Tyson's POV

I walked into my father's office. I knew what he wanted and I didn't want to hear it. It was a stupid rule that I didn't want to follow but I knew in order for me to take over the familia it had to be done.

"Tyson, son, sit down," he ordered as soon as I stepped through the door. You didn't not listen to him. He ran our lives with an iron fist. He had to in order to keep his position. He wasn't abusive but he could be an asshole to us kids. He demanded respect and he always got it.

"Dad, I already know what you want and I don't want to. The rule is outdated, and I don't understand why I need a wife."

The door opened and my mother walked in. She looked the part at every second of the day. I can't remember a time in my life when she was done completely up and dressed to the nines. She had a part to play as well, and she did it flawlessly. She was the perfect trophy wife, the perfect mob wife. She never questioned anything and made sure us boys stayed in line.

"A wife softens your image and makes you more likeable. Believe it or not, you are like your father in so many ways. You need a good Italian woman. You will need a heir to take over one day when you are ready to retire. It's also been tradition in our family for as long as I know. Now if you do not want to date, we can arrange something for you." She said sweetly but I knew that undertone. It was do what they say or reap the consequences. Which would be lose your spot as the leader and if that happened it would go to my brother Luca, and I know for a fact he doesn't want all the responsibility. Sure, he wants to be involved but he doesn't want all decisions to fall to him.

"I get that but why does there have to be timeline on things. I don't want to be a husband and I for sure don't want kids anytime soon."

"We don't stray from tradition," my father said in his stop arguing voice.

I stood up and just nodded at them and walked out of the room.

"I will set you up with some dates," my mom yelled as I shut the door to his office.

I left their house speeding away in my car. I was so frustrated with them. I didn't want to get married and sure as shit didn't want to be set up with dates. I could get my own dates. My phone started ringing and I hit the button my steering wheel to answer it.

"What," I growled into the phone.

"I take your meeting didn't go well." Luca my brother said.

"What the fuck do you think?"

"I'm guessing the whole marriage thing came up again."

"Ya, and mom is trying to set up dates for me this time."

"God, that makes you look desperate."

"Did you actually want something, or did you just want to gloat that you don't have to find a fucking wife."

"Ya, we're going out tonight. Be ready at nine."

"Where are we going?"

"Alex picked up a fight tonight."

"When is he going to stop that shit?"

"He's not. I'll pick you up."

I hung up with him went back to penthouse apartment. I had bought it when I was twenty and it was my safe place. It had four bedrooms and three bathrooms. The kitchen was top of the line everything, even though I don't use it. It was done in blacks and greys matching my mood most of the time. I was set to be the next Don, I had to have a level of moodiness, and I had to be a leader, and I couldn't back down from a fight.

I had my own parking garage at my apartment, one of the many other perks of this apartment complex. I had three other vehicles parked in here. I had my blacked-out SUV and a bike and a Bugatti Divo plus the car I was driving today. I didn't drive my Bugatti very often, but I did love it.

I walked into my apartment and went straight to my kitchen and grabbed a beer from the fridge and downed half of it in one drink. I should skip the drink and hit the gym before we went out but I was pissed at my parents right now.

Three hours later Luca was sitting on my couch yelling at me to hurry the fuck up. I got sidetracked working after I downed my beer and so now, I was late getting ready. I had thrown on a black t-shirt and my favorite pair of dark jeans and hurried up and laced up my boots. I grabbed my leather jacket and favorite watch and headed down the stairs as I put my watch on.

"OK, let's get out of here."

"Great, we're taking our bikes tonight."

I didn't argue with him over it. I had planned on drinking tonight, but I would have to limit it if I was riding my bike. I grabbed my keys, and we both headed to my garage. My brothers all had the code to get in here so they could park easily.

We weaved in and out of traffic headed to the shed. It was an old packing shed that they had turned into an underground world. If you wanted to gamble, fight, race, find hookers, or anything else this is where you went. You could find drugs in ample supply and anything else you could want. They've paid the cops off, so they never come out here. In fact, it's not uncommon to find cops in full uniform walking around drinking and gambling or looking for a woman for the night.

The Slate family ran it and while they weren't part of the same world as we were they were royalty in their own right. They had taken what their father had left them which was this piece of property and turned it into a million. Mason was the oldest and also mean as fuck and didn't put up with anyone's shit. I've watched him shoot someone for lying to him and then there is Gey who is the middle child and he kept things running smoothly, making sure everywhere was staffed and people were happy and then there was Sam AKA Samantha and while she was drop dead gorgeous and slutty she was also incredible smart and a lot of the different areas of the place had been her idea. She makes sure that business is booming and is always coming up with ideas.

We pulled in and parked our bikes in the back where the Slate family parked. We knew they would be safe here and we went inside through the back door. The security guard just nodded at us, and we headed straight towards the fighting area. I never could understand why Alex had this need to fight. He has always been this way. Him and Asher were twins and while the two were incredibly close, like almost sickly so from the rumors I've heard but Alex was always looking to bash someone face in and Ash was more reserved and liked to sit back and watch people. Don't underestimate him though because he could hold his own with Alex and would whip anyone in a fight.

As soon as we stepped through the door to the arena where the fights were held the music assaulted my ears and the lights were flashing around. I squinted with the lights and pushed my way through the crowd of people, making our way to the locker rooms they had here.

"Hey, you guys came," Alex said as Asher wrapped his hands up.

"Ya and you better not disappoint us." I said joking and he just grunted at me.

We kind of just stood around and watched as Asher pumped him up for his fight, not that he needed it. He seemed to have some built up rage inside of him. He was born that way.

"Alex, you're next," someone yelled through the doorway. He jumped up and down a few times and then ripped his shirt over his head and headed towards the door. Ash followed right behind him while Luca and I were behind him.

As soon as he opened the door the noise rang in my ears as people screamed and the music blared. Alex walked to the entry way and started bouncing on his feet as he waited for the announcer.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have the Great Alex in the house tonight. You know him as the enforcer." he yelled and music started to play, and the crowd went even crazier.

He walked out waving his hands in the air and pound on his chest and held the cocky arrogant attitude that he was known for. He fed into the crowd that was cheering him on. As the music cut the announcer introduced the man, he was fighting the crowd booed and I know that made his ego go through the roof.

"Dancing time boys," he said before Asher popped his mouthpiece in and he hopped into the ring.

There were no rules in these fights, beside don't kill each other but if someone died it wouldn't be first time that happened. I watched as Alex jumped around the ring egging on his opponent. It worked and he struck first and that is all that it took because then Alex laid into him and landed punch after punch while the guy got maybe in two in before he went down and was out cold.

The crowd got even louder as Alex danced around taking his victory like ego driven fool he was. I turned to Luca, "let's get a drink while we wait for this fool to come down from his egotistical high."

"We might die of alcohol poisoning before that happens."

We both laughed and pushed our way back through the swarm of people and headed to the closest bar. We both got a beer and when I went to turn around to find a quieter spot I ran straight into Sam. Her hand ran up my stomach and landed on my chest.

"Hey handsome, haven't seen you in a while." she purred.

"Alex had a fight tonight."

"I know I watched. I think I'm going to have to change betting on him. Not who will win but how many punches can the other guy get in on him before he knocks them out."

I threw my head back laughing because she wasn't wrong. He hadn't lost a fight yet and I'm sure that she was losing money and that was something that they didn't like.

"Why don't we leave here and go somewhere quiet."

"No thanks. I'm here with my brothers tonight."

She looked over to Luca and back to me with a devilish smile on her face and I knew what was going through her head. "He can come too."

"Ya, I don't do that shit and if I wanted you," I said grabbing her hand and pulling it off of me, "I would be the one inviting you."

"You're no fun. Your other brothers are way more fun, and I promise they would take me up on the offer." She said as if trying to make me jealous because that would make me want to go with her.

"So go find them."

I stepped around her and left her there and wiped my hand on my pants. The girl truly was slutty, but I didn't need rumors about my brother confirmed.

"Come on, I'm sure we can find you a nice Italian girl here," Luca said and I punched him in the shoulder and glared at him. Any woman I met here is not something I would ever take home.

Tess's POV

The next morning, I got up early and went to the apartment complex that Jack and I lived at. I didn't see his car in our assigned spots. I told him I was coming here today, and I was praying that he wasn't going to be here. I just wanted my clothes and a few other things.

When I walked into our apartment it finally hit me. I had been so angry about everything that I hadn't broken down and cried, until now. Seeing our engagement photos hanging on the walls and how in love I am with this man. Grabbing one of the photos off the wall to anyone looking at it, we looked like we were in love but when I studied Jack's face, I could see it. He might be looking at me and smiling but his eyes gave it away. He wasn't in love. I was an obligation he had to his parents. They expected him to get married and take over the company and I was easy to convince, and I was dumb enough that I didn't figure it out.

I threw the picture on the floor, shattering the glass and wiped my face and went to our bedroom. I grabbed my suitcase and started piling my clothes in it. It didn't take long to fill up. I wouldn't be taking everything with me because tomorrow I was out of this god forsaken state.

I had filled three suitcases with stuff and dragged them down to my car. I went back up once last time to make sure that I had everything I wanted and what was left Jack could deal with.

When I got back out to my car, the spot next to mine had a car parked in it. I groaned because it was one of three people and when the person stepped out, I groaned again not wanting to deal with her.

"Tessalynn, what are you doing?" She snapped at me.

"I'm leaving Mrs. Wellington."

"Jack is at my house just sick about this." She said and I just had to shake my head because I am sure he isn't. I'm sure he's somewhere nursing a hangover in some girl's bed or probably Sloans bed.

"I don't owe you anything. I sure as shit don't owe him anything. He wasted four years of my life, I'm just thankful that I found out what lying piece of shit he is before I actually married him."

"Watch it, that is my son, and you embarrassed my family enough yesterday."

"No Judy, your son did that," I yelled at her. I had never called her by her first name. I wouldn't be the proper southern belle if I did that. Well, I'm fucking done being the good girl they think that I am.

"If you refuse to make this right, this is for you."

She handed me an envelope, and she stood there with the perfect posture, and her perfect hair and makeup and it was only seven in the morning. I ripped the envelope open and pulled out a bill for fifty thousand dollars.

"What the hell is this?"

"You're half of the wedding."

"I'm not paying for shit." I said and shoved the bill into her chest, but she didn't take it from me, and it fell to the ground.

"If you don't pay, I will go after your mother for it."

"Leave her alone and you are the one that wanted that shit. You booked everything and your son ruined it. I'm not paying for it."

I got in my car and sped off. I watched her in my rearview mirror as her driver got out and opened the door for her. It honestly made me sick that I thought I wanted to be a part of that family.

When I pulled back up to my mother's house I went inside, and she was up sitting on the couch drinking coffee. I hadn't told her I was leaving yet but I guess now was better than ever because after my run in with his mom, I knew it was just going to keep happening.

I went and sat down on the couch and rested my head on her shoulder. "It's going to be alright sweetie. I know it feels like the world is ending, but it's going to be alright."

"I know and mom I don't know how to tell you this because you've been my everything. You are the best mom in the entire world but," I hesitated as my mouth went dry and it was hard to tell her this.

"I know honey, you are leaving and I have something for you."

She made it so much easier for me, and I didn't have to actually tell her. She knew, like she always did. I swear this woman was a mind reader or something.

She reached over to the table and handed me an old coffee can. I opened it up and it was full of cash. I instantly handed it back.

"Mom, I don't need this."

"Yes, you do. Take and get the hell out of this town."

"I really don't need this. We had been saving money for a down payment on a house. He didn't want to use his parent's money for things like that. Said we had to prove to the world we deserved to have everything, and I respected that and I still do, but we had savings account together and we had our separate accounts. I may have went last night and taken half of that savings account."

She started laughing and I had to join her. It wasn't really that funny, but I think the whole situation was just so much that all we could do is laugh.

"I'm leaving today," I finally said after our laughter calmed down.

"Ok, well let's get your stuff packed and get you ready." she said with a confidence that I wish I could feel. I was scared and I was leaving not knowing where I was going but I wanted someone far away from here and I wanted the beach, so I was thinking California.

Three days later I pulled up to the first beach in California that I found. I wasn't sure which town I was in honestly and I really didn't care. It was warm and had a beach and for the first time in three days I felt at peace. Things felt right and I felt like this is where I was supposed to be. I got out of my car and walked down to the shoreline and kicked off my shoes and pulled my pants up and put my feet in the water. The warm water lapped around my feet, and I relaxed just a little.

I snapped a picture of my feet in the water and sent it to my mom. Her reply was instant, with a smiley face emoji.

I spent several hours before I left and found a cheap hotel and got a shower and ordered some food. I grabbed my laptop while I waited for food. I had to find a place to live and a job.

I found several different places to apply for a job. I had my nursing licenses and so I started there at hospitals and then moved onto restaurants. I knew that they would be faster and I needed income coming in. Then I moved onto apartments, and they were spendy in this area. Everything was to be honest with you, but I would figure it out.

It only took me two days to find a job waiting tables at a high-end place. It was always packed, which was good because I made great tips and I had first round interviews set up at a hospital in town. They had several openings.

I walked into work, and my apron was thrown at me instantly. "Tess, can you handle the back room tonight?" my manager asked.

"I think so."

"Good because Sofie called out and I need you back there."

I just nodded at him and started getting everything I needed. "Go, they are important clients. I need you to turn on that southern charm."

I took a deep breath and headed to the back room. I could hear multiple deep voices back there when I got close but the one right before I entered made my legs a little weak. It was deep and so authoritative. He was commanding the whole room. Everyone was listening to him. I smoothed back my ponytail and made sure my shirt was tucked in and pulled the curtain back and walked inside the room like I owned it.

Ten men's heads all turned to me and God they were all hot. I wish I knew who these men were. They were all large and packed with muscles and tattoos. All of them had them in various locations.

My face blushed and a few men chuckled and I had to shake my head to clear the dirty thoughts out of my head, because right now I was thinking about being the main course and good god I never had thought about being with more than one man at a time. In fact, I had only been with two men my entire life but right now, if one of them suggested for me to lay on the table I would in a heartbeat.

"I'm Tess and I'll be your waitress tonight. Can I get you started with anything to drink?"

One guy there had a small black eye, and he looked at one of the guys who looked identical to him. "Where you from, beautiful?"

"I just moved here from Georgia."

"That accent is pretty."

"Thank you."

"How about a round of you?" he asked and my face heated to that of an overripe tomato.

"Alex, knock your shit off," the man at the head of the table scolded him and God it was the man talking before I entered with the voice. He commanded the room, and he was the one in charge but looking at all the men several of them had to be related because they looked so much alike.

"Give us a bottle on your top shelf whiskey."

"Yes, sir," I said and the man shifted in his chair from my formality.

"You can leave now," he scolded and I quickly turned on my heel and ran out of the room and went and put their order in.

As soon as I pulled the curtain shut, they all started laughing but the man at the head of the table growled at them to shut up.

I moved away as fast as I could and went straight to the bar and ordered their whiskey and then went and got glasses and wasn't sure if they wanted ice or not. I went without since they wanted the whiskey. I grabbed enough glasses for them and headed back into the room.

The room went silent as soon as I walked in and I felt like an intruder. All eyes were on me, and I slowly walked around the room and placed a glass in front of all of them.

"Are you gentlemen ready to order, or would you like some more time?" I asked, looking at the man at the head of the table. His eyes were so dark and daring and there was something about him. I wanted to know his name. I wanted to know what it felt like to scream it while he was between my legs.

"We're ready," the man that was hot as sin said. God, I needed to know his name and a picture would be even better.

They all took their turns ordering and I wrote things down as quickly as possible and prayed that I didn't get this wrong.

"Will this be one check or separate checks?" I asked before I went to put their order in. It was easier if I could do it now.

"One," the man at the head of the table growled at me again and I wanted to see if I could get under his skin again.

"Yes, sir. I will get this put in right now."

It worked and he shifted in his seat and his face flushed just slightly. I gave him a small smile and winked at him letting him know I could see what that was doing. I had a feeling I was playing a dangerous game but God he was hot and totally worth it.

I walked out of the room and took a deep breath because right now I don’t know what has come over me. I’ve never had thoughts like I was right now, and I’ve never flirted like this before. I was more reserved and polite. Maybe this was the change I needed, maybe this could be the new me.

Tyson's POV

I was supposed to be talking to my top men about our next move but the second the waitress walked in all thoughts left my fucking brain and went straight to my dick. I think that all my men had the same reaction, but I was the one she made eye contact with and winked. Problem was, I had a date planned for the next night that I didn't want to go on. That was my mom's doing. I was down to six months until my twenty fifth birthday and they were applying the pressure, and I can tell you right now that our waitress isn't Italian and she is most definitely not part of the mafia. Both are a problem and so I have to get her out of my mind.

She dropped the check by me and walked out of the room, and I couldn't help but watch her ass as she left. So did everyone else that was here.

"I expect all of you to tip her well," I told everyone at the table. I paid for dinner, but they had to tip our server. I would leave her a tip as well, but these fuckers weren't getting away with running up a two-thousand-dollar bill and not pay something.

"I have a tip for her and then about eight inches," Alex announced and that started a round of the guys laughing and each of them telling how much they would give her.

"Knock that shit off. If you guys want to be perverts than go, get a damn hooker and leave her alone."

They all got up and left but Luca. He wasn't dumb. He knew me better than anyone else. He knew that I wanted to take her home and that if I couldn't have her, then no one could have her.

I signed our receipt and left her a hefty tip and pushed it to the middle of the table and drank down the last of my whiskey.

"Go see when she is off tonight."

"That obvious?"

"Ya and I think the feeling was mutual. She was hot and that body, and her accent could make the coldest of men melt."

"I can't I have a date tomorrow night. Mom is on a war path to find me someone and could you imagine bringing her home."

He started laughing. "Ya, dad would have a heart attack and then it wouldn't matter," he said between laughs, and I had to chuckle as well because it probably would kill him, but I can't do that to him. As much of an asshole he is, I understand with the position he is in.

My driver pulled up to the hotel. This girl my mom had flown in from another state. Their father was a Don in Floridia. They had a huge import and export market there. I got out of the car and headed inside. I knew my parents were paying for all of her expenses.

As I walked in the elevator dinged and off stepped my date. Alessandra or Alle as she said in the text messages that we had exchanged over the past few days. I really had been trying until last night when this sexy waitress stepped into our room. Now Alle didn't even compare. Was she beautiful? Yes, but she didn't have what that waitress had, and I couldn't seem to put my finger on it.

"Tyson," she purred as we got close to one another. She was dressed to the nines in a little dress and high heels, and her hair was down and big and her makeup was thick, and her perfume was overpowering but I leaned in and kissed her cheek.

"Shall we," I asked and held out my hand for her. She placed her hand in mine, and I moved it and wrapped it around my arm and escorted her out of the hotel and my driver Jay was waiting there for us and opened the door.

She slid into the car, and I was right behind her and watched as everything flash me when she bent over to get into the car. Either she had on the smallest G-string or nothing at all. Normally I would find this information out pretty quickly, but my mind went to a girl with strawberry blonde hair and wondered what she wore under her dresses.