the best. Rich, old money, and celebrity were her games. She played them well. Club scenes, charity events, exclusive parties, and spoiled little sons and daughters of people who would cry foul if their kids were ever caught up in a scandal.
Yeah, Catherine knew her game.
She wasn’t like Andino’s other dealers.
“How much Molly and powder do you want for next month?”
“Same as last.”
Andino flashed her with a smile. “As long as you keep paying me, I’ll keep supplying, Catherine.”
“You know it.” Catherine wondered where John was, as she thought her oldest cousin was supposed to be with Andino ever since he got released from prison. “Where’s John?”
“Handling business.”
In other words, none of her business.
“Does he know I’m working with you on stuff?” she asked.
“I’ll get around to filling him in.” Andino grinned wickedly, adding, “Or he’ll figure it out in his own time. John’s got a lot of catching up to do. Have you ever considered stepping out on your own with it all?”
Catherine arched a brow high. “What would happen if I did step out on my own, Andino?”
Andino chuckled quietly. “Well, you’d have to find another supplier, of course. But on the upside, you would have your own shit to manage and you could be your own boss instead of answering to me.”
Like her mother had once done , Catherine thought.
Catrina Marcello had once been the Queen. A supreme ghost Queen Pin in the world of celebrities, athletes, and politicians alike. Anyone who couldn’t afford a scandal, Catrina supplied with coke when they needed it, however they wanted it.
Catherine, on the other hand, had stumbled into dealing by accident. She’d caught her brother working the private school’s locker rooms once, dealing Molly and weed to all the little rich kids who wanted a smoke or pill to pop before their games or exams. When Michel graduated and went on to Medical school, Catherine took over his spot as the school’s supplier when people came to her asking where they could get some substance from.
She knew right where to go. Her whole family’s empire was made on drugs, guns, and territory. Her parents thought she had turned a blind eye and a deaf ear to their business growing up, but Catherine had access to the internet just like anybody else did.
She was aware her cousins worked in Cosa Nostra. She knew her father was the Don. So, she went to John when kids started coming to her. When John had his spell a couple of years back, Catherine turned to Andino.
The rest was history.
But the money was damned good. Not that she needed it. Her family had more wealth than they knew what to do with. Catherine had a sizeable trust fund for her education and life after she finished her schooling.
Somehow, her trust fund and her family’s money didn’t feel the same as making her own did. By her own hand, she was successful, respected, and wanted. She didn’t need to be her mother to have those things, either. She was just Catherine Marcello.
“I don’t know,” Andino drawled, eyeing Catherine. “I think you could do it. Step out on your own and set something up, I mean. Without being the middle woman for your supplier, I mean.”
“Like my mom did?” Catherine asked.
Andino leaned back in his chair and rested his arms behind his head. “You’ve got to give the woman props, Catty, she was a hell of a dealer.”
“I’m not using my mother’s name or history to get anywhere, Andino.”
“I never suggested you should.”
“Being her is the same thing. Besides, this is easier. Simple and clean.”
Andino laughed as he pulled a black book out of his desk. He dropped it to the desk, opened it up, and scribbled Catherine’s numbers for the month. Her cousin always did that to keep track of their business dealings.
“Just keep being careful, huh?” Andino said.
Catherine nodded. “I am.”
“Good. Because if your father ever figures out that a part of my dues are