“It’s been a fucking disaster.” Gio, my cousin, tells me as we leave my office.

“I don’t want any more mistakes. How fucking hard is it to find a fucking rat?” I ask for the second time.

“You know it’s not that simple. The Triads have gone underground.” He adds.

“All I get from you are fucking excuses." I’m about to continue when I hear glass breaking from the kitchen, followed by screaming.

“I’m going to tell my dad.” My son, Hunter, says. I rush to the kitchen.

“Listen, you little shit. I don’t…”

“What the fuck is going on here?” I walk into the kitchen. Hunter meets my eyes. He is on the verge of tears.

“Mr. Biagini,” Hunter’s latest nanny starts.

“Dad,” Hunter calls out, running to me. I catch him and pick him up just as he reaches me.

“What’s wrong, Bud?”

“Mr. Biagini,” the nanny starts again.

“I want her gone,” I order without looking at her. Who the fuck does she think she is speaking to my son like this?

“I didn’t mean to drop the milk.” Hunter wraps his arms around my neck and quietly sobs. He might act like a teenager, but he is only four.

“Mr. Biagini, I’m sorry. He was having another tantrum. I was trying to get his breakfast ready. He was screaming at me.” She pleads.

“What the fuck is she still doing here, Gio?” I bark, annoyed that he hasn’t dragged her out.

“Daddy, I’m so sorry,” Hunter adds between sobs, hugging my neck.

“It’s okay, Bud. You’ve done nothing wrong.”

“Mr. Biagini, everything all right?” Martina — the house manager — asks, walking into the kitchen.

“I expect the nanny’s belongings out of this house immediately.”

“Of course. Hunter, do you still want a snack?” She asks once she is deeper into the kitchen. Hunter shakes his head no.

“Are you sure? I’m going to bake cookies.” Martina tells him.

He perks up and tries to wiggle out of my arms. She has always been good to him. Martina treats him as if he were her grandson. Sometimes, I wonder what would have become of me if she weren’t here after —Hunter's mother— Sofia, died.

“Let me pick up the glass before your father sets you down,” Martina adds before I can. While Martina cleaned up the glass, I sat Hunter at the counter.

“Is this the first time this nanny has screamed at you?” Hunter looks away, telling me exactly what I need to know. A fit of rage comes over me. “How often do I have to tell you that if something is wrong, you must speak up.” His bottom lip trembles, his telltale that he is about to cry.

“Fuck—” I run my hand over my face. “There is no need to cry, Bud. I want you to tell me if something is wrong or if someone does something to you. No one has the right to scream at you. Do I make myself clear?” Hunter nods.

“The nanny is gone, and we have to go,” Gio says as he enters the kitchen. He has a grim look. Something is wrong.

“I’ll take it from here,” Martina says. I ruffle Hunter’s hair and set him on the floor.

“Behave,” I warn him.

“I will, Dad.” He says like a grown man wiping his tears away.

“What the fuck is going on?” I ask once I’m out of the kitchen.

“Renzo called and said that the Triads hit two of our locations.”

“What was the damage?” I ask as we walk outside the house where my truck is waiting.

“About two hundred thousand dollars in cash from Sonny’s and the gun shipping from up North.

“Who the fuck is feeding them information?”

Of course, the question is rhetorical since we have been looking for the culprit for almost two weeks now with no luck. I’ve already killed about half a dozen men who might have been involved, but I’m nowhere near finding the person behind it.

“I’m trying to figure it out. I have men working around the clock." He answers as I turn my Range Rover on.

“Double security all around and get the accountant to move all the cash to the Volt.” The Volt is a warehouse retrofitted for business.

“That isn’t going to be an easy task. There’s money spread out.”

“Did I ask if it were going to be easy? For fuck’s sake, make the fucking call.” I order.

I know it isn’t easy. There are about two million dollars spread out throughout the city. But I can’t afford another attack. It’s not just about the money but the Triads thinking they can do whatever they want without punishment.

“I want Jin Lee found,” I add.

___

It’s been hours, and we aren’t any closer to getting intel on where Jin Lee is. I fucking own the streets. It doesn’t make sense that no one has seen him.

“I think he left town,” Gio says as we pull up to Grappa Gastropub.

I bought the pub a few years back and named it Grappa. It’s a brandy that reminds me of my mother. I’ve been so busy that it’s been a few months since I was last here. But after a couple of days of this bullshit, I need a drink. It helps that the pub is a couple of miles from my condo.

“One drink. I have to return to the condo.” I tell Gio as I park in front of Grappa.

“One drink.” He says, laughing.

I’m already regretting agreeing to this. We could have easily had a drink at the condo. I hate being away from Hunter. But until I don’t get control of this shit with the Triads, he isn’t safe.

The moment we walk into the bar, it’s quiet. This is exactly what I need. From the corner of my eye, I spot the waitress, Dana. She always attempts to throw herself at me, and it's infuriating. Next to her is a redhead I’ve never seen before. It piques my interest.

“Who’s the redhead?” I ask Gio as we walk to my usual table.

“I think she started a few weeks back. Don’t know much. She keeps to herself. Are you interested? Is your dick getting hard?” He jokes. I don’t entertain him. Gio acts like we are still teenagers.

“Hi, boys.” Dana greets us as she reaches us.

Gio orders before I can, which is fine with me. There is something about the redhead. I can’t seem to take my eyes off her.

After a few minutes, a group of men enter the pub. It bothers me that she has to take care of them. One is staring at her like she is a piece of meat.

I sit back and watch her every step and interaction with them. Quickly, I see how uncomfortable they make her. When she leaves their table, her shoulders are tensed.

“What is it?” I ask Gio.

“Have you seen the men at the table before?”

“So you’re interested in the redhead,” Gio says more than ask.

Red returns with drinks. I see the intentions of one of the fuckers on the table before she can. Immediately, I find myself filled with rage. Before I can stop myself, I walk to the table.

“Don’t be like that, Red. I know this is what you want.” The fucker jokes.

“Let me go!” The redhead says louder, but she lacks conviction. He sees it because he continues. I don't think and walk to the table. I'll be damned if the fucker will harass her.

“She said to let her go,” I bark, reaching the table.

“Stay out of this, bro. I’m just having a little fun.”

“NOW!” I bark, and the fucker doesn’t hesitate.

As the table stands to leave, redhead trips. Before she can fall, I catch her. Immediately, I’m hit by the sweet lavender scent and the softness of her skin. It prompts me to hold her closer. There is something about her that makes me want to keep her. This is a first.

“Are you hurt?” I ask, but she ignores me. “Are you not hearing me?” I ask, annoyed.

“I’m fine. Thank you.” She says, walking away.

“She is younger than your usual,” Gio says, laughing.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I ask, returning to my table with Red’s scent under my nostrils.

“Nothing. It’s nice to know your attention isn’t all work.”

I sit and look toward the backroom, where Red seems to have gone. There is this urge to hear her voice again. When she comes out, there is anger written on her face. She stops where the useless manager of the pub stands. They are arguing. I stand from my table and walk to the bar.

“Stay out of it,” Gio says, but I ignore him.

“Payday is Friday. It will be ready then,” Mike tells her when I reach them.

“What the fuck is going on here?” I demand.

“Nothing for you to worry about, Mr. Biagini,” Mike answers.

“Last I checked, this is my establishment, so everything concerns me.” It’s a few seconds before Mike speaks.

“Cassie isn’t a good fit for this establishment, always causing trouble,”

“Blame the new girl you harass every chance you get because I said no.”

Her words stopped me in my tracks. A few days ago, someone complained that Mike was harassing the women.

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing. I’ll be back Friday for my paycheck.” Cassie took a step to leave, but I stopped her.

“You aren’t going anywhere until you explain yourself.” She tries to free her arm.

“There is nothing to say. If you would be so kind, please let go of me.”

“I don’t repeat myself.”

I place her in front of me and get a better look at her. Her sapphire radiant eyes sparkle. She has long, wavy red hair. Cassie barely reaches my chest. As Gio observed, she is young.

She remains quiet. I can tell she is debating what she wants to say. I’m about to demand an answer a second time when she speaks.

“Mike is a sleazeball. I’m sure the reason he fired me is because I rejected him. Now that you know the answer, I would appreciate your letting me go. I’m already fired. There is no reason for me to be here.” In her last few words, her voice cracked.

“You aren’t fired. He is.” She raises her eyebrows in confusion. “I won’t tolerate anyone disrespecting my employees.”

“Thanks. But I’m okay. I don’t need this job.” She says. But once more, her voice has no conviction. “Could you please let me go? I want to leave.” She adds before I can speak. Her voice is sweet and soft.

“Lex—” I hear Gio call. I turn to face him. Cassie takes the opportunity to free herself.

“Goodnight.” She says before I can stop her.

“What the fuck do you want?” I demand from Gio as I watch Cassie walk away.

“I was going to say let’s finish our drink, but Red has captured your attention.” The moment Cassie pushes the door open, I spot the asshole from the table who grabbed her. Before Gio can speak, I rush to the door, my gun in hand. I'll be damned if someone thinks they can harass her and get away with it.