Chapter 5

LUCAS

The heels of my handmade-Italian leather shoes echoed on the gleaming marble floor as I marched into my living room. I tore off my suit jacket and ripped off my tie, flinging them on the armrest of my leather couch.

I came so close to striking a woman, this morning, something I’d never ever done in my thirty-one years of walking this earth. But Camille had a way of bringing out my worst side, with no limitless effort.

“Here you go, Capo,” Nico pressed the whisky tumbler in my hand, placing the crystal decanter on the side-table. He knew me too well. “Should I tell Rosa to make you something for lunch?” He asked. Whenever I was in a mood, my appetite vanished.

“No.” Staring through the window, I took a long drink of the amber liquid. “You may take the rest of the day off.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea boss,” he disputed my decision. “Not when Armando is out there, thirsting for your blood.”

“I can handle him.”

“I don’t trust him, Lucas,” he said, a sullen, grim look on his handsome square face. “He was your best friend. It was sticking his finger in your face when he was sleeping around with your wife behind your back.”

“Don’t forget that he was using her to get information in order to have a hostile takeover of my empire,” I added with wry amusement.

“She allowed herself to be used, boss. For all we know, she was the brains behind it.” His abhorrence at visiting my past hurts reflected in his tone and tense shoulders. “We should have taken him out the night we found him in bed with your wife,” he sneered. “We should have taken them both out, boss. They disrespected you. If this gets out-”

“It won’t!” I roared, slamming the glass on the table.

“Let me end him boss? Please?”

“No, Nico,” I restrained my loyal bodyguard from shedding more blood. “It will be too obvious if we do it now. Let’s wait for the perfect moment.”

“I can see the wheels turning in your head…?”

“Leave me,” I dismissed him. “I have a lot to ponder on.”

“You’re going to play them against each other aren’t you?” he smiled, slowly nodding his head in approval. “Let me help you, boss? Please?”

“What you need to do is go away, like I told you to,” I placate him with visible irritation. “Go.”

“The boys downstairs said I should tell you Camille is demanding an audience,” he said, glancing at his phone.

“Send her away,” I replied without hesitation. “I don’t want to hear what that Delilah has to say after her performance this morning.”

“Don’t allow her to manipulate you, Capo,” he advised cautiously. “I know you have a soft spot for her but-”

“That will be all, Nico,” I bit out. Sometimes he was too loyal, it annoyed me. “Go.” I didn’t need to be reminded of my mistakes right now. “Is Katherine here yet?”

“Yes,” he said, towering over me. “She was dropped off this morning and waiting for you in the guest bedroom.”

“Good.” After this encounter I would need to let off steam and Katherine always knew how.

I stood at the window, watching the traffic whiz by and smiled when an idea took shape in my head.

I knew exactly how to turn this thing around. If everything went according to plan I would squash it before it even went far.

The next morning we went back to the hearing and I requested a private audience with Drew’s boss, William Belding.

Drew Ellington was in for a nasty surprise.

She knocked twice and strode in confidently. Heat settled in his groin and desire raced through my veins at the sight of her. She wore a peach-pink silk blouse, black stilettos and a matching pencil skirt with a slit up the side, which gave just a glimpse of leg that went on forever. I swallowed down a groan and shifted in my seat as I remembered maneuvering those legs like a gear stick.

“Miss Ellington,” I drawled the greeting. My eyes traveled from her silky dark hair that was pulled up in a sexy chic chignon, settling on the necklace dangling between her cream full breasts.

“Mr Mancini,” she replied with a curt nod. Lowering her frame in the visitor’s chair, she crossed her legs, revealing more of her creamy flesh and I stifled a shiver of arousal. “You wanted to see me?” she directed at her boss.

“There’s no easy way for me to say this Drew…” He looked out his expansive window for a long moment, pensive, before returning his attention to her. “I have to take you off this case.”

“Why?” Her eyes widened and then narrowed as she turned them on me.

“Mr Mancini, has just informed me that you and he are somewhat familiar…” He looked uncomfortable and his gaze shifted absently to the cabinets behind us.

“And you believed him?”

“I…” he frowned and glanced at me. “Are you saying he fabricated the truth?”

“Yes.” The blatant lie rolled off her tongue like a decadent dessert. “The first time I met this man was at yesterday’s disaster of a hearing.”

“Mr Mancini?” The boss leaned back with relief, running his hand through his shock of grey hair. “Anything to say?”

“His wife warned me that he would try to do this,” she scoffed and shook her head, in her full fierce attorney mode. “He is deliberately trying to derail the case by making such baseless allegations.”

“Are you saying you’ve never met Mr Mancini before yesterday?” Belding asked for formalities sake. “Please be aware that lying to me will have serious repercussions.”

“I’ve never met the man before,” she avowed quite convincingly, avoiding my gaze. Arguing would only make me look like a delusional fool. “He must have mistaken me for someone else. I don’t frequent nightclubs. You know me better, William.”

“I was surprised but I needed to ask,” he shrugged, raising his hands up.

All I could do was laugh. She had thwarted my semblance of a plan with her sharp mind. No wonder she was the best in the business. She was a pretty good liar. “I’m sorry for wasting your time, Mr Belding.” I said, conceding defeat as I unfolded my tall frame from the chair. “I think I mistook her for someone else. The resemblance was pretty striking.” I smiled at her knowingly, my eyes mocking her as I straightened my suit jacket. “Please accept my most sincere apologies Miss Ellington.”

“Let’s just say it was a case of mistaken identity, shall we?” Her eyes held mine, daring me to contradict her statement.

“You are too gracious, cara mia,” I said with a bow, before turning to the silver-haired man. “Thank you for your time, Belding.”

Drew Ellington was a formidable opponent. I had underestimated her, thinking that my revelation would have her honor bound to confess all and walk away. Ulimately leaving Camille in a lurch. She was the only attorney that had agreed to take on the case without a hefty down-payment upfront. My soon to be ex was broke. I made sure to cut her off.

I needed to move to the next step.