The Carrero Contract - Selling Your Soul (Mafia Romance)

I slide into the seat of the private jet, quietly laughing at the emblazoned gold ‘C’ logo on absolutely everything in a very amused manner that gets a shrug from Alexi. It’s not his plane but it belongs to his cousin or something, and I get a kick out of the familiar iconic mark everywhere. I have seen it on buildings in the city and on paperwork in the office sometimes. It’s not Alexi’s trademark, but the business tycoons in the family use it to solidify a brand. Carrero is a household name on a lot of high-quality products and services in the States.

I move in and slump down into the moulded leather of the best aeroplane seat I have ever sat on in my life, enjoying the feeling of well-designed comfort as my weary bones unfurl. Even though this belongs to family; with his money I’m sure he could afford one of his own and wonder why he doesn’t. He travels enough to warrant it.

I don’t understand the dynamics of the Carreros at all, or the way the underworld and above-board sides coexist and share, yet remain separate in public lives. It’s odd.

It seems like they are one secretly huge close-knit community underneath, who are either on the good side or not. Everyone still interacts and knows what the other side is doing and seems fine with it overlapping occasionally; Private relationships, such as meeting his cousins for training or family time out of sight, away from prying eyes. The media never connects the flashy businessmen with the politically ingrained ones like Alexi.

I know his cousin Jacob Carrero is on the New York’s hot men list for the umpteenth year in a row, and yet Alexi has avoided being printed in any sort of glossy his whole life. He is hotter than his cousin by any standard, in my opinion!

Both are known billionaires with many companies at their command, yet somehow Alexi is given a free pass from the media and only those with his dark world connections know of his true reputation and purpose in life.

I guess money can buy you any kind of front you need and equally hide the parts you wish to remain unseen. He has powerful friends in high places and generations of connections that enable this almost split existence. He can pass off as introverted money-maker who frequents events, and those in the know are aware you never cross him or gossip about what his family are if you want to keep breathing. It’s crazy how society lets it go on in the shadows this way.

I guess it’s a form of protection too, for those not embroiled in Alexi’s world and some who are. He can take better care of the innocents if they are not linked to the family’s crime side; protect acquaintances who show him favour. And I know, above all, he has a huge thing about responsibility for his family and protecting them, always. With him, family are priority. I have always known that about him. It’s the first rule in his code book.

Family comes first!

We got here before anyone, the little Club Carrero group of us, so as I relax after choosing my back seat in an empty plane, Alexi moves in from trailing after me at a distance and sits on the seat right next to me and gets comfy too. Stretching out his legs and throwing me a soft smile as he settles in right beside me. I am not surprised he chose to sit here; seeing as everyone coming has a partner and I guess it would look weird if he sat somewhere else and left me alone. Alexi never goes dateless by choice, so he will expect everyone to assume I’m a current plaything.

I don’t really care as long as he knows that’s not how this is.

Apart from Gino, Mico and now Jackson, I don’t know anyone else who is coming with us and as far as I know, it’s a small group.

Mico and his girlfriend Mandy already picked seats at the very front of the plane, facing forward to have some ‘alone time’ and we are right at the back where the tables are because I wanted a window seat and somewhere with a desk space to spread out. I don’t do social groups very often.

I brought some books to read on the flight, seeing as he told me it is three hours to Miami—the billionaire destination for nightclub getaways apparently. I don’t want to spend three hours making small talk with anyone, especially not Alexi.

two-yearly event and it’s the only way Alexi ever really kicks back properly

on whatever and doesn’t look my way, even when I stare at him for a good three minutes. That handsome profile set on what he is reading and he just looks

side of his neck and behind his ear. He had a haircut today and it’s shorter and spikier than normal, he looks like any other hot man on the way to a weekend adventure. Effortlessly youthful and sexy and I pull myself away from overly examining him, aware that he has a very extreme effect on my nether regions when I allow my brain to stray down that path. I am trying not to let my hormones cloud my brain when it comes to

he drags in a tall leggy brunette, who looks very Italian, by the hand. She is slim, tanned, exotic and gorgeous, with a massive set of boobs over a tiny waist under a very

Alexi, da tempo non ci vediamo,’ she beams at him, and he looks

her on the cheek. I watch in disbelief, a churning of something in the pit of my stomach as she gives him a warm hug and kisses him back. It’s not awkward or forced and he still seems as relaxed as he

Gino might have competition, huh? She jests cheekily, smoothing her hands over the lapels of his jacket, laughing when Gino frowns at her and shoves his brother in the shoulder playfully. Alexi just winks at Gino and ignores the faux outrage on his face. It’s obvious

or not. I don’t appreciate her overly touchy

or I may just leave on the grounds

way she moves. Inhumanely stunning with a body to die for and I can tell even from here her dress is designer. She

Not just because she’s ‘blow your mind’ hot, but because she’s standing with Alexi’s arm around her waist cosily as they continue to have a quiet conversation in Italian, as though it’s the

into a centre seat as his woman is being monopolized by his twin. I am getting no hints of jealous or mistrust from his manner, even while my own heart is pounding out of my chest painfully. Trying to rip my

does. Even I can see her merits, and I am straight as they come. Although I am not against girl on girl when it serves my purpose and I have seduced women before when I needed

I know I am being dumb—it’s just he used to use women as a weapon on me frequently and I cannot stomach seeing it now, even when it’s innocent. It feels like anxiety or something painful and I try like crazy

up is Italian, which I cannot speak. Alexi is returning in fluent dialogue too, so I get nothing of the conversation anymore and it’s frustrating to have no clue what’s being said. The odd glances she sends my way unnerve me and I look down, opening my book to appear disinterested. It’s obvious he has mentioned me, and I don’t actually

place I left off and trying so hard to calm myself internally, I jump when dark hair falls in front of me like a curtain as she leans

of a smile from me. It’s oddly cute, even if this is the woman who was using

…

Never mind!

she’s even prettier and that accent is heavy and husky and effortlessly sexy. I can see why Gino would never cheat on her with someone like me. She’s a goddess walking

is leaning into Gino’s aisle, they are locked in deep conversation as we wait for more guests; ignoring

sexy, I love your accent. Lex told me you were a cute little English girl, but he

Cute. Little. English. Girl!

British! And cute? What the fuck is cute? Puppy