Dino’s grin widened, his tone annoyingly bright. “You’re welcome.”
Even though I was irritated, I couldn’t deny it. Dino had done a great job, which pained me to admit.
“Thank you,” I gritted out, voice rough and clipped.
I let out a long, controlled breath, pushing Dino’s cheerfulness to the back of my mind. The numbers were clear, the theft undeniable. Whoever had been skimming from my businesses would pay, and soon.
I stacked the documents neatly, my fingers tightening around the edges. Plans would have to be made, moves calculated, and a message sent that no one crossed me without consequence.
Outside, the faint hum of the city carried on, indifferent. Inside, I let the weight of what I’d just uncovered settle over me. And beneath it all, a spark of anticipation flickered. I was ready for what came next.
I stepped back from the table, letting the shadows of the warehouse swallow me as I prepared to turn discovery into control.
Chapter 6
Felix
It was never a good day when I got a call from my lawyer. That meant I was flying a little too close to the sun with the cops that weren’t on the paid roster, people had talked a little too freely, or someone had seen too much. So, preparing for the worst, I let out an exhale as I picked up.
“Hey John.”
“Mr. Marchioni,” he said, ever the professional. “This is the final reminder: you need to take residence at your deceased grandmother’s house today.”
Today?! Fuck. I swear I had just had that conversation with Tessa like twelve hours ago. I guess my sense of time was a bit off. Or maybe the universe was messing with me.
“Yeah,” I said, pressing the bridge of my nose. “I’m on it.”
“Oh?” he asked, trying to mask the doubt in his voice. “Is the status… suitable for living in?”
“It’s good enough,” I responded.
Although I wasn’t exactly sure. I hadn’t seen the apartment since I last talked to Tessa and told her to get the primary bedroom spotless ASAP.
I hung up before he could say another word.
Fuck. I took a moment to soak in the opulence of my surroundings, the sleek furniture and the vibrant artwork that now felt like a distant memory. Moving from this luxury apartment into a dilapidated brownstone would be a step down in every conceivable way.
Now that I would be surrounded by clutter and filth, there was no way I could bring girls home. Fuck, why would I even want to? I’d be living with the most beautiful girl in all of NYC.
Which might prove problematic. Yeah, I wanted to fuck her, no question. But then she’d be around. Everywhere. I’d always used girls, had my fun, and tossed them aside like garbage. But Tessa… there was something about her that just grabbed me. Something I couldn’t let go of. I had to have her.
I groaned and rubbed my eyes. Well, no delaying it any longer. I tossed clothes into duffel bags, shoved shoes and essentials into boxes, and made sure the few valuables I couldn’t risk leaving behind were tucked away. Within an hour, the luxury apartment felt emptier than ever, echoing with the silence of a life I was temporarily abandoning. Keys in hand, I climbed into my car, the engine growling to life as I drove toward the crumbling house that would now be my home.
The drive wasn’t long, but every red light felt like a countdown. My apartment, my comfort zone, disappeared behind me as the city blurred past. When I finally pulled up, the building looked even worse than I remembered. There was peeling paint, broken steps, and weeds sprouting from between the pavement.
I juggled the bags in one hand, my keys in the other, and let out a slow exhale. Lock clicked, door groaned, and with a shove, I pushed it open. The musty air hit me immediately.
“Welcome home,” I muttered under my breath, stepping inside.
Within seconds, Tessa’s head appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Oh,” she said, tilting her head. “It’s only you.”
“Careful,” I said, letting the sarcasm drip. “Try not to fall head over heels. Wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”
She scowled at me. “I was going to thank you for the groceries, but I think I’ve changed my mind.”
“If you die of hunger I won’t have a clean house,” I said simply. “But if the primary bedroom isn’t clean, I’ll probably kill you myself.”
