by Naomi West
Chapter Nine
Lorenzo
I woke up early the next morning and lay there blinking against the small bit of sunlight that filtered in around the heavy curtains in my bedroom. It seemed like an eternity since I’d been in here, giving it all up for Alexis instead of taking my own comfort. I had told myself that I was staying in the guest room just to keep her away from my stash of weapons, but I knew now that I had other motives.
Now, she was in here with me. After our intense lovemaking the night before, we had fallen asleep in each other’s arms. She looked so beautiful while she was asleep, her delicate features luminated in the dim light. The sheet did nothing to disguise the curves of her body. I couldn’t help but wonder how such an exquisite creature had become a stripper. She was intelligent, classy, and beautiful. Anybody would want to have her on their arm.
She was currently on top of mine, and I moved it ever so slowly until I had the appendage freed. Rolling over onto my side to get a better look at the goddess in my bed, I examined my options for the day. I had a meeting with Matteo and that couldn’t be missed. I hadn’t left the apartment without Alexis since that first day, and I wasn’t inclined to tie her to a chair again. Well, not unless I got to stick around and enjoy it. But could I leave her here and trust her to stay put?
There were too many terrible things to consider if she ventured outside of the apartment by herself. Piero was by far my biggest concern. I had seen the way he looked at Alexis, and he didn’t have to speak to me to get me to understand how he felt about the situation. He was supposed to be at the meeting as well, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have any of his goons out in the streets. Alexis could easily be killed or kidnapped.
I nearly laughed out loud at that, considering I had basically kidnapped her myself. Sure, it had been for her own good, but that hadn’t meant she had enjoyed every part of it. There were at least some parts, I knew, that she did enjoy. I had to admit that I found quite a bit of pleasure in them myself.
I shook my head. There was no more time for thinking about it. “Alexis?” I murmured.
“Hmmm?” She turned her face to me without opening her eyes.
“I have to leave.”
“No, I don’t want you to.” She put her arms around me and pulled herself close, pressing her lips to my chest. “Stay here with me.”
“Trust me, I want to.” My body was already reacting, my member once again growing hard at the thought of having her once again. Perhaps there was just enough time …but no. I had things to do, and I couldn’t do anything to make Matteo or the others suspicious. “I have something important to tell you.”
She opened one eye, the blue orb pale in the morning light. Even half-asleep, she was gorgeous. “What is it?”
I propped myself up on my elbow so that I could look down at her. “I have a meeting, but I need you to stay here.”
“’Kay.” She closed her eye again.
“Alexis.” I put my hand on her shoulder and gently shook her awake again. “I really need you to hear this.”
Now both eyes were open and staring at me with confusion.
“I’m not just asking you to stay here, I’m telling you that you must. There’s no telling who might be out there, and I can’t guarantee your safety if you step outside my door. Last night went well, but that doesn’t mean we’re completely clear.” How could I get someone who wasn’t in the business to understand that there were certain risks you just didn’t take? I put my life on the line every day, and I was fine with that, but I couldn’t do the same to hers.
Her lower lips stuck out and the pouty look on her face made me think she was ready to argue with me. “Okay,” she finally said, to my relief. “I promise.”
“You’re sure? No running out for food, even. I’ll make a pot of coffee and there’s plenty of food in the fridge. Help yourself to anything you need.”
She nodded. “I’ll be right here when you get back. Right here, in this very spot.” She snuggled further under the sheets and closed her eyes.
I got up to take a shower. Cranking up the hot water, I reminded myself that Alexis had been cooperative thus far. If she was going to run away, she would have done it while we were out shopping. She even could have made an excuse to go to the restroom while we were at Jianna’s and never come back. If she was as smart as she seemed, then she understood just how much I was trying to protect her and how foolish it would be to do anything contrary to what I told her.
And, damn it, I really was doing my best. It was so hard to keep her safe when I had the mob not only looking over my shoulder but thoroughly embedded in my life. My job was so much more than a job, and every facet of it needed Matteo’s approval.
Alexis was still sleeping when I made my way to The Downtown Room. Matteo’s club was the throbbing pulse of the nightlife in the city when the sun went down. People came from all over, hoping to get past the tough bouncers. Only the most elite were allowed to party there, and everyone wanted the chance to brag on social media with photos and check-ins.
During the day, however, it was empty, except for the cleaning crew, a bartender, and a short-order cook. While it was not open to the public, Matteo and the rest of us in his family used it as a quiet, private place to grab an orange juice and an omelet while talking business or taking a break from the day’s (or night’s) work. The clubbers made such a mess of the place and kept the bartenders so busy that Matteo had hired a cleaning crew to scrub it down during the day. Several older ladies who knew how to keep their ears and mouths shut casually wiped down the shining chrome that surrounded the stage and the DJ booth.
“What can I get for you, Lorenzo?” asked the current barkeep as I passed by.
I shook my head. I could just about use a drink already, just to shake off my nerves about the upcoming meeting. It wasn’t the kind of thing that could normally get my stomach churning, but I had introduced a dangerous element into the equation. “Just a bottle of water for the moment, Barney.”
“Working on a hangover?” he asked as he reached into the mini fridge under the bar and handed me the frosty drink. “I heard you guys were at Jianna’s pretty late last night, and I know how she likes to keep the wine flowing.”
“That she does, but it was worth it. I don’t know how I manage to eat regular food after tasting her cooking.” It unnerved me that someone as lowly in the Moretti organization as Barney knew where I had been the night before, but I had to remind myself that we were all connected somehow. It could have been something as innocent as Matteo mentioning it to the barkeep in passing. Besides, Barney had been with the family long enough to know not to mess with someone unless he was prepared to take the consequences.
“Yeah, not quite like the meager fare we serve here. But if you decide you want some biscuits and gravy, Joe’s servin’ ‘em up hot!” He thumbed over his shoulder towards the small kitchen in the back.
“Will do, Barney.” I headed across the room for the stairs.
Matteo was already there, and the rest of us were filtering in. We had these meetings every month, just to make sure everyone was on track with the goings-on of the business. Today hadn’t been on the schedule, but Matteo had felt it was necessary after my most recent hit. I wondered if perhaps my timing had been bad when I introduced Alexis only the night before, but I knew it had to be done sooner or later.
“Lorenzo! You look a little worse for the wear this morning. Did that girl of yours keep you up late?” Matteo punched me in the arm and didn’t hold back. “She’s quite the dish, you know. Jianna wouldn’t stop talking about her. She wants to take her out and spend a little girl time with her. You think Alexis would be up for that?”
I forced a smile. It was nice, in a way, that Jianna wanted to get involved with a woman she thought I was serious about. But since the whole thing was fake, it was a different matter. Still, I had to keep Matteo and Jianna happy. “I’m sure she would love that. She’s still getting to know the city, and Jianna could he
lp her get more comfortable here.”
“Of course, of course.” Matteo looked happier than I had seen him in a long time. “I knew you would say that, and I’ve already made the arrangements. Jianna will pick her up in the limo tomorrow at eleven. They can have lunch, shop, and maybe let you rest up a little, eh?” His sharp elbow went into my ribs.
“Sounds great.”
By this point, everyone had arrived. We settled into our seats and turned to Matteo. Though this was a business meeting in almost every sense of the word, we never took notes. There could be no proof of the numerous shell corporations, money laundering schemes, and protection programs Matteo had his fingers in.
“Everyone, you already know why we’re here. We’ve had our little celebration over Calzoni’s death, and it was nice to sit back and relax for an evening and enjoy our freedom.” The smile faded from Matteo’s face. “Now, however, it’s time to turn to business and what the future might hold for us.” Leaving his seat, he walked around the room as he spoke, touching his men on the shoulder to emphasize his points.
I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable that I was the one who had brought this on. Yes, Matteo had given me the job, but everything was destined to be different now that Calzoni was gone. If only it meant that we could relax for a while, it wouldn’t be so bad.
“We must be more vigilant than ever,” Matteo intoned. “Frankie Calzoni is dead, but we can only celebrate it for so long before we must realize that there will be someone else to take his place. Maybe it will be someone completely new—someone who has been eager to make himself important in the city. It’s more likely, though, that it will be one of the remaining family members from Frankie’s clan.”
“You think they’d really try, boss?” Vettoria asked between bites of a Denver omelet. Clearly, he’d let Joe get him some grub before he came up here. “I mean, they know what we’re capable of now. Why would they try something so stupid if we can just take them out again?”
Matteo smiled, but it was not a mirthful one. “Wouldn’t you do the same, Vettoria? If something happened to me, wouldn’t you want someone here in our family to rise up and take my place? Wouldn’t it make sense to keep our reputation going strong and protect our assets?”
Piero sat up a little straighter upon hearing this speech, no doubt imagining himself standing over his father’s casket and preparing to take his place in the world. But I knew the same thing Matteo knew, even though he wouldn’t say it: Piero wasn’t cut out to be a boss. He was too selfish and too quick to anger.
Vettoria nodded and stabbed another piece of egg. “I guess that’s true. I’m sorry.”
Matteo waved off the apology. “It’s fine. Of course, we would think that Frankie isn’t worth replacing, but I’m sure the rest of his family wouldn’t agree. What can we do to make sure we’re on the lookout for new events in that sector?”
At other times, I had laughed at how formal Matteo could sound. He could have been the CEO of some big corporation that made legitimate money, but of course the board of directors wouldn’t like how he fired people.
“Perhaps we shouldn’t be introducing any new faces into our fold,” Piero volunteered, looking pointedly at me. “The guest at dinner last night, for instance. It’s seems …convenient that you suddenly have someone to celebrate your victories at your side.”
I didn’t feel as though I should have to justify Alexis to him, but I knew the other capos were watching. Nobody had had a problem with Alexis the night before, but that was a simple dinner under numerous false pretenses. This was business. “She’s an old friend, and she needs a place to stay while she gets on her feet. She’s harmless.”
“Sure, she is. How much do you really know about her, Lorenzo?” Piero had his hands spread flat on the table, almost rising out of his seat. “You say she’s an old friend, but what has she been doing in the years since you’ve seen her?”
Why did Piero have to be so impossible? I curled my fist under the table, knowing that nobody would have questioned Alexis if he hadn’t spoken up. The other capos were looking at each other and nodding their heads.
“Do you really think I would be stupid enough to pick someone up off the streets and take her word for it? Come on, Piero. I wouldn’t be in my current position if that were the case.” I tipped my head back slightly, pointing my chin at my foe. I knew he would get my gist.
“Damn it, Lorenzo! You’re always so fucking confident! That’s exactly the kind of shit that’s going to get us killed!” He was on his feet now, his fists on the smoothly-polished wood top of the table. “Sure, you took out Calzoni. You’re good with a gun. That doesn’t mean you have any brains in your head!”
I leaned back in my chair, my finger to my chin as I pretended to think. “Oh, I guess not,” I replied calmly. “I mean, it doesn’t take any smarts to do a job like mine. There’s nothing to it. Anybody could do it, even a monkey. Well, okay, you couldn’t, but …”
“You asshole!” Piero launched himself across the table, but two of the other capos grabbed him and quickly pulled him back down into his seat. Matteo was at his side in an instant, his hand lightly on his son’s shoulder. He didn’t need any physical weight to remind Piero of his place.
“Now, now, boys. There’s no need for fighting. The rug was just cleaned and I’m sure Estella wouldn’t appreciate us if we got blood on it. Sure, this might not be the best timing, but I think we can trust Lorenzo to make the right decision. It’s because of him, after all, that we’re even able to discuss the possibility of another Calzoni taking the throne. Now, let’s talk about this from a more sensible aspect.”
The argument had come to a stop verbally, but I could see that Piero was still fuming inside. He kept his gaze focused on his father, but his lips were tight and his cheeks red. I wanted to laugh; I’d gotten the best of him yet again. Unfortunately, I knew I had only confirmed an enemy for myself and for Alexis.
Chapter Ten
Alexis
I flicked through the clothes we had purchased on our excursion to the mall, trying to find something suitable. Nobody had ever invited me out to a street market before and nothing seemed quite right. It didn’t help that my stomach and my heart were constantly giving each other high-fives.
“She’ll be here any minute,” Lorenzo said as he walked into the room, nearly dropping his coffee when he saw me standing in front of the closet wearing only my bra and a pair of jeans I had tried on. “Why aren’t you dressed yet? Not that I mind you in this state, but I don’t think Jianna will appreciate it.” He smirked as he took a sip from his mug.
I scowled at him. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to wear. I know I need to make a good impression on her.”
“You already have made a good impression,” he reminded me. “That’s why she wants to take you out. Don’t let all that other stuff I said scare you.”
“Sure. I don’t need to worry about the fact that Matteo may be sending her to find out the truth about me, or that Piero’s words might really have gotten to him. Just a simple day out, right?”
He hung his head and sighed. “They’re very real possibilities, and I thought it only fair that you should be aware of them. However,” he said, holding up a finger to stop me from interrupting him. “That doesn’t mean that’s what’s really going on. And if you stick to our story, you’ll be fine. You did great at the restaurant, so there’s no reason why this should be any different.”
I pulled a tank top down from a hanger and yanked it over my head. “It is different, though, because the focus is going to be solely on me. Before, we had a whole table full of people. I was the newcomer, but it wasn’t so intimate. Today, I’m the only person Jianna will be talking to. Even if she doesn’t suspect me, it’s obvious that she does at least want to make sure I’m right for you.”
Lorenzo held up his hand, palm up in surrender. “Okay, you’ve got me there. But I still think you’re worrying too much.”
“Easy for you to say,” I said
as I slipped on a short jacket and found the most comfortable pair of shoes we had bought. “You wear a suit every day, no matter what you’re doing. You’re always going to look nice. But there’s a lot more judgement going on for a woman. She’s going to look at everything I wear, down to my jewelry.”
He ran a finger across the rack of suit jackets hanging on the other side of the closet. “Then I’m glad I’m a man.” The intercom buzzed in the other room. “That’s her!”
We headed downstairs to the garage, where a long, black limousine was waiting for us. “Who takes a limo to a street market?” I whispered out of the side of my mouth when we stepped out of the elevator.
“Someone very rich, powerful, and a little dangerous,” he replied. “Be good. And don’t worry about your safety while you’re out. The driver is well-armed.”