Ruthless: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance Read Online Free Page A

power and respectability. The manicured lawns with tasteful bushes and trees lent the house an aura of peacefulness, of a stateliness that said the Bertolis were planning on being there for generations to come. Even the crushed gravel under my feet seemed high-class as it crunched and squealed with each step I took. It was where I wanted to be again, and I felt the heat in my belly flare up. I deserved to be one of the people with access to this place, not meeting mid-level enforcers at cheap bars, clutching at brown envelopes of cash.
    I went around to the kitchen area, again from memory, where I had to swallow a little bit of surprise and, I had to admit, fear, as I saw Tomasso Bertoli, the Don's son and heir, standing and waiting for me. "Dante?"
    "Yes, sir," I said, making sure to sound calm and collected. I knew that if I impressed this man, I'd be able to make strides up the ladder, and maybe get out of my one-room shithole of an apartment. "Dante Degrassi."
    Tomasso nodded, thinking. "Degrassi . . . Degrassi . . . wasn't your father part of the organization? I remember a man named Degrassi long ago."
    "Uh . . . yeah, my dad worked for Don Bertoli,” I said, trying not to feel shame. "In fact, I even came here a few times when I was a kid. I went to your third birthday party."
    "Really? Wow, sorry. It's been a long time," Tomasso said, offering his hand. "I didn't recognize you.”
    "It's okay," I replied, at least warmed by Tomasso’s not immediately bringing up the reason I'd gone from the penthouse to the outhouse, if he even remembered. We shook hands, and I smiled, even if it was a professional handshake. "Uhm, Julius said you might need my help tonight. Where do you need me?"
    Tomasso nodded and pulled out his smartphone, checking something on it. "Hold on, I had a list here . . . okay. You're going to be in charge of parking cars tonight at first, and working with my wife while she acts as the hostess. The guests should start arriving in about a half hour, so let me show you the map and peg board we set up for the whole thing."
    Parking. A fucking valet job. Still, I was determined to show that I could do the job properly, so I followed him inside. "The system isn't too complicated. I hope you don't get confused. I know it's a lot to throw at you quickly," Tomasso said. "I made a grease board with the drawing of the parking area. We'll set that up by the area you'll be working. The magnetic hooks are where you can put the keys when you park them so they don't get lost. Any questions?"
    "No. Looks good to me," I said, grabbing the board and following Tomasso outside. I propped the board against a lamp post that helped illuminate the driveway and dusted off my hands. "What about afterward?"
    Tomasso looked a little chagrined, then shrugged. “Well, to be honest, I had someone else come up with the job list. I didn't realize a multiple-generation guy was working the party, so—"
    "It's okay," I interrupted him, forcing a smile. "If I need to hang out here with the cars, I will."
    Tomasso shook his head. "Nah, the perimeter security staff will make sure nobody gets stupid with them. How about after, say, eight o'clock or so, you come inside, grab yourself some food, and join in the party? Aunt Margaret's getting some five-tier monstrosity that could feed a small nation, and the rest of the spread's just as big. Come on in and enjoy yourself.”
    I blinked, surprised. "Really?"
    Tomasso nodded. "I've got more to do before everyone shows up, including making sure the caterers are setting up right, so I'll leave you here.”
    "Cool. And thanks, Mr. Bertoli."
    Tomasso left, and I positioned myself right next to the sign, promising myself that I would do a perfect job.
    Just like Tomasso said, the first guests started to arrive right at six o'clock, with Tomasso's wife, Luisa, coming out and acting as the receiving hostess, standing outside the front door of the mansion. When she waved me over, I jogged and positioned