No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 5

"16 million!" I hear a voice beside me. My head snaps to see Everett Patton smirking, the rest of his table glaring at him. His twin whispers something harshly to him and Everett says something with a smirk and soon the entire table is looking at me. My eyes fall to the woman from before, her lips forming a smirk as she looks at me.

Her black hair moves as she turns to face the front again, uncovering her arm, leaving her tattoos exposed.

I'm stopped in my tracks when I see a detailed flower on her arm, a familiar flower. A flower I've seen too many times not to notice, the same imagine that's been sketched in every one of my men's chests when they've been killed.

She notices me looking and shifts her position, hiding her arm from me.

Gabriel Hayes hisses something to Everett who shrugs, his smugness only angering me.

"20 million," I shout out, low murmurs rippling through the crowd, shooting a glare at Le Aquile Rosse before turning my attention back to the auctioneer.

"20 million to Mr De Santis, can I get 25 million from anyone?" the auctioneer shouts the room going silent.

"This land going to Mr De Santis, for 20 million! Going once! Going twice! And sold!" he shouts all in one breath, the crowd clapping for me.

"You didn't have to do that," Alessio mutters to me, and I shrug, "We'll be able to use it for something,"

The auctioneer grins at me and steps down off the small stage, signalling the event over. People begin to disperse as the man walks over to me.

"Mr De Santis, congratulations on your buy," he says, smiling as he shakes my hand heartily. "Thank you Mr Burrows," I reply, trying to ignore the clicking of approaching heels.

The noise gets louder and I turn my head to watch the smirking woman walking up to me, Le Aquile Rosse following her.

"Congratulations on your buy Mr De Santis," she says sweetly, looking up at me as she puts her hand out.

I accept her hand and shake it, "I'm sorry, do I know you?" I ask, trying to take the smug girl off her high horse.

"Anastasia Mancini," she replies, her smile persistent as her tone becomes cold. Her sudden change of tone makes me smirk.

Anastasia Mancini.

One of the most prolific assassins in the underworld. Everyone knows her name, only few have ever seen her face to tell the tale.

I know her parents owned a tattoo parlour as a cover, and I assume their daughter carried on their legacy.

Ari Stewart coughs behind her, his eyes boring into me as I drop Anastasia's hand.

Dad places a hand on my shoulder, pulling me back slightly, "We should be going, there's paperwork to sign," he says, and I don't miss the small smile Anastasia gives him.

"Thanks for saving me from that," Everett says, winking at me as my tongue pokes the inside of my cheek.

Smug motherfucker.

I nod at the group before turning around and following Mr Burrows to the desk beside the stage which is already laid out with papers.

I sit down and quickly sign where Mr Burrows instructs me, before he shakes my hand once more.

"The property's yours now, all my stuff is out, so I'll leave you to enjoy it," he smiles, shaking Dad's hand before leaving.

"He was quick to leave," Alessio mutters, causing Uncle Marco to chuckle.