ARMANDO
I slammed the door to Eleanor’s room, her sobs still ringing in my ears as I walked down the hall. Her words replayed in my head, not because they meant anything, but because of how pathetic she sounded-begging, crying and ranting like that was going to change anything. There were more important things to worry about than her petty little tantrums so I couldn’t care less.
Fighting those two idiots had been easy but it left my knuckles sore-though this was nothing really new to me. I’d been fighting for as long as I could remember and being a mob boss meant you had to learn to live with pain. Fights happened all the time-bare fists, knives, guns. You name it, I’d seen it all, and most times, I won. So this wasn’t a big deal. The real issue was the reason I left the mansion in the first place-that damn mole in my crew.
Whoever he was, he continued feeding my enemies information. My drug deals had been hit twice in the past week, one of my weapon shipments got intercepted last month, and now my oil containers were sitting at the port, completely vulnerable. I was on my way there to check the situation of things when I got called back about the fire alarms going off in my mansion. I didn’t need to ask who was behind it.
I knew it had to be this stupid bitch Eleanor.
She’s been nothing but a pain in my ass since the moment I brought her here. Always disobedient and always talking back like she had any right to. She acted like she didn’t know what she was here for, like she wasn’t bought at an auction. An auction where girls like her go for a price-girls who pretend to be something they’re not. She thinks she’s some “good girl,” like she’s above all this. But I knew one thing for sure-good girls don’t show up where I found her-so she couldn’t fool me.
I reached my room and pushed the door open, my mind still occupied with thought. She wasn’t worth this much thought, but damn if she wasn’t annoying.
The thought of her pathetic cries came back to me again, and I shook my head.
What did she expect?
I bought her. She belonged to me now-purchased to do my bidding for 365 days. It was never personal but strictly business.
“Why did you buy me?” she’d asked, sobbing like I owed her an answer.
Why did I buy her? I almost laughed at how naive she was.
She thought she deserved better, but she was no different from the other girls. I’d dealt with plenty of them. They all thought they were special, all thought they could change things. But they couldn’t.
Eleanor was no exception.
I’d get her under control sooner or later. I wasn’t worried about that. I’d broken girls tougher than her before, and she’d fall in line just like they had. She didn’t know what I was capable of.
“She thinks she’s clever,” I muttered to myself, shaking my head. “Stupid girl.”
Maybe I’d been too lenient. Maybe she thought I wasn’t serious enough, that she could keep pushing. She had no idea who she was dealing with.
Matteo would take care of things at the port, but I’d have to confront the rat in my crew myself. Once I handled that, I could turn my attention back to the little things-Eleanor. There were ways to break someone like her, it was all a matter of time.
But for now, I needed to focus. The rat in my crew, my oil containers at the port-that’s what mattered. Eleanor would be dealt with later. And when I did deal with her, she’d regret ever thinking she could outsmart me.
I’d make sure of it.
I leaned back against my chair, staring at the invite on the desk in front of me-a dinner party. All the Dons from the major families would be there. It was the perfect chance for me to get closer to the ones I suspected of sabotaging my business. This dinner could give me what I needed-subtle questions, some well-placed conversations, and I might just figure out who my enemies were.
But there was one problem: the Don hosting the dinner was married to distant relative of my late mother.
The woman had been a thorn in my side for years. Ever since I started showing up at family gatherings, she’d been on my neck about getting married. Always introducing me to some pretty young girl, hoping I’d settle down. It was almost a joke at this point. I’d sleep with the women she set me up with, but after that, they’d never hear from me again. That was how it worked. I didn’t do attachments. But she never gave up.
The thought of dealing with her at this dinner made my skin crawl. I had real business to handle, and the last thing I needed was her nagging about some girl she wanted me to meet. I needed a way out of this. Something to shut her up for good, at least for the night.
And then it hit me.
I’d tell her I already had someone. Someone I was planning on marrying. That would keep her off my back, at least for a while. But I’d have to show up with a date to make it believable.
My thoughts instantly drifted to Eleanor.
I hated the idea, but it made sense. If I showed up with her, it would look like I was serious. No one would question it, and I could focus on the real reason I was there. Eleanor didn’t have a choice in this anyway. She didn’t have a choice in anything. She was mine, and she’d do whatever I told her to do.
I stood up, pacing the room as I thought it over. She wouldn’t like it, I knew that much. But I didn’t care. This wasn’t about what she wanted.
I grabbed my phone and called Matteo. “We’re taking a trip tomorrow. Get the car ready.”
“A trip?” Matteo sounded confused. “Where to?”
“Shopping,” I said flatly. “I’ve got this thing tomorrow night and both you and Eleanor are coming with me.”
Matteo was silent for a second. He knew what that meant. “Got it, boss. I’ll have it ready by tomorrow.”
I hung up the phone, my mind already focused on what the next day would bring.
Eleanor wasn’t leaving this mansion in the rags she called clothes. If she was going to be seen with me in public, she’d have to look the part. I didn’t care what she thought about it.
I headed towards her room, the annoyance already building in my chest. I pushed the door open right after I unlocked it and there she was, sitting on the bed, her eyes red from crying.
I didn’t care.
“We’re going out tomorrow,” I said, not bothering with any pleasantries. “You need new clothes.”
Eleanor looked up at me, her face hardening. “Why can’t you just leave me alone Armando? I’m not going anywhere with you, I don’t care what you say.”
I let out a short laugh, crossing my arms. “You don’t have a choice, sweetheart. We’re going, and that’s final.”
“I’m not your property!” she snapped, standing up from the bed. “You can’t just drag me around like I’m-”
“Like you’re what?” I cut her off, stepping closer until I was right in front of her. “Like you’re mine? Because you are, Eleanor. You belong to me. It’s obvious you still don’t understand how this works-you do exactly as I say, or I make you regret it.”
Her eyes flashed with anger, but I could see the fear behind them. By now she knew better than to push me too far.
“What’s this about?” she asked, her voice quieter now.
I shrugged. “There’s a dinner. I need a date. You’re it.”
She stared at me, clearly not liking the idea. “You can’t be serious.”
“Oh, I’m very serious,” I said, my voice low. “You’ll come with me, and you’ll play nice. You’ll smile, laugh, act like you’re in love with me. And if you try anything, if you even think of running-”
I stepped even closer, lowering my voice so only she could hear. “I’ll kill you myself.”
The color drained from her face, but she didn’t say anything. She knew I wasn’t bluffing. I never did.
“You don’t have to like it,” I added, stepping back and giving her some space. “But you will do it. Tomorrow, we’re going shopping. I’m not taking you out looking like… that.” I waved a hand at her clothes, disgust evident in my voice.
She looked down at her outfit, her jaw tightening. “I don’t need anything from you.”
I sighed, already losing patience. “This isn’t about what you need, Eleanor. It’s about what I need. And I need you to look the part. So you’ll do as I say, wear what I tell you to wear, and keep your mouth shut.”
She didn’t respond, but the defiance was clear in her eyes.
I didn’t care. She could be as stubborn as she wanted. Tomorrow, she’d be in that car with me, wearing whatever I picked out for her. And if she tried anything… well, I’d already made it clear what would happen.
I turned to leave, pausing at the door. “Get some rest. You’ll need it.” Then I walked out, slamming the door behind me.
She’d learn eventually. One way or another.