For Cam (Chicago Syndicate Book 4) (11 page)

We’re both breathing heavily, but I’m puffing like a bull.

Angrily, Adriano grabs my face and steals a kiss, trying to seduce me. Usually, in situations like this, we argue, we fuck, and we make up. But this time, my fury is overpowering, so I wrench away from him.

“No, don’t try to seduce me,” I warn. “It won’t work. Don’t you see how she’s coming between us?”

“No, I don’t. This is all your paranoia. You need to stop this!” Adriano’s muscles ripple from annoyance.

“I’m not paranoid. I can’t believe you still think this is all about jealousy. Serena has an agenda, and you’re helping her. I will not tolerate your not coming home because you’re too busy with the sex club. And with
her
. You can sleep on the fucking couch!” I trudge right past him.

Without the slightest warning, his fingers curl around my bicep and he twirls me so that I stumble back against his hard chest. Adriano’s black eyes glare down into mine. “I will not sleep on the couch, and you will stay here and talk to me!”

Shoving him back with all my power, I manage to startle him enough to release me. “No!
Now
, you can wait until I’m ready to talk to you again.” And I bound up the stairs.

“Camilla,” he shouts, but I ignore him and scramble into bed.

I hear Adriano chucking an item against the wall in defeat, and then it’s silent. However, he doesn’t come upstairs. Closing my eyes, I fight valiantly to keep my tears from falling while I wonder how unbreakable we truly are.

Adriano

––––––––

I
sink down onto the sofa and lean forward with my elbows on my thighs and drop my head into my hands. I’ve completely lost my grip on Cam within the span of two weeks. I can pinpoint when it started: with Serena.

Apart from Cam’s distrust, which irks me, we’re miscommunicating constantly. I love her. Yet, in the meantime, I’m making her miserable. It’s affecting me in a way I’ve never encountered before. I should’ve called or texted; I’m not denying that, but she needs to handle the demands of my new position better, and so do I. And I warned her it would be difficult. During these times, she should be calming me, not riling me. I should be reassuring her, not adding to her suspicions by not returning her calls. I admit that this unendingly busy schedule is eating up too much of my time. But I honestly believe that her concerns are unfounded and feeding her resentment toward a situation that doesn’t even exist. And even if Serena does want more from me, I can resist her.

I furiously rake my hair back and eye her empty glass on the coffee table. In a rush of frustration, I hurl the glass against the window. The act doesn’t soothe my nerves whatsoever.

Without having any solution at hand, I traipse up the floating staircase.

Cam’s in a restless sleep as I watch her through the glass wall of the adjacent bathroom while I get out of my clothes. After a hot shower, I don’t bother to trim my beard and dress in clean black trousers and a navy dress shirt.

Before I leave, I stand by the bed. Bending down, I place a feather light kiss on her head. Today, I’ll give her some space while I cool off myself. But I’m not sure I’m able to give her what she wants right now. I must finish the work I’ve started. Meanwhile, I’ll instruct my soldiers who keep an eye on her to ensure she doesn’t spot them so that she feels that I trust her. I’ll not allow Cam to slip any further away from me.

With that resolve, I speed between high-rises to the club in the pouring rain that mirrors my mood perfectly.

***

L
uca’s seated across from my desk, sipping his coffee while I attempt to repair any damage from what happened between us.

I inhale a deep breath, realizing that I need Luca as underboss back in my corner.

“What did you do yesterday?” I ask.

“I spent the day with Fallon. It was actually quite nice to have a day off.” His voice is even, not a trace of bitterness. “You?”

“Busy at the sex club. A minor altercation with one of the women, but Serena handled it. Look, Luca, I stand behind my statement that you were out of line, but I’m not dismissing you. What if the roles were reversed, and I had supported an idea of Fallon’s without your knowledge? What would your first reaction be? Forget that Cam’s stronger. Think of her just as my girlfriend. How would you feel if it had been Fallon?”

“I see your point, and you’re right,” he admits. “But don’t forget that Cam was trained by James when he was boss, and she’s learned a lot from him. Sometimes, she has good suggestions and we should listen to her. Cam’s clever.”

“I realize that all too well, and it scares the fuck out of me. I feel like I’m constantly in a catch-22. As a
Capo,
she needs responsibilities, but as my girl, I want to lock her away. She’s uncontrollable. And while that was exciting at first, it’s fucking bothering me more every day.”

“Is that truly what’s bothering you? That she’s uncontrollable? Because I think that’s exactly what you love about her. Isn’t the actual problem that you don’t know how to protect her while you’re this busy? She has to adapt to this new situation, but so do you.” He sets his mug on the armrest of his chair.

“Perhaps...It’s so difficult to find that balance though.”

“Well, it’s difficult for Fallon and me as well, but you two also work together in this Syndicate. That makes it almost impossible to always keep it professional. But she’s become empowered since she’s been here. Taking her rank wasn’t the best idea.”

“I didn’t strip her rank. But I’m in the doghouse anyway because I might’ve done something stupid to feed her suspicion concerning Serena,” I confess.

His hand bringing up his coffee mug stops mid-air. “What did you do?”

“My mother asked to see Serena, and I took her to their apartment. Then I went home, and Cam apologized for her stunt. I didn’t want her to be upset about Serena after we finally talked it out, so I didn’t mention it. But she found out anyway.”

“How?”

“She says she overheard Serena mentioning it. I don’t know the details, but last night was just hectic, and I didn’t get home until six this morning. And she had waited up for me, completely enraged. She threw a vase at me,” I admit, still slightly in shock that she did that. “I was kind of scared.”

Luca lets out a laugh. “I think you two are going to break a lot of items while living together. And then what?”

“We fought. Well, mostly, she yelled and told me to sleep on the couch, but I showered and came back to work.”

He grimaces. “Oh, that’s never good. But I have to say, I never thought there’d be a woman who you’d allow to boss you around in your own loft.”

I scoff and smile. “It’s
our
loft now. And I want her to simmer down before we talk. Regardless, she has to accept Serena because Serena has attracted a lot of high rollers to the sex club, and with her girls, our weekly revenue has tripled. And we sell a lot of drugs down there. I’m only overseeing so that everything is set up smoothly with all the other members, which will save me a lot of work in the future.”

“I think she understands that, and I do too, but I’d still advise you to act on Santino. In that regard, Cam’s right that having him here is too dangerous.”

“Wade’s working on getting intel now. Apart from that, Cam still needs to let go of this vendetta against Serena, because having her girls here actually saves you and me the dirty work of finding and hiring girls – I don’t think either Cam or Fallon wants that.”

“Um, no. But I don’t believe Cam would base her suspicion on nothing; however neither I nor anyone else has seen Serena being anything but cordial to Cam – we even checked the camera feeds,” Luca explains.

“It’s not that I don’t believe Cam. I believe that she actually thinks there’s more; she’s convinced herself of that. I just don’t know how to pacify her and focus on my business and...love her.”

“Give her a little space. I agree that she doesn’t need to know everything. I protect Fallon however I see fit as well, and I won’t interfere between you two. In the end, Adriano, you can’t be without her. Both of you need to control your fears.”

His words are true. Acknowledging those words is easy. Acting on them is challenging though. “How?”

“Compromise.”

“Urgh, you sound like Fallon.”

He grins, shrugging. “I advise you out of experience, my friend. You also need to be careful because Cam’s not happy, and if she wanted to, she could get any other man.”

“What are you saying? That she’d cheat? I’ll kill anyone who touches her.”

“She won’t cheat on you, and you know that. But she’s an intelligent, beautiful woman who’s one of the most powerful members of the Syndicate. You’ve seen how men flock to her. I’d say keep her happy, and from what Fallon’s told me, she isn’t too happy with you at the moment,
amico
.”

“Nope, she’s not.”

Within a ten-minute conversation, Luca and I manage to get past our differences. If only it was that easy with Cam, life would be perfect. But it’s not.

The rest of the day sucks. I’m constantly holding myself back from calling her. And I realize how much I’ve gotten used to speaking to her every couple of hours. I do call her guard to find out what she’s up to, and I’m pleased to hear that she’s spending time with Fallon. Cam’s not the type to sit at home and cry over someone. Yet I miss her terribly. I miss her naughty texts.

Mostly, it’s the first time that she hasn’t tried to contact me for an extended period of time, so I learn how deep her animosity with this situation runs. And I deliberate how to fix it because I can’t function without her devotion. I fucking miss it. I miss her all day with an intensity that shatters my soul.

She’s that deeply etched inside of me.

She’s part of
me
.

Camilla

––––––––

I
haven’t spoken to Adriano all day after our fight this morning, but I’m meeting Fallon at the club because she wants to see Luca before we go out to a bar. When I arrive earlier than Fallon, I decide to confront Serena. I need to discover a way to expose her without disrupting business. Of course, I do understand Adriano’s busy schedule. Though I feel deep in my bones that she’s not to be trusted.

I seek Serena out in the sex club. And I’m entranced by the posh, erotic atmosphere. Dozens of beds are occupied by people in various stages of undress. Behind the sheer curtains of the bedframes, I can see shadows of couples fucking. Employees sashay around in glittering gold-colored lingerie. It’s thrilling, titillating. The sounds of soft moans and the scent of incense add to the subdued air. The girls are remarkable, and I only now understand the allure of Serena’s girls. It’s no wonder that the club is full at ten p.m.

As I turn around, I spot Serena talking to Tez, so I go up to them.

“Camilla,” she greets, surprised. “Haven’t seen you around often?”

Tez dips his chin and leaves.

“I hear you’re here every day,” I throw back.

She tilts her head and parades out of the room into the dimly lit hallway.

“And I’d like to warn you”—I step in front of her, blocking her path—“that sooner or later everyone will know what kind of underhanded bitch you are. I’ll find out what you’re playing at.”

She stands tall with a malicious grin. “Adriano’s and my businesses are intertwined now, Camilla. Who do you think will be more important to him eventually? A
Capo
he’s having a fling with or the woman who’s helping him make his club millions? He and I have a history you know nothing about.”

I snort. “No, I don’t. Because it’s not important enough to him to have mentioned it even once.”

She sends me a pitying look. “So dense...Perhaps
you
are just not important enough for him to share it with?”

In a rapid move, I grip her throat and slam her back against the wall. Bringing my mouth close to her ear, I spit, “You’ll regret this.”

Dazed at first, she regains her composure while breathing unevenly. “No, Camilla,
you’ll
regret this. You just gave me more leverage against you.”

I release her as if she’s burned me, and her hand flies to her throat to soothe it.

Coughing, she continues, “Adriano doesn’t like his women to fall apart. And you’re proving to be a liability instead of an asset. In the Mafia, that’s not a favorable position to be in.”

I ignore her jibes.

“Enjoy your stay here while it lasts.”

I pace to the elevator and press the button to return to the first floor, hating that I let her get to me.

Agitated, I play with the pendant of my gold necklace that hangs between my cleavage as I enter the club, searching the crowd for Fallon and finding her descending the stairs where I meet her halfway.

“I can’t find Luca.” She looks over my shoulder, frowning when she sees Serena, who’s followed my path to the first floor. “Trouble?”

“Uh-huh. She finally admitted she’s after him,” I say.

Before Fallon can react, Luca comes down the staircase, followed by Adriano, whose intense stare pins me to the spot.

Serena also joins us at the foot of the stairs, so I put on my game face.

You want to play? Well, two can play that game.

Luca pulls Fallon into a hug, and they’re off in their own world.

Adriano assesses me as I inch closer and kiss him full on the lips. Eagerly, he returns my kiss and rests his warm hand on my cheek.

Then I pull back and put on a radiant smile. “Hey.”

“Hey.” His brows pull together, and he eyes my bare legs in my short white dress hungrily. “Not mad anymore?”

With my smile intact, I reply, “Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. I just don’t want Serena to know, so I’ll keep gawking at you lovingly while I actually want to throttle you.”

He smirks and pulls me forward into his arms, but I twirl around and lean back against his chest so that I can grin at Serena, who’s concealed her expression but is forced to stand there and watch us.

Adriano’s breath is hot against my ear as his fingers skim the hem of my dress and he finds bare skin to touch. “I should be bothered by your performance, but I ache for you, so it’s turning me the fuck on.” And he pushes his growing erection against my behind while his fingers trace the swell of my ass, lingering at the edge of my panties. No one can see since he’s standing behind me, but Serena knows exactly what we’re doing.