I could look into her eyes and tell that she was innocent. I didn’t need to slide my finger into her to find out.
A virgin. Exactly what I wanted her to be: Something I could break.
“Yes,” I replied. “I can make the transaction now if you’d like.”
A small smile crossed her face as she held out the tablet. “Will that be paid in cash or cryptocurrency?”
“Crypto.” I replied and took out my phone for her to scan. Twenty million.
Not that I gave a shit. I could make it back in a month’s time if I wanted.
The tablet pinged, and the auctioneer pulled it back. “Thank you for your purchase, Don Valentino. I trust that you will be pleased.”
“I already am,” I told her, turning and walking away before she could respond.
It was money well spent in my opinion. Once Carmine found out that I had his precious princess, he might do us all the favor of dying from a second stroke.
Let him. The old man held nothing over me anymore. Neither he nor the other assholes that had been in attendance tonight. They didn’t see me as their equal, and I doubted they ever would.
One look at my face, and they knew who I was—who and what I’d been before I became a Don.
The ones that I could kill, I did. I slit their throats, relishing in their horrified expressions as I ended them. The others knew I could ruin them, never once thinking that I would be in the position I was now.
To show them that their time was over.
Walking up the stairs, I felt the weight of what I had accomplished tonight pressing on my shoulders.
Old wounds uncovered. New wars to be waged.
By the end of it all, I planned to be the final one standing. Leda was just the beginning, a timely transaction that would benefit me well in my plans.
I was going to strip away all defenses, all comforts that she was used to until she had nothing and no-one else but me.
Carmine had plans for his daughter, plans that I was ruining. Soon, he would know who had taken his daughter, and I only wished I could be there to see it.
The wind tore at my coat as I exited the underground building and into the car. The drive to the Hudson was short, barely five minutes and we were walking towards the helicopter. Rocco waited for me at the door, and I allowed myself a glimpse of my purchase on the seat.
Mine. Leda D’Agostino was mine.
Climbing in, I didn’t acknowledge her huddled form next to me. My stomach lurched as the helicopter started to pull into the air. At this speed, we would be at my estate in a matter of minutes, and as much as I enjoyed showing off these days, I fucking hated flying.
Rocco caught my eye, and I gave him a single nod, letting him know that things were going exactly to plan. He would step up the protection now for all my capos and my estates, preparing for whatever war was inevitable.
It was coming; I could feel it in my bones, but it wasn’t like I hadn’t been through this shit before. I had been through far worse.
They tried to destroy me before, and now look at where and who the fuck I am.
I didn’t expect Leda to have the same happy ending as I did. She might be strong now, but I was going to wear her down.
Night after night.
A grin slowly danced on my lips.
I was going to enjoy this.
Chapter 8
Leda