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AS THE MAFIA PRINCE listened to the morning reports from his workers, he kept looking at his watch. He wanted to be at Bianca’s shop as soon as it opened. Not only did he want to see her again, but he wanted to get to know her a little better. Before he could approach her with what he had to propose, he needed to be one hundred percent positive that their business relationship would work. If she were too meek and mild to do what he had in mind, then he would keep looking. Maybe someone she had worked with in New York would be interested in assisting him with his plans. There was also the possibility that someone in Haiti would be willing as well. He didn’t want someone that dabbled in black magic; he wanted someone who would take this all the way. If he played his cards right, he could become one of the most powerful families in the United States and would never again have to get near his enemies and opponents.
When it was his turn to talk, everyone listened intently, “Thank y’all for catching me up. I need to inform you of a few things as well. The Devereauxs are not playing by the rules we have set since my father’s death. Some of their guys have been seen talking to our girls. We need to let them know that is not how we do business here. They have to realize the St. Germaine Family is the top dog around this town.”
Brian asked, “What the hell is their problem?”
The Mafia Prince didn’t like the fact that the Devereauxs were getting this ballsy. The Devereaux family needed to be stopped before they tried to get any bigger. They started off with loan sharking and then they made friends with some drug cartel members. From there, they grew. They weren’t as smart as his Family, though. No, his Family knew to keep a low profile; you needed a legitimate business to hide behind. Their Family and their name were respected; it emitted power here; whereas the Devereaux Family name meant nothing to most in this town.
He responded, “I am not sure. They are starting to get in the way. The other day I received several reports that their men are trying to collect from my businesses as well.”
The Mafia Prince didn’t divulge too much information. He suspected he had a snitch and he planned to give each of them different information to weed out those that couldn’t be trusted. When he learned the identity of the snitch, that person would wish they had never been born. When you worked for a Mafia Family, loyalty was something you didn’t mess with.
His men were anxious to show the Devereaux Family who the top dog was. They would get their chance soon enough, but first, he planned on talking to Bianca to see how she could help him. He knew for certain that she was not the snitch, but he had to make sure she could be trusted.
Between the voodoo dolls and potions, he would be unstoppable. He would be the biggest Mafia Family here in the United States and Italy once he combined forces as he planned. Right now, his Family consisted of seventy members, but he hoped to increase those numbers as soon as possible. He also had over five hundred associates, but once he became international, he would be the King of the Mafia not just the Mafia Prince.
From everything he’d learned about Bianca and her family, she had the knowledge and the right background for what he’d planned. Her deceased grand-mere was a well-known voodoo priestess. She had been well respected in the parish, hell the state, for her knowledge. She was born a traiteur or healer. However, from everything the Mafia Prince learned about the old woman, she was very much against the black magic. Could this be one of the reasons Bianca moved to New York, to learn the black magic her grand-mere refused to teach her? The only problem was that he could not bring something like this up in simple conversation, especially if she felt the same way as her grand-mere about the subject.
When it was time to leave, he had a spring in his step. He couldn’t wait to see what the day brought. Ever since he’d met Bianca in the bar that night, he could not get her image out of his mind. This could be a mistake, especially with a new wife, but a mistake he was willing to make, especially if this worked out as he planned.
As he entered the store, the scent of incense invaded his nostrils. As soon as she saw him enter the shop, she smiled up at him, “What brings you back so soon? Did you finally decide on a reading?”
He replied with a wicked smile, placing his hand on his chest, “I think you put a voodoo hex on me. I can’t get you out of my mind.”
She let out a soft laugh that sent hot desire rushing through his veins. “Would you like to stop by the hotel tonight and have supper with me? We can eat in the penthouse where we will have complete privacy or we can eat in the dining room so that I can show off a beautiful woman.”
She gave him a sultry smile, “I can swing an early supper in the penthouse. I’ve never seen that floor. It is a beautiful hotel and I have always wondered what the penthouse looked like.”
“We will have to make sure you get your wish then. I will instruct the chef to prepare us something extra special. Do you have a favorite?”
“I have a very healthy appetite. Surprise me.”
***
BIANCA COULDN’T WAIT for the day to end. She had something to do tonight and the day drug on. By the time she made it to the hotel, she was a bundle of nerves. She had never felt this way for a man before and chided herself in the way she was behaving. He was a man and she was a woman; therefore, it was only natural to feel some desire for the attractive man. But there was more to it than that, fate brought them together.
As she took the elevator to the penthouse floor, she felt the butterflies in her stomach. If she’d had any doubts about the Mafia rumors, they were quickly answered when she entered the elevator to the penthouse. It was a good thing he’d informed his staff of her impending arrival. If not, she probably would have been strip searched before being thrown out on her ear. She wondered where he found his body guards. She had never seen so many muscles on anyone. She swore that even his ears had muscles. Where on earth did he find his clothes?
Bianca’s nerves were stretched so thin she could barely taste the exquisite meal. After supper, he refilled their wine glasses and they stepped out onto the balcony. She watched as he pulled out a cigar and puffed on it. They stood there for a while looking at the New Orleans scenery without speaking. Even without talking or touching, she sensed his presence.
He suddenly turned to her, with his chest against her while he looked down at her. Desire coiled through her body, warming her blood. She felt the heat emanating from his body.
Time seemed to stand still as they continued to look at one another, as if daring the other person to make the next move. Bianca felt his hands on her waist and she stepped in closer to him. His lips touched hers faintly. His warm breath mixed with her own ragged breath. She deepened the kiss as he pulled her closer to him.
She had no control over her body. Even if she wanted to tell him no, she couldn’t. The passion for him became all consuming. All she could do was feel! The sensations coming from his fingertips were pure torture.
He moved back to her lips, nibbling at her lower lip before once again devouring her mouth with his. Slowly, expertly, he slid his tongue over her lips and delved into her mouth.
Bianca closed her eyes and felt his hands on her back. His other hand pulled her even closer until their bodies were almost one. It still wasn’t close enough for her. She wanted to be one with him. She wanted him to consume her.
***
HE HAD NO IDEA WHAT came over him. He’d planned to get to know her better during this visit. He shouldn’t be this close to her; if they became business associates, sex would get in the way. His father stressed the importance of never mixing business with pleasure and those were words he lived by. However, being this close to her drove him mad.
He couldn’t take being this close to her any longer. He wondered if she had any idea of the power she had over him. He searched her eyes to see if she wanted this as well. When he found his answer, he brought his lips down to her neck and kissed the line of her jaw.