Page 48 of Ruthless Sinner
Way back in the old days, they’d use these because only those trained to would understand the markings on them.
The four dots in the middle represent Igor’s signature. The two to the side with the dragon and Russian symbols in a row tell me he wants me to kill Davide Antonella, the consigliore of the Antonella family, because he murdered the wife of one of our brigadiers and their baby.
Motherfucker. This should be no problem for me.
I know exactly where to find Davide from doing business with him in the past. The Antonella family won’t retaliate either because if they know that we’re aware of what he did, they would have already written him off.
As soon as I put the contract piece back inside the envelope and place it in my safe, the rattling of cups from the kitchen catches my attention and I turn around. Next comes the whooshing sound of my espresso machine.
As I don’t expect Fern, my cleaning lady, until later today, I know that can only be one person. So, when I walk into the kitchen and find Virgo inside making a cup of coffee, I’m not surprised.
“Heard you come downstairs, so I felt I should put this on.” He tilts his head toward the machine.
Apart from Fern, he’s the only other person I allow keys to this place. He took care of my bills when I was away.
“To what do I owe the pleasure this early, my friend?” I glance at the clock on the wall. It’s barely nine. Usually, Virgo doesn’t grace the world with his presence until at least ten. I hope he hasn’t come to check on me because of Serenity.
“You forgot to sign these.” He points to the brown envelope on the breakfast table. “The Markovas need all the contracts over by ten AM., as in the next hour.”
“Shit.” My shoulders slump and I mentally kick myself. This is for the high-stakes poker game at the club on Friday night. My signature is to release the money we’ll need on site for the night. The paperwork was on my desk, but I completely forgot to sign it.
“Other things on the brain?” His tone is accusatory, and so is the look he’s giving me.
“No.” We both know it’s a lie, and that I forgot to sign the paperwork because I was either thinking about Serenity or with her.
“No?” He fixes me an espresso and hands it to me, then makes one for himself too.
“No.” I walk over to the table, pull the documents out of the envelope, and sign them. “There. Done. All in good time, too.”
“Uh-huh.” He glances at the door as if he’s expecting someone else to come through. “So, she’s not here?”
I don’t bother to pussyfoot around him and ask who because I know who he means.
“She’s not here, Virgo.”
“And you didn’t sleep with her?” He raises a brow and looks doubtful.
“I didn’t.”
“Then there is still hope.”
I shift my weight from one foot to the other. “Virgo, I’m not a fool. I already told you I wouldn’t fuck things up, and I’m not.”
“Alright. Just checking. My neck’s on the line. Just want to make sure things are as they should be.” He seems more at ease at my reassurance.
“Things are exactly as they should be. I’m not seeing her again. Fascination over.”Liar, liar, fucking liar. Even as I’m talking, I’m still thinking about last night.
I sip on my coffee, hoping he won’t notice. But he does.
“You alright with that?” His dark brown eyes bore into me.
“I’m fine. There are more important things to worry about. Like her father.”
“You couldn’t be more right.” He smirks. “Anyway, I gotta go. The old man needs my technical help. Have to show my face from time to time so my prick of a cousin doesn’t think he can steal my legacy.”
“Seriously?” I give him a sidelong glance. I didn’t think he was still battling with this.
It all began when we decided to go into business together and he left the oil company. Unlike my father, who liked the idea that I wanted my own empire, Virgo’s father raised hell and made his cousin, who Virgo can’t stand, the CFO of the company.