“What about the Fiorre family? We don’t exactly want to go pissing them off. In a second they could destroy us, hell, kill us all,” Stollen said.
“If Gisella is important to them, then they’ll go to the source that didn’t protect her. Emanuel and Iglesias will suffer the Fiorre wrath.”
“Are you still planning to talk to her about the real estate Myran Cornish is selling off?”
“No. As you said, we don’t want to piss off the Fiorre men. We have our own agenda and operation going on making us money. This project is about getting the Picatta family fully under our thumb. A strategic plan like this will surely put them where I want them, and eventually I can take over the Picattas’ territory entirely. Get things rolling and be prepared to strike. Let’s make us some more money, and work toward eliminating the Picatta family quickly.”
* * * *
Gisella was shocked to see Ziek standing in the lobby of her apartment building in the morning. She was on her way to the gym.
“Ziek? What are you doing here?” she asked, and he raised one of his eyebrows up at her as if wondering why she asked such a stupid question. She worried her bottom lip and then released a long sigh.
“So it begins,” she said and stood there.
“This is where you tell me you’re heading to the gym and I escort you to the car and watch you work out.”
“Seriously?” she asked, widening her eyes.
He winked. “I get the feeling that this job isn’t going to suck at all. Just saying. I mean not that I saw anything last night when your dress ripped or anything.”
She chuckled. “Wonderful, a silent comedian, huh? I noticed you’re very serious when Fedarro and Collin are around.”
“I’m serious all the time.”
“Okay then. I guess it won’t do me any good to argue with you. I need to speak directly to the bosses.”
“Exactly.”
He placed his hand on her lower back and guided her to the front of the building. A few seconds passed, and the SUV pulled up. She wondered who got to be so lucky as to escort their bosses’ latest interest around? That thought saddened her, brought tears to her eyes, and she gulped.
“Are you okay?” Ziek asked.
She nodded and got into the back seat. She was shocked to see Cobra driving. “You? Have they lost their minds? You guys should be protecting them, not babysitting me. I mean, seriously, last night was a freak thing. I can take care of myself.”
“I wouldn’t use that as an argument later with the bosses,” Ziek said.
“I’ve been taking care of myself for years. I’m not going to accept this. I’m not.” She crossed her arms in front of her chest. She was seething with so many thoughts going through her head. She looked at Ziek. “Do they do this to every woman they have an interest in?”
Ziek didn’t answer, nor did Cobra.
“Come on, tell me. It has to aggravate you. You have to see so much being their security. The woman gets to stay under wraps, and every aspect of her life is exposed and monitored, huh? It’s that control thing, isn’t it?” She raised her voice and then exhaled. She reached into her bag and pulled out her cell phone. She texted Collin and Fedarro.
“I don’t like this one bit!” She shoved the cell phone into her bag and waited for the SUV to stop. When it did, she looked at Ziek. “You aren’t going to follow me inside and stand there watching me work out, are you?”
He didn’t answer.
“Wonderful,” she said.
They got out, and sure enough he accompanied her into the gym. Her new escort didn’t go unnoticed, especially not by the many Manhattanites who started drooling over him. The poor man did not look happy. A while later, as she got lost in her workout, she glanced his way and saw that this sucked for him, too. His arms were crossed in front of his chest, and he was shaking his head at two women who were trying to squeeze his arm muscles. She shouldn’t take it out on Ziek. No, she would take her frustration out on Fedarro and Collin. They were set to meet with her about business at noon today.
As she went about doing her workout, talking to a few people she knew, including a couple of guys who always hit on her but apparently were hesitant today, she thought about how her life was going to change being involved with Fedarro and Collin, about how it might be uncomfortable for her clients to discuss personal things with her as she showed them around real estate, and so forth. There would need to be boundaries set. Surely the men would understand her point of view.
She started to feel antsy, unsettled, and panicked. When she finished her workout, she threw on her hoodie, kept the hood over her head, and her earbuds in when Emanuel called her.
“I’m at the gym,” she told him.
“I figured as much. What the hell happened last night? Are you seeing Fedarro and Collin Fiorre?”
“It’s complicated.”
“You don’t fucking have to tell me. What the fuck, Gisella? We’ve been watching over you for years. We’re friends, and we needed you last night for this deal.”
She got into the SUV. “You didn’t need me for the deal. You wanted to use me for something. I’m not sure what, but obviously it all worked out, or you would be pissed off right now.”
“I am pissed off right now. Why the fuck are you hanging out with the Fiorre brothers? They’re dangerous men,” he yelled.
Ziek squinted at her. She knew he could probably hear the conversation. “Like you’re not dangerous men to be hanging out with? Don’t pull that with me, Emanuel.”
“I thought there was something between you, me, and Iglesias.”
“Seriously? Have you not been listening for the last two years every time I declined a date, a drink, or whatever? It was because I wasn’t interested in either of you.”
“It’s because of Vender,” he stated.
Tears filled her eyes. She gulped and looked away from Ziek, who seemed to catch her emotion and maybe even the conversation or at least the heated tone. She needed to be smart here.
“I haven’t dated any man since. That should tell you right there where I stand, how it affected me.”
“So you choose two men like Fedarro and Collin to fuck in order to break free from the dry spell?” he snapped.
“You’re such an asshole. I mean, seriously, a total jerk,” she said, and tears began to fall.
“Are you sleeping with them? Because they screw women left and right. They don’t do commitments. You’ll be their whore.”
A tear fell, and she wiped it away. “Whom I keep company with isn’t any of your business. Is that why you’re calling me—to call me names, to bring up the past, to guilt me into something, or to make me feel like someone I’m not?”
“Of course not. I worry about you. We promised ourselves that we would watch over you because of Vender.”
Gisella felt too emotional. She couldn’t handle all of this. She felt confused, untrusting, and scared to take this chance with Fedarro and Collin. Emanuel and Iglesias had always protected her, and they still would even though she denied sleeping with them and being anything more than friends.
“I can’t talk anymore.”
“I’m sorry, Gisella. We just don’t want to see you make a mistake and be another one of their fuck toys.”
“Fuck toy, huh? Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”
She ended the call, pulled out her earbuds, and shoved the phone in her bag. She didn’t even look at Ziek or Cobra. She just waited for them to get her to the apartment, and then she didn’t say a word as they headed inside.
Security already knew Ziek and Cobra, the Fiorre men were staking control over her life, and she felt even more confused. Would she really be just a fuck toy? Is that how people would see her? She worked so damn hard to establish her professional reputation. Declining offers of sex from even the most distinguished, successful businessmen was a way to ensure that people knew she had made it to the top by hard work and courage, not by spreading her legs. What a damn mess this was.
>
“Are you okay?” Ziek asked, standing outside her door.
She nodded. “I’m not going anywhere else. Your bosses are coming here for a business meeting at noon time.”
“I know,” he said, holding her gaze.
“Anything you don’t know, Ziek?” she snapped at him, then headed into her apartment, and closed the door.
* * * *
“It was Emanuel Picatta on the phone with her,” Cobra said to Ziek out in the hallway.
“I know.”
“Did you get most of the conversation?” Cobra asked.
“The gist of it. He and his brother have wanted her in their beds for the last couple of years. Still do, probably.”
“The bosses aren’t going to like that.”
“Well, they’ll like the fact that she hasn’t dated anyone in years. Apparently not since someone Emanuel and Iglesias know, I think. At least that’s what it sounded like.”
“She’s a workaholic from what I gathered investigating her. Roman said she definitely hadn’t dated anyone in the last several years, although she did do a stint of work in Italy for six months,” Cobra added.
“That’s interesting. Plus, she’s establishing this side business and trying to branch out on her own. Maybe get away from those two bosses who like her.”
“Probably. I don’t like or trust Keller or Perkins. So what was with the fuck-toy comment?” Cobra asked.
“A reference to what she’ll be if she gets involved with the bosses, I presume.”
“What a dick,” Cobra said.
“I like her. I think she’s special,” Ziek said.
“I think everyone does. She’s that kind of person.”
Ziek’s cell phone rang, and he saw it was Fedarro. He looked at Cobra. “Fedarro.”
“Where is she now?” Fedarro asked.
“In her apartment.”
“Good.”
Ziek told Fedarro about the conversation on the phone.
“I’ll see you shortly,” Fedarro said and disconnected the call.
* * * *
“She’s pretty annoyed, huh?” Mateus asked Fedarro.
“She’ll get over it. We’ll resolve this at our meeting in a couple of hours. In the meantime, we need information.”
“I doubt York Saint James will even bother Gisella now, knowing she’s working with you and Collin,” Mateus said to him.
“If you’re pursuing a relationship, that will ensure her safety as well,” Major added.
Fedarro knew that his cousins were fishing for him to admit that he and Collin liked Gisella and wanted her as their woman. He didn’t even glance at Collin and remained straight-faced.
“Our relationship is business right now. Morano and Vito are here because I would like the four of you, including Angelo, to pull together some staff for a new nightclub Collin and I will be purchasing, along with a theater and a hotel.”
“What? Where is this at?” Morano asked him.
“Myran’s places on the strip he owns,” Collin told them, and they smiled.
“Holy shit. The Upper East Side. Very nice,” Vito told them.
“You do know there have been a lot of drug problems in that neighborhood, especially in the club,” Major said to Fedarro and Collin.
“Don’t remind him. When we were looking through, Castron Picatta was there with a few people. Gave Gisella a very warm welcoming when he saw her,” Collin told them.
“Was she ever involved with Emanuel and Iglesias, and that’s why she knows the family so well?” Mateus asked.
“We don’t know,” Collin said.
“I don’t think so. This morning she got a call from Emanuel that wasn’t pleasant. She said some things aloud including never taking Emanuel or Iglesias up on their offers of dates or more.”
“You know this how?” Mateus asked Collin with a smirk.
“Ziek and Cobra were with her, accompanying her to and from the gym,” Collin said to them.
“Sounds like way more than just a business relationship, unless this is one of the new perks of working with you guys,” Mateus teased.
“Some dick tried something with her last night when she was out with a few friends. Luckily Ziek was there to intervene. We were feeling a bit on edge about her safety,” Collin added.
“Because you do that shit for all the women you do ‘business’ with, huh?” Vito teased.
They were all smirking.
“Enough. We don’t know where this is headed. We don’t know a lot about her,” Fedarro interrupted in a fierce tone.
“You mean to tell me that you, Fedarro, have not investigated Gisella? Seriously, cos, do we look fucking stupid?” Major asked.
“What’s there to find out that isn’t easy to figure out? She’s gorgeous, professional, classy, works for a major real estate agency, and I think, if what Caprice told me is correct, Gisella is branching off on her own and doing amazing,” Vito said.
“I heard that, too. Bella mentioned Gisella wanting to get away from her bosses,” Major told them.
“Keller Hawk and Andrew Perkins, the two guys who met with Emanuel, Iglesias, and York Saint James last night,” Fedarro confirmed.
Mateus whistled. “And all five men want Gisella in their beds? Holy shit. No wonder you two are so fired up this morning and planting guards on her.”
“We don’t know what interest York has in Gisella. Hopefully we took care of that last night when we wouldn’t let her go meet with them. We made sure that all five men knew she was with us,” Collin stated.
“So why would Emanuel call her this morning then? I’m assuming you were with her last night,” Vito said.
“We didn’t stay the night. If we had, we sure as hell wouldn’t be having this meeting with you. Now get it together. This isn’t about whatever kind of relationship we may or may not be starting with Gisella. It’s about business. We’re purchasing that strip. It needs a lot of work. We’re going to need our top people to move out the shit quickly and quietly,” Fedarro said.
“We know who we can put in charge of the initial cleanup. When will things be finalized so it’s official?” Vito asked.
“Hopefully today, right after we meet with Gisella. Once it’s a done deal, contracts signed and negotiations over, then we’ll call you, Morano, and you get in touch with everyone else and get shit moving,” Fedarro said.
“How long do you want to close down before a grand opening at each place?” Vito asked.
“I think the hotel can remain open during the transition period. The theater, we can work around their schedule of operations. Get Melvin on that. He’s good with theatrical stuff,” Fedarro told them.
“You want a complete revamp of employees at the club as well?” Vito asked.
“Yes, and new security to boot. Wipe it all clean. Two weeks’ turnover time should work. Three tops,” Fedarro added.
They all discussed some ideas about the club, who they would put in charge of management, and what they needed to do next.
“Anything you need us to do on our ends about Picatta and Saint James, or even Hawk and Perkins?” Morano asked Fedarro and Collin.
“For now, we lie low. Keep your ears open, though. I’m not sure it really matters what deal those men are working out. They’re nothing, and so far, from what my sources say, none of it affects us or our business and territories. If the Picatta family are stupid enough to move into or near that strip, then they’ll be warned accordingly,” Fedarro told them.
“There are a lot of drugs being sold in that club, and you mentioned seeing Castron there. Perhaps it’s Picatta providing the product. Do you want Mateus and me to look into that?” Major asked.
“You can, but my understanding is that the dealers are part of the Puentez gang. It’s small time,” Fedarro told them.
“People get comfortable, and they do stupid shit. The last thing you need in taking over that strip of businesses is a situation that gets cops involved or the DEA. I’ll get some peopl
e to put out feelers and see who’s running operations,” Major added.
“Thanks. It should work out fine. I think it will be a great investment for all of us and surely put a lot of friends and family to work,” Fedarro stated.
“We just need to figure out management. So any ideas, recommendations, and let us know who you think can run it accordingly. Family, of course,” Collin added and winked.
They chuckled. They started to talk about some regular business and then about Caprice’s upcoming show Saturday night.
“We’ll be there,” Collin said to them.
Fedarro knew that they would accomplish all they set out to do with this new real estate deal. It meant more work, more money for the family, and more jobs for their family, friends, and associates. This was what all of them worked for and continued to work for, so he wondered why he had such an uneasy feeling in his gut. He didn’t like it, and he certainly didn’t believe it had to do with not having Gisella nearby. That shit just wasn’t going to happen. No woman had ever made him think about her so much and want her right by his side. Resisting this could be the wiser choice—and the stupidest.
* * * *
Gisella heard the knock on the door just as she finished dressing and was heading into the living room. She decided on the one-piece navy-blue business dress that was casual yet sophisticated. It tied at her waist like a wrap and was snug-fitting, accentuating her curves. The dip in the front was low, revealing a bit of cleavage, but she also wore a series of designed necklaces that hung at various levels cascading against her breast and breast line. The chandelier earrings she wore were light and matched the tiny diamonds on some of the necklaces as accents.
Her heels clicked along the marble flooring near the front entryway, and she wondered if it was Ziek since the doorman hadn’t buzzed up. She opened the door.
Ziek looked her over and seemed serious. “Emanuel and Iglesias Picatta are heading into the building. Are you expecting them?”
Made Men 4: One More Time (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 9