The Bishop (The Holy Trinity Duet Book 1) Read online

  With Sienna already moved in, we were only waiting until the end of the month to get married. Her cast is supposed to come off in two weeks, so two weeks after that we’re getting married in a small, quiet ceremony, two towns over. Since she wants a real wedding, it’s safer to have it in another town, so no one suspects. It was highly dangerous for all three Benettis to be at a public gathering like that, so we were being as careful as possible since Luca had insisted on attending, no matter what.

  And now we were sitting in his office, an impromptu meeting called. If it weren’t for Sienna wanting to present her sister with the illusion that she had a normal life, I would have preferred we just get married here.

  “So, what’s up?” Sal asked, comfortable on the couch while Luca leaned against the edge of his desk and I sat in one of the chairs.

  “I’ve been thinking about the club on Capitol,” Luca said. “I think you should buy it.”

  The Eagle on Capitol Street used to be a strip club, but the owner had a bit of a gambling problem and the building went into foreclosure three months ago. I knew Sal had talked to Luca about buying it and renovating the place, but I hadn’t heard anything on Luca’s decision. Sal wanted to keep it a strip club, but Luca wasn’t fond of the flesh trade. Shit got dicey when dealing with women. Even if it wasn’t prostitution, when men salivated over women there was always a chance for drama.

  Sal sat up. “Still a strip club?”

  Luca nodded. “I’m fine with that as long as the girls are taken care of. The club will have top-notch security and the women vetted. No drug addicts or gambling addicts.”

  Sal nodded. “No problem.”

  Luca glanced at both of us before announcing, “Remy’s pregnant.”

  Both me and Sal grinned. “Congratulations.”

  “Yeah, congratulations,” Sal added.

  “I’ve tried ordering her to never leave the house but that didn’t work out as I’d hoped,” Luca remarked dryly, and me and Sal chuckled.

  “I could see how it might not,” I replied.

  Luca looked over at Sal. “So, since she won’t stay her ass home, I need more security on her. Especially, when she isn’t working from home.”

  “No problem,” Sal told him. “How far along is she?”

  “One month only.” Luca shrugged. “As soon as she missed her cycle, I harassed her until she went to the doctor for a blood test.”

  “Wow, the first next-generation Benetti.”

  Luca shot those black eyes my way. “I hope it’s a girl.”

  Sal choked on his own spit. Eyes watering as he got himself under control, he asked, “Are you insane?”

  Luca chuckled at him. “What’s wrong with a little girl?”

  Sal stood up and made his way to the bar. After pouring himself a drink and downing it in one swallow, he asked, “Other than the fact that a girl can’t become head of the organization?”

  “He’s got a point, Luca,” I commented. “A girl can’t become Underboss, much less Boss.”

  Luca folded his arms over his chest. “Says who?” But before we could remark on that outlandish question, he added, “Besides, I never said I wanted Remy to only give me girls. I just said I hope my firstborn is a girl.”

  “You have got to be the most backwards, non-sexist Mob Boss in the entire history of the Mafia.”

  “I need another drink,” Sal muttered before pouring himself another.

  Luca’s arms dropped to his side as he shrugged. “Nah, I just know what the women of this family will be capable of one day.” He looked between me and Sal. “Are you both suggesting that Mattia Mancini is going to grow up playing with Barbies and getting her nails done?”

  “Well, fuck,” Sal muttered.

  “We’re going to have to make sure our sons outnumber our daughters,” I grumbled, point taken.

  Luca chuckled. “My thoughts exactly.”

  Looks like I was going to have to put a spreadsheet together on our sons and daughters.

  The End.

  Acknowledgments

  ◆◆◆

  The first acknowledgment will always be my husband. There aren’t enough words to express my gratitude for having this man in my life. There is a little bit of him in every hero I dream up, and I can’t thank God enough for bringing him into my life. Thirty years, and still going strong!

  Second, there’s my family; my daughter, my son, my grandchildren, my sister, and my mother. Family is everything, and I have one of the best. They are truly the best cheerleaders I could ever ask for, and I never forget just how truly blessed I am to have them in my life.

  And, of course, there’s Kamala. This woman is not only my beta and idea guinea pig, but she’s also one of my closest friends. She’s been with me from the beginning of this journey, and we’re going to ride this thing to the end. Kam’s the encouragement that sparked it all, folks.

  And, finally, I’d like to thank everyone who’s purchased, read, reviewed, shared, and supported me and my writing. Thank you so much for helping make this dream a reality and a happy, fun one at that! I cannot say thank you enough.

  About the Author

  ◆◆◆

  M.E. Clayton works full-time and writes as a hobby. She is an avid reader and, with much self-doubt, but more positive feedback and encouragement from her friends and family, she took a chance at writing, and the Seven Deadly Sins Series was born. Writing is a hobby she is now very passionate about. When she’s not working, writing, or reading, she is spending time with her family or friends. If you care to learn more, you can read about her by visiting the following:

  Smashwords Interview

  Bookbub Author Page

  Goodreads Author Page

  Other Books

  ◆◆◆

  The Seven Deadly Sins Series (In Order)

  Catching Avery (Avery & Nicholas)

  Chasing Quinn (Quinn & Chase)

  Claiming Isabella (Isabella & Julian)

  Conquering Kam (Kamala & Kane)

  Capturing Happiness

  The Enemy Duet (In Order)

  In Enemy Territory (Fiona & Damien)

  On Enemy Ground (Victoria & William)

  The Enemy Series (In Order)

  Facing the Enemy (Ramsey & Emerson)

  Engaging the Enemy (Roselyn & Liam)

  Battling the Enemy (Deke & Delaney)

  Provoking the Enemy (Ava & Ace)

  Loving the Enemy

  Resurrecting the Enemy (Ramsey Jr. & Lake)

  The Buchanan Brothers Series (In Order)

  If You Could Only See (Mason & Shane)

  If You Could Only Imagine (Aiden & Denise)

  If You Could Only Feel (Gabriel & Justice)

  If You Could Only Believe (Michael & Sophia)

  If You Could Only Dream

  The How To: Modern-Day Woman’s Guide Series (In Order)

  How to Stay Out of Prison (Lyrical & Nixon)

  How to Keep Your Job (Alice & Lincoln)

  How to Maintain Your Sanity (Rena & Jackson)

  The Holy Trinity Series (In Order)

  The Holy Ghost (Phoenix & Francesca)

  The Son (Ciro & Roberta)

  The Father (Luca & Remy)

  The Redemption (Nico & Mia)

  The Vatican (Francisco Phoenix Benetti & Luca Saveria Fiore)

  The Blackstone Prep Academy Duet (In Order)

  Reflections (Grace & Styx)

  Mirrors (London & Sterling)

  The Eastwood Series (In Order)

  Samson (Samson & Mackenzie)

  Ford (Ford & Amelia)

  Raiden (Raiden & Charlie)

  Duke (Duke & Willow)

  Alistair (Alistair & Rory)

  The Problem Series (In Order)

  The Problem with Fire (Sayer & Monroe)

  The Problem with Sports (Nathan & Andrea)

  The Problem with Dating (Gideon & Echo)

  The Pieces Series (In Order)

  Our Broken Pieces (Mystic & Gage) />
  Our Cracked Pieces (Rowan & Lorcan)

  Our Shattered Pieces (Molly & Grayson)

  The Holy Trinity Duet (In Order)

  The Bishop (Leonardo & Sienna)

  The Cardinal (Salvatore & Blake)

  The Holy Trinity Next Generation Series (In Order)

  Vincent & Cira (Vincent Fiore & Cira Benetti)

  Salvatore Jr. & Camilla (Salvatore Benetti Jr. & Camilla Mancini)

  Emilio & Bianca (Emilio Benetti & Bianca Mancini)

  Angelo & Georgia (Angelo Benetti & Georgia Mancini)

  Dante & Malia (Dante Fiore & Malia Benetti)

  Mattia & Remo (Mattia Mancini & Remo Vitale)

  Standalone

  Unintentional

  Purgatory, Inc.

  My Big, Huge Mistake

  An Unexpected Life

  The Heavier the Chains…

  Real Shadows

  You Again

  Merry Christmas To Me

  Dealing with the Devil