Dante didn’t bother to ask what. He was pretty sure he knew what it was. His dad didn’t need Dante to speak to start a monologue on anything mafia related.
“Don Calo and us talked, and we think it’s time you boys take a more active role in the business. You boys each have your little area, but if you guys are to take over, you wouldn’t know what to do. The Don has Lucca, but you’re like a second son to him. You and Lucca get along; you could be his right hand when he takes over.”
Dante took a deep breath and bit his tongue before he spoke. He had told his dad in what had to be a billion different ways that he didn’t want to take over or move up into any more of a leadership role. It wasn’t what he wanted for himself. Especially with the job offer at the brokerage firm on the table.
His dad would without a doubt have a fit if he knew he had plans to leave the family. It was rare for someone to leave on their own.
“Dad, I don’t want to be Lucca’s right-hand man. I want—”
“That’s my boy.” He slapped his hand down on his thigh. “You want to be the top. I knew you had it in you. I was worried when we sent you boys to college that you would all get soft.”
College hadn’t made them soft. But it had shown them a different world. And for Dante, it was a world he was more interested in being in. There he had been seen as a whole person. Not just as the numbers guy. His teachers pushed him hard and encouraged him to continue to learn.
It had been a struggle to get his dad to let him go to get his master’s in business and finance. But his uncle, Don Calo, had prevailed because it helped them to grow their real estate businesses as well as their other holdings.
He had already been cleaning up his businesses within the family and had branched out to doing other people’s books. He also worked on others’ investment portfolios. He was a businessman at heart. He loved to invest and increase his and his client’s portfolios.
“Dad, college can’t make you soft. Look at all the improvements we’ve made so far and that have increased the family bottom line.”
“True, but you think we don’t know that you shun our ways. The protection money side is steady. I’ve checked the books.”
“You fucking checked up on me?” It just slipped out. The forbidden word. His father had cut out the tongues of men who had disrespected him with “that street language.” He wasn’t immune to punishment.
“Watch your mouth. I won’t hesitate to correct disrespect.”
Dante nodded his head. “Sorry.”
“Have you been in the field?”
“I have been. I checked on some of our other properties.”
“Good boy.” His dad slapped his thigh, and placed both feet on the floor. “Have you acquired any new money-laundering clients.”
“No, but I have feelers out.”
“Well, work on it. The amount of money being washed has decreased. If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were trying to clean up the business and get rid of the family way.”
Dante knew not to look guilty or to divert eye contact. He kept his back straight and his face relaxed. He didn’t flinch at the penetrating stare his father was giving him.
Then there was that call he had gotten. He needed to do something with the information.
“Dad, I can’t talk right now. I’m expecting a dancer to come up that I need to talk to.”
His dad took the hint. He couldn’t outright tell his dad to leave, but this was the next best way.
****
Dante listened to footsteps approach before his door opened. He watched as Madison walked in. She had changed back into what she had on at the bar. He allowed his eyes to roam over her body again. Her skin flushed at his look. He leaned back in his chair.
“Take a seat.” He inclined his head at the chair closest to his desk.
“I’d rather not.” She stood rooted by the doorway.
He studied her face. “Then I guess it is good that I don’t care what you want. Take a seat.”
Her jaw clenched before she released a huff and sat down. She was pretty, not as leggy as he liked them but her golden-brown skin, so different from his own, drew him to her. An inner light and glow that he had first believed had been the stage lights, but it was her own natural glow. An innocence that was strange to find in a strip club, let alone in a stripper.
“See that wasn’t that hard, was it?” He leaned back in his chair and angled it towards her.
