'That's impossible," my father added. 'The security at this estate is already sadly lacking. Ryder would be in mortal danger here."

'I think Ryder's right," Geneva chimed in. 'He should come to stay here for a while. It's only fair."


Everyone in the room whipped around to stare at her, including me. Nico did the same thing.

'I won't allow this," Levi countered. 'Ryder has already violated the sanctity of this house by breaking in uninvited, invading your bedroom…"

'How am I supposed to take his proposal seriously if I don't get to know him?" she asked. 'Charles's doing it. Ryder should do it too."


'You shouldn't be taking his proposal seriously at all," Levi growled.

'I don't approve." My father waved toward Nico. 'One of these idiots could make another mistake that could cost my son his life."


Nico took a threatening step toward my father, but Geneva stopped him by laying her hand on his massive arm.

'I insist," she went on. 'If you want me to consider Ryder's proposal at all, he has to come stay here… but I warn you, Don Marco. If Ryder does anything untoward during his stay, it will mean open warfare between our families, and Ryder will be the first casualty." She took her hand significantly off of Nico's arm. 'We'll send him home to you in pieces."

'How dare you!" my father hissed, but I couldn't stop staring at her. This woman was on fire. I couldn't wait to get somewhere alone with her.

Levi laughed in my father's face. 'Well, Don Marco? We'll see if your wayward son can behave himself for a week under someone else's roof without you telling him what to do."

My father glared back at him. 'If anything happens to him, I'll be holding you responsible."

'I hope so," Levi rumbled. 'Our families have been pussyfooting around each other for far too long. I would love to meet you on the battlefield and send your pathetic clan back to Italy where you belong. You aren't honorable enough to do business in New York, and all the families know it."

My father spun away on his heel and stormed out without taking the customary farewell, but I kept gaping at Geneva.

She shone with an inner light. Every word coming out of her mouth made it more obvious.

She really must be her father's daughter if she threw down a threat like that on one of the city's biggest dons. I couldn't even be angry that she made that threat against my life.

This woman was going to make the most perfect mob wife anyone could ask for—that on top of what I already knew about her sexual responsiveness.

My heart leapt. I was going to stay here with her. We were going to spend time alone together. That would give me more than enough time to show her what might develop between us. The thought electrified me.

My brothers filed out of the house after my father. I had to shake myself to leave the room, but just before I reached the door, Nico rushed me.

He seized my arm, leaned in, and hissed low in my ear. 'You come to stay here, asshole, and I'll cut your motherfucking throat the very first chance I get. Understand? You're a dead man."

He released me and retreated to Geneva's side, but the seething rage in his expression only got blacker by the second. I would definitely need to sleep with a gun under my pillow every night I spent in this house.

He stayed in the office with Geneva and Levi. That left me, my father, and my brothers to return to the driveway where the limo waited for us.

'We'll send your things over later," my father was saying. 'Just make sure you don't give the consigliere any cause to complain about your behavior."

I smiled to myself. 'Don't worry. I won't."

'Keep your eyes open at all times, my son. Be on watch at all times in case they go back on their word."

'They won't." Levi Evangelista would never go back on his word.

Geneva's behavior convinced me more than anything else. She was going to give me a real chance. Could she be as excited as I was by that visit I paid to her room? Had she been thinking about me ever since?

Hot blood rushed to my cock just imagining it, but I couldn't get distracted by that right now. I would have plenty of time for that later when no one was around to interfere, especially not Nico.

My father turned to the limo. The chauffeur opened the passenger door to let Enzo and Ricky climb inside.

My father sidled over to get in too. My attention already wandered back to Geneva and all the wonderful things we were going to do in her upstairs bedroom.

My father shocked me back to reality by grabbing my arm and pulling me in close. 'Listen, my son. It's critical that you marry this woman. Do you understand? All our plans depend on it. You must secure this marriage at all costs. Failure is not an option."

'What plans?"

'As soon as you marry her, all her property and the Levine family assets will pass to us. Then we'll discard her and cut off everyone who ever worked for Don Alonzo or Consigliere Evangelista."

'But… what about the alliance?" I whispered. 'What about joining our empires into one?"

'Forget all that! As soon as we dump Geneva Levine, you'll be free to marry someone else, and we'll ride off into the sunset with all her money and territory. We'll destroy her and leave her in the gutter. We'll absorb the Levine empire as our own and wipe our old enemy off the map."