Chapter One

CAIRO

MAFIA BOSS

EIGHT YEARS LATER

Igrip the wedding invitation in my hand and read it for the fiftieth time.

You’re cordially invited to Baylor Sandro and Silas Agosto’s wedding.

Join us on Christmas Eve for their wedding celebration.

To say I want to burn down the world is an understatement.

Carlos Sandro and I are enemies. Gone are the days when I saw him as the powerful leader of his territory. The source of my animosity towards him is clear: he sent Baylor to Stanford, something that caught me completely off guard. I lost my shit when I learned she was in California. My father scolded me for my outburst, warning me that it may cost me my position as heir to the throne. But at that point, I didn't care about my birthright anymore. After things settled down, my father brought up the topic of me taking over as boss once again.

For two years, I masqueraded as a playboy. During that time, I struck up a close relationship with Tiana. In order to maintain my fa?ade, I confided in her that I was looking for a fake girlfriend. And, for the right amount price, she agreed to be my fake girlfriend. It was the perfect cover.

I wasn't thrilled about Baylor also having a fake boyfriend, but we both knew it was necessary if we wanted to be together until I became the Baccaro mafia boss.

"How long are you going to let Silas live?" Nico chuckles, snapping me back to reality.

His cigar balances between two fingers as he leans back, blowing out three perfect smoke rings.

“Not long. Not fucking long at all.”

I take a slow drag from my cigar, letting the rich flavors of vanilla and toffee linger on my tongue.

“You’ve got a busy five days ahead. Claiming the boss’s seat on your birthday, then crashing a wedding just days later,”

Nico grins.

Nico is the second mafia boss in his family, overseeing the territory in Delaware while his brother Nick runs the Elizabeth, New Jersey territory. He came here permanently last year after his brother killed Torrance Aiello, a man who was obsessed with a woman that Nick was forbidden to be with. I've known Nico for years; beneath his pretty boy facade lies a ruthless monster.

I cock my head to the side. “Fuck trying. I plan to succeed.”

He points his cigar at me. “I know you will. I’ll be there to help, like always.”

“Thanks Nico.”

"Hey, what are friends for if they can't support you through crazy shit?"

I laugh.

“I better get going.”

He stands to his feet.

I step around the desk and give him a hug. It's more of a bro hug than anything.

“I’ll see you tomorrow night when we take care of that thing,”

he reminds me.

“I'll be there,”

I assure him.

Nico and I have planned a heist, which is always exciting. There's nothing like robbing a motherfucker on their truck route during the holiday season.

Now it's time to see my woman. When I was twenty-one, I hired my own bodyguards. Crush is the only one who has been with me since the beginning.

I didn't want anyone reporting back to my father about my secret life with Baylor.

The memory of the night I took Baylor's virginity is bittersweet; it was magical until the condom broke. We were trying to be careful, cautious.

Baylor had her best friend, Lee Lee, pick up a morning-after pill for her. A week later, Lee Lee and Baylor went to a private clinic. After the doctor’s exam confirmed Baylor wasn’t pregnant, she started taking birth control pills.

"Crush, let's go," I say as I grab my black wool coat off the sofa and shrug it on.

He nods and strolls through the state-of-the-art kitchen toward the garage.

I can’t wait until Baylor moves into our house. Not sleeping in the same bed together every night gets tiring.

As I slide into the back seat of the black suburban, I ponder on how I can take out another Delaware mafia boss.

If he stands down and walks away. He won’t lose his life. If he doesn’t bow out gracefully, he’ll be removed from existence.