The Last Mercenary

Book excerpt: The former law professor at the University of Rome and now the CEO of Doti Enterprises, Drago Hawkwood conceives himself to be a modern-day mercenary like his legendary ancestor and fourteenth century condottiero, Sir John Hawkwood. A shrewd and daring man, Drago will stop at nothing to get what he wants, not even murder. Recovering from depression resulting from the untimely death of his wife and faced with few prospects, Marco Angello readily accepts his former law teacher's offer of a business partnership and soon finds himself caught in Drago's treachery that includes international money laundering and an unholy alliance with organized crime. As the business prospers, Marco assumes the role of heir apparent to Drago's fortune since Reginella, Drago's only child, has supposedly drowned years before. When Drago discovers that he has an American grandson and heir, he is elated with idea that he will not be the last mercenary. Drago entices the adopted Michael to Italy on the pretense that he is the winner of a summer scholarship sponsored by Doti Enterprises. While in the United States on business, Marco meets Daniella and falls in love with the American schoolteacher, who it turns out, is not what she seems. The plot evolves and soon deceptions begin to unravel, with revenge and murder close behind. How far Drago's greed and mendacity will go is anyone's guess...