Chapter Ten

Violet

Pacific Avenue, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Los Angeles, CA…

“Gawd, what a day,” Violet lamented as she turned the car onto Pacific Avenue. As always, she appreciated the masterpiece of contemporary architecture of the house rising before her. The sleek lines and modern elegance were perfectly positioned in the exclusive Santa Monica She had been enamored with the house from the moment the agent showed it to her. The residence was a testament to luxury coastal living and was mere steps from the rhythmic whisper of ocean waves.

Driving through the private gated entrance, her eyes darted to the meticulously manicured patio, where vibrant foliage danced in the breeze. The outdoor space was a colorful canvas of design elements, and a cascading waterfall provided a soothing backdrop, while a generous fire pit surrounded by comfortable seating invited intimate gatherings under the stars.

Parking the sleek luxury car in the garage, she quickly entered the house through the inter-leading door. Her weary mind immediately relaxed as the calming atmosphere wrapped around her like a welcoming cloak.

“Home sweet home,” she sighed as she kicked off her shoes, dropped her briefcase on a chair, and headed to the kitchen. With economic movements, she quickly heated a frozen meal. Her nails tapped off the seconds on the stone countertop while she briefly replayed the court hearing in her mind. What she had thought would be an easy case was turning into a nightmare.

“Enough, Violet. You need to shut down. It’s time to relax,” she scolded herself, all too aware that if she didn’t, she’d end up working into the early morning hours, as she had a tendency to do more often than not.

Except if she didn’t think about work, the devilish Master D and the way he masterfully controlled her desires would turn her into mush all over again.

“Not happening. Think of the lovely sunset, Violet,” she rallied at herself.

Armed with a glass of her favorite Cabernet and the heated lasagna, she ascended the skylight-bathed open staircase to the crowning glory of the house that awaited at the summit—a light-filled penthouse office with a partners’ desk commanding attention, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

Sliding open the four-section glass door, she walked out onto a spacious rooftop deck.

“Lord knows, I’ll never get tired of this view.” She breathed in the fresh ocean air as she settled on a chaise lounge. Her eyes glimmered in the setting sun as she stared out over the panoramic ocean and mountain views that always competed for her attention.

The house was much too large for one person, but it was the aesthetic and the inviting atmosphere that had settled the deal. Besides, since she had been the sole beneficiary of her grandmother’s vast estate, it was an investment she would’ve been stupid to let pass her by.

“So, did you bag the Casanova? Can we depend on you to do what is expected?”

“Fuck, Theo! You almost gave me a heart attack!” Violet screeched and pressed a hand against her thundering chest. She nearly jumped out of her skin when her brother’s voice shattered the quiet of the balcony. Adrenaline surged through her system, causing her hands to shake and her breath to catch. The peaceful solitude of her evening, the lingering warmth from the memory of her encounter with Dexter, all evaporated in an instant.

Spinning around, she scanned the shadows until she spotted him. A darker shape among the growing darkness, partially concealed behind the large ceramic pot housing her prized monstera plant. The last remnants of the sunset caught the edge of his smirk as he stood there, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

The initial shock quickly morphed into simmering rage as she watched him saunter out of his hiding spot. Her mind raced through the security measures she’d put in place specifically to prevent this kind of intrusion. She had installed reinforced locks, a top-of-the-range alarm system, and there was a goddamn guard at the private entrance who was supposed to prevent unauthorized access. All circumvented by her insufferably arrogant little brother.

Her eyes narrowed as he strolled closer. “How the hell did you get up here?”

“With all due respect, Counselor, with all the criminals you defend, one would think you would know better than to ask someone like me such a question.” He smirked as he sat down beside her. “Here’s the short version. I’m a Russo and a damn good one. There’s not a lock on this earth that can keep me out.” He gestured to the street. “Or a couple of stories I can’t scale to get to the top.”

Violet’s fingers curled into fists. Her manicured nails painfully cut into her palms. The violation of her sanctuary, the one place she’d carved out for herself away from the family’s constant surveillance, sent waves of fury through her. This wasn’t just about Theo’s presence; it was about the message it sent. No matter how far she ran or how many boundaries she set, the family’s reach would always extend to her.

“I’m only going to say this once, Theo, so I suggest you listen well. Stay the fuck out of my house. This is my private space. I am not part of the family organization, and I will not abide trespassing on my property. I’m not kidding, fuckface,” she snapped as her brother cackled a laugh. He was the youngest of the four children and at twenty-eight, extremely cocky. “Next time I catch you here, I’ll have you arrested.”

“Gah!” he scoffed. “Can you imagine the mighty Don’s anger should you do that?”

“The mighty Don knows my expectations and honors them. If you can’t do the same, you will carry the consequences.”

“No matter how much you deny being part of the family, the same blood runs in our veins, my dear sister. Never forget that.”

“I never denied being part of the family. What I am not is a part of the criminal Gragna Mafia family organization. Do not confuse my unwilling participation in finding proof that someone overstepped, which led to the fucked-up mess Dad finds himself in, with anything but that… assistance. I warned him… this is a once-off deal.”

“So, you’d rather let him rot in jail than dirty your hands?”

Violet studied Theo. He had always been a problem. Blond with clear blue eyes, he had a California surfer boy look. Women loved him, and he thrived on riding the wave of constant pussies opening for his attention like flowers in full bloom. It had led to the cockiness, the overconfident zeal he approached life with… more so, how he dealt with family business.

“You seem to think it’s my duty to find a way to clear the family name?”

“We’re all Russos, Violet. If one of us goes down, we’re all fucked. If you haven’t realized it with your stacks of law degrees, then you’re even more naive than either of our brothers believe… and Mom and Dad for that matter.” He stretched out lazily. “If I was you, I’d be more concerned about my fantastic law career surviving if you don’t find the proof Dad believes is hidden in the bowels of the banking industry.”

Violet’s lip curled as she met her brother's mocking gaze. “Unlike you, I’m not hiding behind Dad. I thought at the ripe age of twenty-eight, you had come to realize it, Theo. I’ve built my own life, my own career. Unlike you, I walk in a straight line on the right side of the law. Therefore, I don’t need his protection.”

“No, you just need his connections,” Theo shot back, his playful demeanor turning scornful. “Or did you think I don’t know how many of your biggest clients come through family channels?”

“That’s different, and in the past, as you very well know. The people I defended approached me. Dad had nothing to do with that. I provided a legitimate service—”

“To illegitimate people,” he interrupted. “Come on, Vi. Stop pretending you’re so above it all. You’re as deep in this as any of us. You just wear better suits while doing it and carry a legal ‘badge’ to justify what you do.” He stood, brushing invisible dust from his clothes. “Speaking of which, about Dexter Flint, since you fucked him silly aboard that fancy club in the sky, did you at least do what you were supposed—”

“Get out.” Violet’s voice was ice cold as anger turned her inside out. She abhorred being manipulated, and Theo knew just how to push her buttons. That he knew she had been on Club Decadent Skies’ opening flight turned her blood cold. “Whatever game you are playing just backfired. I’m out of the playing field, do you hear me, Theo? Try to explain that to Dad because I’m done. I will not pursue the matter further.”

Theo raised his hands in mock surrender, backing toward the edge of the balcony. “Just remember who you are, sis. And more importantly,”—he grinned as he swung one leg over the railing—“remember what it will do to Mom if she ends up behind bars. Sweet dreams, Vi!”

Before Violet could respond, he disappeared over the edge. She rushed to look down, but as usual, there was no sign of how he’d managed his exit.

Violet sank back into her chair, grateful for the dulling warmth of the wine as it softened the sharp edges of her anxiety. The rich Cabernet had been perfectly paired with the lasagna, but now it served a different purpose in helping to quiet her overwrought nerves. She took another long sip, letting the complex notes wash over her tongue as her racing thoughts began to slow.

“Fucking asshole,” she muttered as she got up and walked to the kitchen. Having lost her appetite, Violet threw the untouched lasagna in the rubbish bin, more than concerned about how he had found out about her and Dexter. Surely the NDA worked both ways? But how else would he know? No one aboard the flight knew her, so it was unlikely someone tattled on her… except it was Dexter himself in a move to secure the permanent commitment she had refused to give at the time.

“Like hell will I waste this, though,” she muttered and chucked down the last of the wine before refilling the glass. “Just what are you up to, Theo?” she wondered aloud.

Her mind shifted into the analytical mode that had earned her that spotless record in court. Thirteen years of practice, hundreds of cases, and not a single loss. It wasn’t just skill or luck—it was her obsessive attention to detail, and her ability to spot the loose thread that would unravel the prosecution’s entire case. That same instinct was screaming at her now that something was deeply wrong.

Violet didn’t reach the revered accolade of an undefeated defense attorney by luck. She was good at what she did because she had the instinct of a sniffer dog. Once she caught the scent of deceit, she didn't stop until she found the root cause.

Theo’s appearance tonight had been too calculated, too precise. He’d been waiting for her, knowing precise details about her meeting with Dexter. The timing was suspicious, and his clumsy attempt to manipulate her emotions by invoking their father’s potential imprisonment felt forced, rehearsed even.

His attempt to put the blame on her should their father end up in jail stunk like a skunk.

“What did you do, little brother?” Instinct warned her that whatever Dexter might find, if she pursued the matter to garner his help, could potentially clear her father... but would it clear the Gragna Mafia, or would it expose a deeper vein of deceit the mighty George Lucky Russo was still unaware of?

The thought chilled her more than the night air. Her father might run the family with an iron fist, but even he couldn’t control what he didn’t know about. And Theo... Theo had always been ambitious, always pushing boundaries. What if he’d crossed a line that even their father’s influence couldn’t protect him from?

Listlessly, she walked back onto the balcony. Leaning forward, she rested her elbows on the railing as she gazed out at the city lights. The wine was doing its job now, transforming her sharp anxiety into a more manageable buzz of concern. But it didn’t entirely silence the warning bells in her mind.

“Damn it to hell,” she muttered. “I’ve seen this pattern before.”

Countless cases where seemingly minor inconsistencies led to major revelations were a dime a dozen in her world. Like the Morrison case last spring—what had appeared to be a simple embezzlement charge had unraveled into a complex web of international money laundering. All because she’d noticed a single discrepancy in the timing of a wire transfer that the district attorney had missed. In that, Theo was right. She defended whoever was willing to pay her exorbitant fee. Morrison was a corrupt banking official, and he had walked out of the court a free man… because she had been alert and aware.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

“Fuck! As if dealing with one brother isn’t enough in one night,” she scoffed as she noticed the text from her brother, Tag.

“Watch your back, Vi. Something's brewing with our little brother.”

Staring at the cryptic message, her suspicions crystallized. Tag wasn’t one for dramatic warnings. As their father’s right hand and the Underboss of the group, he only reached out when there was genuine cause for concern.

“Dammit, Theo,” she muttered, pushing away from the railing. This wasn’t just about her anymore. If Theo had gone rogue and made deals outside the family’s knowledge, it could spark a war between them and other families. Crime syndicates wouldn't distinguish between one reckless Russo and the rest of them.

“Why the fuck did I agree to be involved in the first place?” But she knew why… Sophia Russo, her mother. A petite and seemingly frail woman, she had the backbone of a tiger. Because of her, Violet had the courage to stand up against her father and brothers and carved her own future away from the family. She would do everything to protect her mother… even if it meant one of her own siblings ended up behind bars.

Scrolling through her contact list, her finger hovered over Dexter Flint’s name. Using him to get information from The World Bank, of which he was a board member, might protect her father, but it could also expose Theo to Federal prosecution. The choice weighed heavily on her shoulders—family loyalty versus the truth.

“Either way… I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.”