6. Black Hole

Chapter 6

Black Hole

" D on't you dare stop," I moan, fisting Javi's thick hair as he sucks on my clit, my body on the verge of orgasm but not quite there. "Faster!"

I thought I taught him well. A year ago the poor boy barely knew how to find a clitoris let alone stimulate one. He's one of my more advanced pupils. Kody's cock is bigger, but I've always found tongues to be far more versatile.

"Harder," I demand, coiling my hand around Kody's wrist. His lips tighten around my nipple, sending a surge of pain down my spine. "More!"

He obeys. Well, sort of. He's a good boy. He listens, but he's timid. A bit shy. He doesn't want to hurt me. He doesn't want to cause me pain.

But I want it. I want the pain. I need it. It's the only feeling that counters the lingering emptiness resting in my soul. I try to fill that void as often as I can. But it's never enough. The more I fill it, the wider and larger and more vast it gets. It's growing. Like a black hole. Sucking in everything in sight.

Maybe I am a black hole.

Light can enter but never escape.

"Come for us, Cami," Kody mumbles against my skin.

"Don't talk," I snap, squeezing my eyes shut. I focus on the swirling ministrations of Javi's dancing tongue. Come on! What is happening? He's doing everything right! Two days in a row? Seriously? "Fuck’s sake!”

"What's wrong?" Kody asks, his innocent blue eyes flicking up. "Are you okay?"

"Enough!" Glaring at Kody, I push Javier's head out from between my legs and adjust my position on the black leather couch. "Go back to work."

Javier kneels on the carpet in front of me, wiping his wet mouth. "But?—"

"Go!" I point to the door of my office before tugging down my dress. I blink when they don't move. "I said fucking go!"

They don't say another word as they scatter out of the room, leaving me huffing on the couch. God, this is ridiculous. Maybe I need to find new toys. I haven't kept the same boys on retainer this long before. Usually, I get bored. I sigh, reach for my laptop, and flip it open. Guess I'm bored again.

I fucking hate being bored.

The computer screen flickers to life and various documents on Hayden Malcolm pop up. I glower at his ID photo. What a pompous ass. I lean closer, observing his all-too-symmetrical features. And his eyes. Those stupid fucking green eyes. The eyes that told me no. The eyes that had blatantly undermined my status. Maybe he doesn't know who I am.

I move the cursor around the screen, recapping everything I've learned about the head doctor in the last twenty-four hours.

You might not know me, Doctor. But I sure know you.

Dr. Hayden Malcolm, son of Alison and Todd Malcolm, both deceased. Grew up in Florida, which means he's probably a damn lunatic. Seriously, all the crazies are from the Sunshine State. Don't believe me? Watch the news.

He went to some second-tier college for psychology, then got a master's degree. Blah blah blah. Nothing juicy. Nothing exciting. He doesn't even have social media. I mean, he's in his early thirties, but still? Not even Facebook? Again, so damn boring.

The only interesting thing Zoey managed to uncover is that he recently purchased a ticket to Under the Sea, the aquarium's annual charity fundraiser. I'm not entirely sure how he managed to purchase a ticket; they're not cheap. It's an exclusive event for benefactors and corporations looking for tax write-offs, not arrogant shrinks who know far too many facts about sharks.

You are not a shark.

I slam the screen shut, groaning in frustration. God, he irks me. I don't know what it is but that man is just... Fuck!

"Cami!" Zoey hollers from behind the door as she knocks. "We gotta go. Car's waiting."

"Coming," I mutter, grabbing a tissue from the side table and wiping between my legs .

The last thing I want to do right now is face The Council. When my father headed up the business, Council meetings only happened once a year. Once! I already saw all those old bastards two months ago when Dad passed the proverbial torch. They're ten months early.

It's trust. They don't trust me. That is blatantly evident from the fact they sent Leo to deal with Judge Keegan. I'm not an idiot. I know this means war. Leo's father would love nothing more than for his son to lead Angeli Della Morte.

But he can't take my crown.

Not without cause.

"Ready?" Zoey nods at my family home, her face illuminated by the moonlight. "Don't be nervous, Cami, you got this!"

"I'm fine." I take in the slate-roofed brick Georgian-style manor that sits on over fifteen acres of land. Tennis courts, pools, stables. This well-maintained piece of the Bianco legacy has everything a person needs.

Except it's in Long fucking Island.

My father tried to convince me to move here once he and my mother left. All of this is yours now, Camilla. Claim your birthright . I couldn't have said no faster. The estate is in the middle of nowhere. Secluded. Private. Excessive for one person. My father adored this place. Barely left. But he had my mother. He wasn't alone.

"Welcome home, Miss Bianco," Paulina, our housekeeper says, opening the front door for me and Zoey. She smiles at Frankie, giving him a playful grin. "I see you're still fat and old."

"I see you're still single and a bitch," Frankie snaps back, glaring at Paulina. "Is that a grey hair on your head?" He clicks his tongue. "Guess we're both old now."

"I'd rather be a bitch than a bastard," Paulina scoffs, tucking a thick piece of hair behind her ear. "And there is no problem with aging gracefully."

"Graceful?" Frankie snorts as we step inside the manor. "Yeah, you're a regular prima ballerina." He glances at me, whispering. "Ask her about what happened to the Picasso in the study."

"What happened?" I purse my lips as I look at Paulina, a stream of nervous giggles tumbling out of her mouth. "Paula..."

"Ignore him," she says, waving me off as she leads us to the boardroom. Oh fuck. She totally scratched it, didn't she? "He's practically senile. Head's not working right." She laughs to herself. "Both heads, I'm guessing."

"Hey," Frankie calls from behind. Here we go again. It's endless. The bickering. But a nice distraction. "Don't talk about my dick! You lost that right when you wouldn't marry me twenty years ago!"

Paulina rolls her brown eyes. "You were an alcoholic and smelled like shit." She cranes her neck over her shoulder, smugly smirking at Frankie. "It's nice to see that not much has changed."

"Once a bitch, always a bitch," Frankie huffs. "Sometimes I forget why I wanted you for life."

"Because I fuck better than I cook," Paulina replies with a proud smile, pausing in front of the double wooden doors. She glances at me. "Are you okay, bambina?"

My heart races. Breathe.

"And I'm sure it would be like fucking baby powder now," Frankie counters, giving her a challenging look. "Or sandpaper." He shivers. "Oof."

"Shut your mouth, big ogre," Paulina states, sensing my nerves. She places a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Camilla, it is just a meeting. Nothing more."

"The second in two months," I mumble, hating the sympathetic stares from Zoey and Frankie. I shake off the onset of anxiety. "I'm fine. Open the doors."

"We'll be out here if you need anything," Zoey whispers, squeezing my hand briefly as the doors creak open.

I nod, stepping inside the boardroom. A chill seizes my spine as ten sets of eyes narrow in on me. They're here. All of them. Examining. Judging. Scheming. I sweep the seats around the table, noticing the empty spot at the head. My gaze darts to the seat on the right. Leo. Well, it's nice that he somewhat knows his place. For now.

"Good evening, gentlemen," I say, my tone even and confidently veiled from all fear. I maintain eye contact as I round the sturdy oval table.

"You are late," Moe, our financial controller, states, taking a puff from his cigar as he glares at me. Strike one. "We've been waiting almost an hour."

"I'm not late." I pull out the chair and take a seat. I slam my purse on the table, scanning the room, the loud bang drawing everyone's attention. "You're all just... early . "

"We are busy men, Camilla," Enzo says, glancing at his son. Leo remains passive, his features flat as he doesn't react. "Perhaps next time, you too may be... early ."

"Since we are all quite busy, why don't we skip to why you're all here then." I snap my fingers at the butler standing in the corner. He scurries away to the bar to fetch me a drink. "Well? Who wants to start?"

Enzo clears his throat, side-eyeing the rest of The Council before saying, "We have concerns."

I clench my fist. "Is that so? And what might those concerns be?"

"There are many ," Moe pipes up from across the table, his tone drenched with disgust. "But today we will only address three."

A great leader rules not with an iron fist but with platinum ears. Use them, Camilla. You will hear your fate before you see it.

"The floor is yours," I say, attempting to embody my father.

"Judge Keegan," Moe begins. "The majority of us agree?—"

"That's a non-issue," Leo cuts him off. "As I mentioned earlier, he is no longer a threat."

"Simply because we now know of the man's demons does not mean he is not a threat," Moe counters. "From what I've heard, he is a man of integrity. He might value that more than his pride."

"He's married with children, Moe.” Leo sighs. "I highly doubt he'd risk making his wife a widow for the sake of justice." He cocks his head. "Move on."

"Fine," Moe grumbles under his breath, displeased with the brush off. "But we are in a delicate situation now, and we do not need any more eyes on us." He stares at me. "Can you stay out of trouble long enough for the deal to happen, bella ? Or is that too much to ask?"

"I—" My fingertips burn as my pulse races.

"Remember who you are speaking with, Moe," Enzo cuts in. "She is Tony's daughter."

Moe scoffs. "Oh, I know."

Enzo faces me. "Camilla, his concerns are valid but his tact is—" he glares at Moe, "—adolescent."

"The deal will happen," I say, confused about Enzo's defense.

Whose side is he on? I can't tell.

"We need this, Camilla," Marco says, flipping through a stack of documents. "We got wind that The Dragons are back in town, and they're itching to expand."

"I'm not worried about the Triad," I say. "They've been inactive for years now. They have no sway."

"Perhaps in New York," Marco notes. "But they're taking over Asia." He takes a sip of water. "Our potential new business partner might see that as an opportunity."

"And yet, we're still their number one choice, are we not?" I ask.

"Yes, thanks to your father," Moe says, glaring at me. "In my opinion, he should have stayed to see this through." He quickly backpedals when the Di Rossis snap their heads toward him. "What I mean to say is that he has rapport and you do not."

"Luckily for us, Camilla oozes charm and charisma," Leo says. I suppress a snort. "I am sure she will be able to woo the great Malik Alba."

"Malik has been known to thoroughly enjoy the company of women..." Moe's nose scrunches up in pensive thought. "Perhaps, Camilla will not fail after all." He looks at me. "How far are you willing to go for the family?"

"Are you asking me if I'll fuck an international arms dealer to secure the transaction?" I ask, holding my head up high despite the conflicting emotions tugging at my conscience.

"Bluntly speaking..." Moe laughs. "Yes, that is exactly what I am asking." He tilts his grimy head. "Well?"

I should feel offended. I should be repulsed by his suggestion. It should make me nauseous. But it doesn't. Sex is a means to an end. It holds no meaning to me, carries no weight.

Not anymore.

"I'll do whatever I need to do." I scan all the pleased faces around the table. "Angels above all else."

"I don't think that is necessary," Leo begins, but he's cut off.

"Excellent," Moe states. "We will set up a meeting for you and Malik on Friday, yes?"

"Friday, I'm busy," I reply. "Saturday?"

"He lands on Friday, Camilla. It would be beneficial to meet him as soon as possible," Moe says. "What is happening that is so important that you cannot miss?"

I sigh. "I'm attending a gala at the aquarium."

Moe's eyebrow perks up. "That would work."

I blink. "What? "

"Take him," Moe says with a shrug. "Show him a good time."

"I'll go too," Leo says casually. "In case anything happens."

"Why?" Enzo asks, glancing at his son. "Do you not trust her to handle Malik herself?"

Leo's jaw clenches. "I do but?—"

"Then it's settled!" Moe slams his hand on the table. "Friday will be your time to shine, Camilla." He lowers his voice. "Do not let us down."

I suck in an audible breath. "I won't."

He wants me to shine. To spread my light.

But I'm a black hole.

And they don't shine.