with a drunk girl as my passenger isn't particularly my idea of fun. Christ, she better not puke in my mustang . “This will only take a second.” His gaze drifts to my car where his girlfriend is currently sitting shotgun with her head in her hands. “I'll be going to Italy for a month on business. I trust that you'll take care of the club for me when I'm gone?” “Yeah,” I tell him. Why he's even bothering to tell me this shit, is beyond me, however, I am happy to hear that he'll be out of my hair for a little while. His gaze turns hard when his eyes shift back to me. “I trust that you'll take care of my bambina for me as well?” “Pardon?” “I need you to take care of her for me. This is the longest I'll be away from her and I'm worried.” “So why don't you take her with you?” He looks in her direction again. “She's never been