He stood, slowly walking toward the damaged glass, pressing his fingers against the cracked portions. “I’m going to debrief the men. Then we’re going to have one of them pick up some food. What do you like? Italian? Pizza? Chinese?” When I didn’t respond right away, he glanced over his shoulder.

  As I’d seen in a fleeting glimpse before, a visceral look of longing crossed his face before it went blank once again. “I don’t care. I’m not hungry.”

  “You will eat. You need your strength.”

  I had a feeling there was no arguing with him and I doubted if he was going to tell me his plans. I was growing more curious about them, knowing just enough about my father’s businesses to know without direction, at least a few of the soldiers would go rogue. “Fine. I’m going to take a shower.” A knot had formed in my stomach the moment he’d walked into the room. It was steadily growing, my heart racing. I hated it. I loathed the feeling of being helpless while also craving something I couldn’t have. “I don’t really hate you.”

  “It doesn’t matter one way or the other if you do.”

  “Is that really the way you feel? You want me to dislike you?”

  He didn’t answer.

  “Okay. Then so be it.” I couldn’t take this. I had to shut down my emotions around him or I’d lose all sense of myself.

  “One more thing, Raleigh. We can disagree about anything. You can talk to me about anything. But you will never again challenge me in front of my men.”

  His men. He’d come into my life claiming my father’s house, his finances, his businesses, now his soldiers. “Understood, Mr. Powers. What’s next? Now that you’ve claimed everything else once belonging to my father. Are you going to claim his daughter as well?” I’d said it. I’d put it out there. I was shocked I’d done so, furious with myself for acting like a spoiled brat once again.

  He brought that out in me.

  As I’d anticipated, he didn’t answer. That was definitely for the best. Because if he had, I knew it would shatter the glass house he’d attempted to build around us.

  CHAPTER 7

  Maxwell

  “You’re all set inside the house,” Viper said from behind me.

  A full twenty-four hours had passed, and I was as much on edge as I’d been from minute one. I’d purposely stayed away from Raleigh, other than to check on her occasionally. It was necessary in order to keep from blurring the lines any further between us.

  I knew she was suffering given the upcoming funeral. I understood completely. At least Francesco had left for school without further incident, but I felt like he was a ticking timebomb ready to explode. I’d need to spend more time with him later.

  “Just waiting for the generator to arrive,” he added.

  There’d been so many things I should have said to her, more than I’d wanted to, but I hadn’t found the right words. Maybe there weren’t any. I took a gulp of scotch, still staring at the papers in front of me.

  “Stephen will finish up with the second casino late tonight, but I’m not certain Ethan will be able to get the nightclubs completely secure. They weren’t too bad though.”

  The way she’d felt in my arms had been incredible, pushing every boundary.

  “Are you listening to me?” Viper continued.

  I took another gulp. Then another.

  “Did you notice aliens landed just outside the estate? They have these huge ray guns.”

  “Huh?” I finally jerked my head up.

  He shook his head. “What the hell is so interesting in that new life of yours? You didn’t hear a thing I said.”

  “Yeah, I did.”

  “Then tell me.”

  I grinned. “You’re waiting on the generator for the house, everything else is ready. Stephen’s almost done with the casinos, but Ethan is going to be a few more hours. Did I miss anything?”

  “How the fuck do you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Observe everything that’s going on around you when you’re concentrating on ten other things?” Viper grinned as he walked closer.

  “One of us has to be talented,” I told him. I’d given most of the house employees a week off, which would give me a chance to have their backgrounds checked thoroughly. Any one of them could have been paid off by Killian for personal information, including regarding the ballet performance.

  “Fuck you. Can I have a drink?”

  “Help yourself. Now, I just need you to train the damn soldiers.”

  He poured a hefty amount of bourbon into a glass. “Are you shitting me? They can’t use the toys I brought them?”

  “You and I know some of what you brought aren’t toys.”

  “Yeah, and they damn well better not turn up on the black market either or my ass will be carted away to prison so fast I won’t be able to call an attorney.”

  “Hell, no. If one of them tries, they’ll pay a painful price.”

  As Viper walked closer, I could tell he had several questions on his mind. “You look beat.”

  “I haven’t slept much.”

  He glanced down at the desk, shifting around to my side and glancing over the bank statements. “Shit. That’s the kind of money made in the mafia?”

  “Tony Arturo was a very wealthy man.” I finally had a meeting with Tony’s accountant in a couple of days. I had the distinct feeling there were offshore accounts as well as copious amounts of cash. In addition, I wanted more information on the trust funds. They didn’t appear to be growing.

  “I need a raise,” Viper muttered.

  “Over my dead body,” I said, grinning.

  “That can be arranged.”

  The light rapping on the office door drew my attention. When I looked up to find Raleigh standing in the doorway, my body instantly reacted, my balls tightening at the same rate as my jaw. Dressed in her leotards, including her pointe shoes, or whatever the hell they were called, she literally took my breath away.

  What the fuck is wrong with you?

  The answer stood in front of me, her long eyelashes skimming across her cheeks every time she blinked.

  “Raleigh,” I said absently.

  “I’m sorry to interrupt, Mr. Powers, but I need to talk with you about something important.” The defiance in her voice only forced my cock against my zipper.

  Viper walked away from the desk to the other side of the expansive room, acting as if he couldn’t care less about our conversation. She watched his actions before advancing. “I was given an ultimatum by my director at the ballet. If I don’t come to rehearsal two days from now, I’ll be kicked down to a soloist, which means I won’t get another chance to perform as principal again for at least another year. By then, my career will start to fade.”

  “Wait a minute. There was a recent massacre that included the murders of several dancers and they’re holding practice now?”

  “From what I heard, everyone took a vote and wanted to continue.”

  Jesus. Christ. What the hell was wrong with people?

  My eyes drifted down the length of her before I could return my attention to the paperwork on the desk. “I’m sorry, Raleigh. I don’t speak ballet.”

  “I said,” she retorted, walking closer, “that I’d be demoted, which will all but end my career if you don’t allow me to return to the ballet studio the day after tomorrow to rehearse for an upcoming performance. If you want to be the sole reason you end my career, then please do let me know that right now. I’ll need time to figure out how to become an assassin.”

  Viper’s chortle forced me to raise an eyebrow and I shot him a nasty look. “How long is this rehearsal?”

  “Two or three hours. It depends on what kind of mood the director is in. He’s a surly bastard. I should be used to them by now.” Her eyes remained unblinking as she stared at me, and I gathered Viper’s continued muffled laughter had fueled her rebellion. She seemed pretty pleased with herself.

  Her insolence aside, I thought about her request and sighed. “I’ll take you myself. But you’ll need to deal with me remaining with you during this rehearsal.”

  “I’m sure Viktor will love that,” she mused. “Maybe you two can compare notes on how to be an asshole. But look on the bright side. At least you might get yourself a date, if you can stand the venomous snakes the girls really are.”

  I refused to take the bait.

  “Take it or leave it.”

  “Fine. I’ll take it. But we won’t be late because Viktor likes to make examples out of his pupils who dare enter his studio a minute past the start time.” She turned on her heel, but not before giving me a hard onceover just like I’d done to her.

  When she walked out, I took a deep breath.

  “She’s got your number,” Viper mused.

  “She’s angry her life has been interrupted. Nothing more.” There was much more, the flash of desire I’d seen in her eyes as electrified as mine.

  “Uh-huh,” Viper said as he swaggered closer. “You didn’t tell me the job came with benefits.”

  The look I gave him wasn’t just hard. It was explosive. “She’s my goddaughter.”

  He seemed taken aback, whistling after a few seconds. “Oh… fuck.”

  “Exactly.”

  After throwing a look over his shoulder, he moved closer. “Maybe I’m wrong, but it would seem the two of you have a thing for each other.”

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “Why? Because a man you haven’t seen in what, ten years asked you to be a godfather?”

  “Try almost twenty.”

  “Then what are you worried about?”

  I thought about his question. “Everything.”

  “Ahh. You really like this girl,” he chided. “There’s nothing wrong with that, Chaos.”

  He used my moniker when he found a way to get to me.

  “This is about protection. Leave it there.”

  He held up his hands. “If you say so, boss.”

  “As I said before. Fuck you. Just do your job.” When he winked, I growled. However, he knew me better than anyone. He’d picked my ass up out of the bottom of a bottle after I’d experienced the worst day in my life.

  “I’ll back off, but I haven’t seen you look at another woman the way you looked at Lisa. Until now.”

  “Leave Lisa out of this. Raleigh isn’t Lisa. She doesn’t look anything like her.”

  “I didn’t say they looked alike, Max. But she’s the only woman I’ve seen who can hold her own around you. The look on that girl’s face just told me an entire story in a few seconds.”

  “And that story is?”

  “She wants to take you on in a boxing match then after that, she’d love to fuck your brains out.”

  “My, aren’t you turning into a crude son of a bitch.”

  Frowning, he lifted his eyebrows. “I’m serious. Why don’t you just claim her.”

  “And that’s Neanderthal.”

  “Jesus. You can’t keep letting life pass you by. You work all the time, taking every dangerous operation. If you ask me, I think you’re trying to get yourself killed.”

  “That’s bullshit.”

  “Is it? You’re still blaming yourself for what happened. You refuse to take that chip off your shoulder.”

  “Let it go. I’m telling you. Just fucking let it go.”

  “Fine. But think about what I said. Now, you’re some mafia kingpin. That’s just… not you.”

  “Maybe it is. Have you ever thought about that?”

  He shrank back, lifting his glass. “Then here’s to a dangerous man finding his place.”

  As Gio walked into the room, I dragged my attention toward the man. “I’ll drink to that. Gio. Viper is going to show the men some techniques. Can you arrange that?”

  “Yeah, whatever you say, boss.” But he didn’t look too pleased. At least he wasn’t giving me shit.

  “I have a few calls to make.” I finished off my drink, heading out of the room, Viper’s words lingering in the back of my mind. I had no right to claim her or anyone else. Not after failing Lisa. As I headed to the other side of the house, lilting music caught my attention. I stood still, listening to the classical music, my gut churning, beads of sweat forming on the back of my neck. I wanted Raleigh. There was no denying the way I felt, but I couldn’t allow my feelings to get in the way of my job.

  Or so I continued to tell myself.

  There was no rationalizing the way I felt, the cravings that kept me awake at night. Other than the fact Raleigh had awakened something I thought long dead. But it needed to stay that way.

  At least for now.

  I was determined to walk past the studio, but the draw to watch her was far too strong. I found myself standing just outside the doorway, watching as she twisted and turned, moving onto her toes several times. She was beautiful, graceful in her moves, every action she took full of expression. When she made jump after jump, I wanted to be the one who caught her.

  I was so completely mesmerized in her performance that I hadn’t realized the music had stopped. Seconds later, she grabbed a towel and turned to face me. If I’d wanted to take her, I could do so. The way her eyes filtered down the length of my body ever so slowly told me that.

  My mind suddenly returned to the filthy things I wanted to do to her.

  Running my hands over her lithe body as I peeled away the leotard.

  Kissing her soft lips before thrusting my tongue into her mouth.

  Pressing my cock between her long legs seconds before she wrapped them around my hips.

  And fucking her for hours on end, taking her several times.

  Fuck.

  I’d lost all sense of professionalism.

  “Do you need something?” she asked as she walked closer, cocking her head as she studied me intently.

  “What time do you need to be at the studio?”

  “Eleven.”

  “I’ll have you there in plenty of time.” Then I’d kick Viktor’s ass. A moment of raw jealousy swept through me. I’d never been one to have a green-eyed monster on his back, but right now, I could taste the need to pummel the man in the face.

  That meant I’d not only crossed the line of decency.

  I’d demolished it.

  “Thank you. That means a lot to me.”

  As I walked away, I sucked in my breath. I was a fucking asshole if not a complete monster. I headed up the stairs, moving past her open door toward mine. I’d refused to take the master bedroom. I wasn’t the man of the house.

  Not yet anyway.

  Something pulled at my curiosity, and I backtracked, walking into her room under the guise of checking the new security on her two windows. Viper had done a good job in a limited amount of time. I owed the entire team one. And they’d never let me forget it.

  Satisfied with the work he’d done, I turned to leave. Maybe I’d drop by the accountant’s office after Raleigh was finished. When I noticed a book on her bed, something drew me to it. Now I was a snoop? Fantastic. Even after chastising myself, I picked it up, flipping through a couple of pages. It was a journal, not a book.

  And it was far too personal.

  As I started to toss it on the bed, I noticed my name written in red ink. Now I was curious how much she hated me.

  When I read the single paragraph, the beast inside of me clawed his way to the surface.

  That helped me make a tough decision.

  After hunting down Tony’s killer, I’d follow my original plans.

  And get the hell out of Raleigh’s life before I destroyed it.

  Raleigh

  Desire.

  I’d seen it in his eyes both in his office and in the studio. Now, as I stood in the stairwell, I cringed knowing I’d not only left my door open but the journal on the bed. It had been careless of me. As Max left my room, I held my breath, already lightheaded. For all the hatred I’d expressed, ignoring him when I could over the last twenty-four hours, I wasn’t capable of doing it any longer.

  When he headed for his room, I walked into mine, closing the door with a soft click. As I stared at the book, a shiver tore through me. I had no doubt he’d read at least a few pages. Now he’d know what I really felt about him.

  And how much I wanted to have his fingers caressing my skin, his mouth capturing mine. I closed my eyes, angry with myself for being so stupid. I couldn’t imagine what he thought of me.

  As I walked to the window, the angry gray skies of the late afternoon suited my mood. Tomorrow I’d bury my father, the end of a legacy. Then what? A new life? Was I supposed to take over as head of the corporation or was Maxwell already in position, ready to pretend to be something he couldn’t be?

  The questions I had were far too difficult to contemplate right now. I wanted nothing more than to go to sleep, waking up weeks before, trying to convince my father that I didn’t want him to come to the performance. Would he have listened to me?

  I crawled onto my bed, glancing at the journal. Then I shoved it into my drawer. There were no words left inside of me. None.

  Maybe it was time to pray for salvation.

  Was it possible for a girl who came from such a dark, evil place?

  Maxwell

  Death.

  How many Marines had I seen die in action during my military career? Dozens. I’d held several in my arms, giving them some small amount of comfort before they passed, their eyes vacant to the world around them. I’d allowed my rage to take over, performing my duties without question, killing indiscriminately because it was necessary. I’d been shot three times, one bullet almost ending my life. And still, it never ceased to amaze me how the aspect of fading into the darkness brought out strange behavior.

  Today was no exception.

  As storm clouds rolled through, a light drizzle continuing since morning, a group of almost one hundred stood silently in the inclement weather in order to pay their respects to a man who was hated, feared, and revered all at the same time. I recognized some of the faces given the missions done through my security firm, violent men who controlled various criminal organizations.

  I sensed there were others, including high-ranking officials who’d made it a point to attend just to garner a sense of accomplishment. There were only a few people who were genuinely upset, tears in their eyes.