“Why?” Ricco asked, keeping his eyes closed, wishing the word back. He never questioned the head of the family, never.
Marco laughed. “Leave it to you to be the only one who questions me. I like it. You are going to fill your father’s shoes just fine.”
Ricco let out a breath, shit, she had him all twisted up. Just the thought of having to work with the woman already made his cock hard. Think what it would be like when he actually saw her again, he could probably pound a nail with his dick.
“Sorry,” Ricco sighed, shook his head, and opened his eyes. “I am just trying to figure out how far I need to extend the olive branch.”
Marco chuckled and said, “As far as you need to.”
Bella leaned back on her bed and closed her eyes for a moment. Today had been stressful. Not only had she failed to get the land she wanted, she had also lost one man, and the other one was in critical condition. Her father was worried; she didn’t need that.
For the last few years she had made it a point to never ask him for help, never, and yet today, she had to. Why? Because Bruno, her lead soldier, had no clue who had taken a shot at her. None, they found where the men were standing when they shot, it was perfectly concealed, they left nothing behind, no shell casings, no prints, nothing, even the shoe prints were messed up. So they had nothing, and when her father called, she had nothing to tell him.
It didn’t look good, and she knew he was going to do something to piss her off, especially when he found out Ricco was with her, and he was covering her presence in the pawn shop. Told his police friends to make sure that her name wasn’t brought into anything.
It should have been her first clue, but then, her second should have been when he talked about Ricco’s father, and how he was very well-known as the Consigliere for the Acciai family and was currently making a name for himself in Vegas, this was something she already knew. Hell, this was something she had told her father when he finally gave in and let her come to Vegas and run the casino.
“Bella,” her father had said smoothly. “Please, let your father deal with this. I promise, you will have more men soon. I will make some calls and see what I can do, but until this is sorted. You will stay at your suite in the hotel. I do not want you out at your house on your own, it is too secluded.”
She nodded and said, “I will. But, Father, my men, they are all over this.”
“I am sure they are,” her father had said smoothly, he was placating her, and shit, she was getting pissed. Hadn’t she proved over and over again that she was capable, she didn’t need a man. She had proved that when her fuck-head of an ex had attempted to make a play for the casino behind her back. When she found out the day before her wedding, she had no choice. Then of course she would never have wanted a choice in this instance anyway.
That night she had danced and laughed with the people at the party. She had smiled and nodded next to Tristen, her ex, and acted like nothing was wrong. Later, when they retired to the room she had rented in the hotel where the rehearsal dinner was, she had undressed and calmly looked at him, asked him about the situation. When he laughed and tried to play it off, she had shot him. She didn’t have time for excuses. It earned her the name Black Widow but there were worse things to be called.
She heard the knock on her door and she sat up. It had to be Carmella, she was one of her best soldiers. The fact she was a woman was a bonus, mostly because no one ever expected her to be a hit woman. That was her specialty, but in this case, she was going to do something else for her. She needed information, and Carmella was in the position to get it for her right now.
“Come in,” Bella called and the short pixie-like woman walked in the door. Her hair was red, deep dark auburn really, and it was long, almost to her waist. She wore it in a braid down her back, but Bella had seen the woman wear it loosely and curly, she was a beauty. Most men looked at her and only saw her petite frame and assumed she was a helpless female. Carmella was not helpless.
“Bells!” Carmella said when she entered. Bella rolled her eyes, plus Carmella was her best friend and they had trained together at the gun range. Her father was Bella’s third in line.
“Carmi,” Bella yelled and she saw her friend appear in the doorway. Her eyes narrowed on Bella and she took in her body to make sure there were no holes in it.
“Well, that had to suck,” Carmi said and walked to the side of the bed and plopped down next to her.
Very few people knew of their relationship, mostly because if they did, they tended to think both women were weak. It was stupid, and chauvinist, and she was so over these asshole men thinking she couldn’t do anything.
“Not really,” Bella shrugged. “Although Vinnie’s death sucks. Arranging for his body to be taken home to his wife and children sucks even more, Bruno is in a tizzy, I just need a drink, and a name, I will deal with it then.”
Carmi nodded. “As soon as I have a name, you will have it.”
Carmi was her second in command. Bella’s father had fought her on it, of course, that was until Carmi had protected her when her father’s guards had missed the hit that was put out on her. She had taken a bullet for Bella, and since then her father did not argue when it came to Carmi.
“I know, but my father called, he has called Marco Acciai already and asked for his men to share information,” Bella said slowly.
Carmi groaned then snapped, “No, please, tell me not Raphael.”
“I don’t know; I would assume so since he is Ricco’s second in command,” Bella said seriously and Carmi put an arm over her face.
“He is such a fucking wanker though, you know it. He is gonna patronize me, and piss me off like no one’s business. Just because he is an ass.”
Bella laughed, Carmi was the only one who Bella could be herself with. The only one, her father treated her like a doll, one he could put on the shelf after her mother passed away. Bella had never been a doll, never, she had been a very serious child, mostly because she discovered what her father did at a young age. There was really no hope in hiding it from her, especially since her mother had been gunned down right in front of her on the street.
Carmi had been her only saving grace. The young girl had been her best friend and confidant, they had made plans, and stuck to them. Now here they were, her the next in line to the Tomasi family and Carmi, her right hand. She would never hold the position of Consigliere, but she would still be her right hand, that would never change.
“Well, I am just saying this here and now,” Carmi said, pushing herself up on her elbow and staring her in the eye. “He pisses me off? I am so capping his ass.”
Bella laughed and Carmi giggled, together, alone in her room was one of the few times they could act like they wanted. Where no one could see them. When Carmi said she was ordering pizza, she silently thanked whoever watched over her. Bella would hate to see what Carmi would have done if something had happened to her.
Chapter Three
Ricco walked into his office the following morning with his tall cup of coffee. It had been a long night, and he was certain today would be even longer. Why? Because he had a meeting with Bella in about an hour where they would exchange information. He would be pleasant and not piss her off like his boss asked, and she would refrain from killing him, he hoped.
Last night Raphael had brought in the file on Bella Tomasi, it was impressive, and it pissed him off he had never actually read it before. He had just assumed she was a figurehead, waiting for her father to marry her off to a good suitor. Arranged marriages were a thing of the past but still her father would have influence over her. After she killed her fiancé, really, Ricco didn’t put anything past her.
For years, she had worked in the background, Ricco could see it so everyone else had to too. Ricco always kept files on the families who were close and not really allies. This one was thick, and most of it was about Bella. Damn, she was lethal, and it made him want her all the more.
He hit his phone and called Raphael. “Yo
.” His second answered the phone so professionally.
“You ready for the meeting?” Ricco said and Raphael growled.
“Is Carmi coming have we heard? I will not be anywhere close to that viper; she is trying to kill me,” Raphael snapped.
This had gone on all night as Ricco had read up on Bella. When Carmi’s photo suddenly popped up, Raphael had been livid. He apparently knew Carmella Grapa, her father was the Underboss of the Tomasi family. Ricco hadn’t known her, he had to sit and listen to Raphael as he ranted about the deception of women. He still wasn’t sure why he was so pissed off, it didn’t sound like they had slept together or anything.
Ricco put his hand to the bridge of his nose. “Dude, get the fuck over whatever is up your ass about this chick.”
Raphael clenched his teeth and whispered, “What is up my ass? Ricco, she literally tried to kill me. I am not joking about that. Before we came here, remember, I went to Boston on a run, the boss needed an important shipment to make it to Cali. Well, we knew another family was involved when we were fired on as we arrived to pick up the shipment. It was a fairly weak attack; it was more like a warning than an actual attempt to hijack. That chick, Carmi, I saw the bitch, with my own two eyes mind you. She was on the roof across from us, and everyone else had left, all the dicks who had initially been firing on them, all but her. When I saw her, she stood, plain as day and smiled. Then the bitch shot at me, almost took my damn head off.”
Ricco frowned. “Are you sure they were there for the shipment? I mean, if Tomasi was involved we would have found out about it a long time ago. This just doesn’t seem right.”
“Fuck I don’t know, I am just saying, if that bitch comes here armed I am totally going to shoot first and ask questions later. She is nuts,” Raphael said and Ricco took a deep breath.
“Raph, come on, please don’t shoot her friend before our first meeting,” Ricco said smoothly and then smiled. “Wait for the second at least.”
Raph glared at him and then pointed at him. “Fine, but she is frisked at the elevator, she is not stepping even one step onto the office floor until she is fully frisked.”
“Okay.” Ricco nodded and took a big drink of his coffee. There was not enough caffeine in the world to make this any better.
Raph had gone to deliver the orders so Ricco was finishing his coffee and waiting for Bella Tomasi to arrive. He stood at the window and looked out again, this was his favorite place to think, standing here in front of the lights of Vegas. He could see Caesars, MGM, Paris Paris, The Luxor, it was like traveling around the world through time while walking down a five-mile strip. They had ancient times, pirates, roller coasters, movies, gods. Vegas had it all. They also had one of the darkest underworlds in the country.
The homeless population were on the news, not because they were homeless, because they built literal worlds under the city. Then the gangs, the drugs, the sex, the violence, anything and everything you wanted you could find in Vegas. He wanted to find out who the fuck tried to kill them yesterday and even if he had to go to the dregs of the city, he would find them.
It wasn’t like that hadn’t happened to him before or Bella he was sure, but it was the first time Ricco had been present, and he felt strangely protective of the woman. Not only that, but the more he discovered about her, the more Ricco was certain he was going to seduce her. There was just something…
He looked down to the entry to the front lobby where guests arrived. That was her, he could feel it, as the small red sports car pulled up to the front. She slowly got out of the driver side with her friend, Carmi, he thought and grinned, they were complete opposites. Where Bella was tall and graceful, Carmi was short and feisty. She was wearing combat boots, he thought as he saw his head guard step out and greet them. Bella turned and smiled. It was the first time he had seen that, a real smile from her lips, and she was stunning. It just lit her face up, but she had no clue, it was obvious, especially since she moved gracefully toward his guard as other men stopped and just stared. Carmi was the one who noticed, she snickered at the men and shook her head. Hmmm, strange, lesbians?
Ricco turned when he heard Raph yelling out in his front office lobby, yeah he just found out Carmi was here as well. He shrugged on his jacket, at least for right now he would put on airs. Ricco slipped behind his large desk and sat down and leaned back in his chair and waited.
He heard Raph and a female voice before they even stepped into the room. “Please, I don’t think a strip search is warranted here, do you?” Bella said smoothly. Her voice, shit, his cock stood up at the sound.
“Hell yeah I do,” Raph snapped and when he opened the door and motioned for them to enter, said, “I don’t trust her.”
“Good,” Carmi laughed. “I don’t trust you either.”
“You tried to kill me!” Raph snapped and Carmi shook her head.
“Baby, if I were trying to kill you, you would be dead.”
Ricco wanted to groan out loud, really? “Raph,” he said firmly and his friend’s eyes moved to him sharply and he lifted his chin in acknowledgement. “Why don’t you take Carmi out to get us all some coffee.”
Raph’s eyes widened and he almost shook his head, that was until he saw the look in Ricco’s eyes. Then the large man turned and glared at Carmi and snapped, “Come on, Frodo, let’s go get coffee.”
He wanted to laugh, but he held it in until they left and then he looked at Bella who was struggling as well.
“Just checking before they get back. Your father didn’t order a hit on Raph, did he?”
Bella smirked and said, “No, Carmi was working freelance back then, I don’t know who ordered the hit. And she will never tell you.”
Ricco shrugged and said, “Raph probably has a lot of enemies, we will find them. Now, Bella, I am so happy you have come today.”
Her eyes narrowed as she moved into his office more and threw her purse in a chair. “Bullshit, you don’t want me here anymore than I want to be here, but my father seems to think we can help each other find who did this without getting killed. So, pretty boy, let’s just suck it up and move on. What do you know?”
Ricco frowned and looked at Bella intently, she met his gaze and held it. He was impressed, as the seconds went by and she didn’t flinch, turn away, or anything. She just stared back at him. Waiting to see if she would look away and she didn’t. He could feel the awareness of them being together again thick in the air. He wanted her, she wanted him, but it was going to be a battle—one he was going to win. He nodded and kept her gaze and motioned to the chairs.
“Sit.”
Her eyes became cold, and he was shocked at how fast she could change her emotions. It was impressive.
“Well?” she said coldly.
Ricco sat down in his chair and he could feel the tension in the air rise, it was either sexual or she wanted to kill him, at this point it could go either way. He wanted to grin, the chase was what he liked, and this one was going to be good, he thought as he finally took in her appearance.
She had dressed in black, per usual. The dress was simple, elegant, and her hair, which hung in a long sleek ponytail down her back, made her look relaxed. She was anything but though. Ricco leaned back and said, “We are still looking for those responsible; however, there is a group who we have both pissed off apparently.”
Bella frowned and tilted her head. “I don’t think we had any situation overlap. I would have known.”
Ricco nodded. “Neither did I, Mr. Acciai called last night and said we had. There was a situation with one of our holdings, some disgruntled past employees apparently came to town and attempted to see you, and needless to say, we delivered the same message to them.”
Her frown deepened as she thought of who it could have been and suddenly she remembered. “The weird man dressed in leather?”
Ricco shrugged and said, “I don’t know; I never saw him.”
“It has to be; I know the other men I killed,” she said flippantly and Ricco w
anted to laugh. She was funny.
“Well, that is who we are looking for. I would assume your men, or sorry, women, can aid in that search?” Ricco said smoothly and Bella nodded briskly and then stood.
“Is that it?” Bella asked and grabbed her purse. Ricco stood and walked around the desk and stopped close to her.
“No, we are not done,” Ricco said firmly and Bella froze then turned and looked at him with a steely-eyed expression.
“I think we are, unless you have more information that is pertinent to the situation,” Bella said coldly.
Ricco shook his head and said, “Nope, and we are not done.”
Bella turned fully and looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “How is that?”
“Well, my boss told me your father asked for a favor, and because of that, I was to cooperate and do everything in my power to find the assholes who did this, as well as make sure you are safe. In order to do that, you and I will be attached at the hip until this is settled,” Ricco said as he trailed a finger down her arm.
She didn’t flinch or back away, instead she held his gaze, almost as a challenge and said, “We would kill each other in an hour, no, I will be fine, my security—”
“May be adequate, but nothing like I could offer, even your father knows this, which is why he called my boss.”
“There is that asshole arrogance again. Trust me, I will be fine.” She smirked and then turned and walked to the door. “Let me know if you have any more information.”
Chapter Four
When Bella stepped out in front of Italia, Carmi was still bitching. “Can you fucking believe that asshole. I mean, I could have killed him, but I was being nice, he wasn’t the target, geez. Do something nice, and suddenly you are a psycho. How is that even possible?”
Bella snorted and said, “Babe, you are a hit woman, by definition you are a mental case.”
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