Nero
"In my opinion_"
"I don't remember asking for it."
The man cleared his throat and spoke again. "I don't think It's a good idea to employ foreign agencies as your security detail." Enzo, my second in command said cautiously.
"My last six body guards were part of the Cosa Nostra, and you've seen how that has turned out so far." From betraying me to being completely useless. "Where are the men?"
"They're waiting in your study."
Nodding, I made my way to the study, Enzo trailing after me. There were eleven men lined up in my office. I walked past them and settled into my wing backed chair, gaze taking in each one. Enzo had already gone through their files and credentials, and had confirmed that each one was capable.
For the sum I was offering, they had better be.
"You," I pointed at one of the men and he immediately stepped forward. "What's your name?"
"James, sir." He replied.
Rising from my chair, I crossed the room to stand in front of James. He had to be six feet to my six feet one with dark brown eyes and hair. He looked like the kind of cocky asshole who would be easy to bribe.
"Get lost James."
From the corner of my eyes, I saw my second shoot me a look of disbelief. Ignoring him, I stepped up to the next person and shook my head.
"Get out."
The next two were equally as disappointing. Until I came to the fifth man. He was taller than me, with dark hair cut into a buzz cut. I was usually good at reading people, but this blue eyed man was like a vault, sealed shut and unreadable. He was in a simple black t-shirt and combat pants, a full sleeve of tattoos covering one arm, and some more peeking out his neck.
He looked dangerous, and wild. Something about him unsettled me.
I turned away from him. "Get out."
Then I glanced over at the sixth man and nodded. "You, you're coming with me. The rest of you can leave."
The blue eyed man glared at me, looking furious at my decision. I ignored him, making a mental note to have Enzo dig deeper into him. Just as I began to turn, he moved.
Within the blink of an eye, he had smashed his fist into the face of the man I had chosen. The sound of bone breaking echoed through the room, blood spurting. The man grabbed his nose with a pained howl just as the blue eyed man leaped forward and grabbed me, pushing me against the wall.
Before I could even breath, he had the edge of his dagger pressed against my carotid. Enzo and my other men immediately jumped into action, guns aimed at the man's back.
"Drop the weapon." Enzo hissed. "You're surrounded."
"Surrounded?" The man glanced over his shoulder, mouth pulling into a smirk. "I don't care. I have my knife on your boss' throat. He'd be dead before either of you could fire."
"You won't make it out alive either." I pointed out the obvious.
He shrugged. "Doesn't matter, I would have done what I got sent to do."
"Who are you? What do you want?" Enzo asked, inching closer.
The man didn't reply for a moment, his gaze locked on me. "My name is Roman Hunt. Nobody sent me if that's what you're thinking. I just wanted to prove to you that you made a poor decision in your choice of bodyguard."
I froze. "Excuse me?"
He motioned at the man who was still screaming over his shattered nose. "He stood right there while I disarmed him with one hit and got you in this position. Is that really the kind of loser you want guarding you? Face it, Mr. Ferrara, you'd have been dead if I had wanted you dead, and that bitching bodyguard wouldn't have been able to do jackshit about it."
"So this was a test?" Enzo bit out, looking both confused and furious.
I kept my expression blank, but I was boiling on the inside. In the space of just a few hours I had been attacked by two different men. Even though they were two different cases, it still didn't make me feel any better.
"Better now than during a real attack, don't you think?"
There was silence in the room for an extended moment, my men exchanging unsure glances.
"You're hired." My voice broke through the silence.
"Boss, we shouldn't_" Enzo stepped forward but I shot him a look that shut him up.
"But the next time you think about putting your fucking hands on me, you should reconsider." I said coldly, pushing the barrel of my gun more firmly against him.
He glanced down in surprise, finally realising that I've had my gun positioned at his stomach from the second he touched me. Something like heat flashed through his gaze, a lazy smirk curling his mouth.
"Noted, boss." He drawled.
"Get your hands off me." I ordered, and he immediately stepped away from me, holding his hand up in surrender.
I nodded at the bleeding man. "Get that asshole out of my sight. And have someone clean up the carpet."
My second in command marched up to Roman and delivered a punch to his face. "That's for that stupid move you just pulled."
Roman spat out blood then cracked his jaw. "You only get one free hit. I hope you've enjoyed it, cause it won't happen again."
"You can't employ him, he's a wild card, boss." Enzo hissed.
"I asked you to veto the names of the applicants and you put his name on the final list." I pointed out, checking my watch. "I have a meeting. I don't have time for this."
"But_"
"I don't appreciate you questioning my decision, Enzo." My voice was cold enough to freeze the Atlantic Ocean over. The other man swallowed and stepped back.
"Of course boss."
"Good. We need to leave now. I don't want to be late for a meeting with the Don."