chapter 5

Angelo As Vittoria is escorted out of the office, I walk to my desk and take a seat behind it. My eyes flick to Giorgio, who looks like he’s about to shit himself. He was only twenty-one when he took over from Tony, but during the past seven years, he hasn’t done half the work Tony used to do for me. He also has a gambling problem that’s starting to cost me money. “I hear you like spending time at Fallen Angels,” I mutter. The strip club was the first business I opened, so I have a soft spot for the establishment. The club has three sections. Heaven, where customers can only watch the girls dance, and Hell, where everything goes. The gambling room is in the third section, called Purgatory. Needless to say, the place brings in a fortune. “Yes, sir,” Giorgio says. When he aims for one of the chairs by my desk, Tiny places a hand against the man’s chest before shaking his head at him. No one sits in my presence. Well, unless your last name is Rizzo, La Rosa, Torrisi, Falco, or Vitale.“What is his tab standing at?” I ask. I know the exact amount, but I don’t want to give Giorgio the impression I have any interest in his life. “Just shy of three hundred thousand,” Tiny answers. Lifting an eyebrow, I shake my head. Giorgio begins to sweat, the drops beading on his forehead and running down his temples. “I’ll settle the tab soon.” “Yes, you will,” I say. “Today.” His eyes go wide as saucers. “I can’t get the money that quick.” With zero mercy on my face, I mutter, “That sounds like your problem.” Tiny takes a threatening step toward Giorgio, which has him rambling, “I’ll get the money. I just need a month.”My eyes narrow on the fucker. His scared gaze darts between Tiny and myself, then he adds, “I’m the only family Tori has left. Please give me a month. I promise I’ll get the money.” I’ve heard that before. Usually, right before I kill someone. But the debt is not the reason Giorgio is standing in front of me. If it were, he’d be dead already, and truth be told, tomorrow would’ve been his last day if it weren’t for his little sister.Vittoria Romano.I’ve been so busy I haven’t realized the girl blossomed into a beautiful woman.I’m used to people looking at me with fear, but seeing terror in Vittoria’s eyes had my cock hardening at the speed of light, which was an unusual reaction for me.I wonder what it would be like to bend her to my will. I have a healthy sex drive, but lately, all the women seem to blur together. It’s become boring as fuck. There’s also the matter of my uncle, who’s been nagging that it’s time for me to take a wife.Then, the scared little fawn appeared in front of me, and her doe eyes had my pulse racing faster.“Vittoria is twenty-three,” I mention.Giorgio does a double take before his face lights up with relief. “Yes.”“She’s of marrying age.” “Yes.” His head bobs up and down.“I’m just waiting until she’s twenty-five before arranging a marriage for her.” Finding the fucker funny, I let out a rare chuckle.“What makes you think you’re allowed to arrange a marriage for her?” I lift a hand and wave at the desk. “Did I miss the part where you’re the one in charge?” Giorgio’s eyes widen again. “N-no, sir.” Why wait until she’s twenty-five? I push the thought to the back burner. Tiny can look into Vittoria’s personal life after I’ve dealt with her brother.Resting my elbows on the desk, I lean forward. “You’re not to arrange a marriage for Vittoria without my blessing.” I want my fill of the woman before she’s passed off to whoever I deem good enough.