I bet that application would stand out like a dick on a cake.
“I’ll get to it later. I’ve got to run. Love you!” I slam the front door closed behind me before any of her protests follow me outside.
I jog over to my car and slide into the front seat, taking a second to rest my head on the steering wheel. I shouldn’t be doing this alone. Lorenzo is a fucking snake who can’t be trusted, and there’s no telling who else might be hanging out with him at that club.
This is exactly why Phoenix wanted me with him the other night.
No matter how good you are, someone always has a bigger gun.
Or knife.
Or more bullets.
It’s safer to play these games in numbers.
One isn’t ideal.
But right now, it’s my only option if I want to save face with my family.
I may not want Chicago anymore, but I need to end the threat against us.
And Charlotte.
My chest tightens.
There we go again with the loss of focus.
I start the car, gunning the engine. I back out of my driveway and zoom through the tree-lined streets of my neighborhood in the direction of the club just outside Ridgeview. The streets are darker from lack of light, the houses are more run-down, the buildings completely dilapidated.
The shitty side of the tracks.
But the club still thrives and brings in people from all sides of the tracks.
I park around the corner on the street, a miracle find for a Thursday night. I hope this means luck is on my side. I’m gonna need it.
My gun is tucked into the back of my pants under my jacket and I have a switchblade stuffed into my pocket. Thankfully, they don’t make you go through a metal detector to get into this place. I make eye contact with the bouncer and nod. He recognizes me and lets me through with a fist bump.
That could be good or bad.
Guess I’ll decide that soon enough.
I move into the crowd of sweaty bodies grinding in every direction. Lots of limbs are flying around and I have to duck out of the way to keep from getting assaulted. I push my way toward the bar to grab a club soda. It wouldn’t hurt if Lorenzo thought I was drinking. Maybe he might be a little loose-lipped himself. I pull out a few dollars and lay them on the bar, grabbing the glass and swiveling around to take a look at the lounge area. I eye the corner booth where Lorenzo normally holds court, but it’s empty.
I narrow my eyes, twisting my head left and right to see if I can get a glimpse of that fat fuck, but before I can do a full sweep of the room, a hand slides down my back and a quick whiff of a familiar perfume makes me grit my teeth.
“Xander,” Melina purrs from behind me, her hand now traveling below my belt and over the front of my pants. “I’d have hoped you would be a little happier to see me.”
My back straightens, hard as a rod, but I refuse to look at her.
“Aw, come on, babe. If you’re gonna stiffen up for me, at least give me something a little more fun to play with.” She rubs her hand harder until I grab it and peel it off of me.
“Stay the fuck away from me, Melina.” I take a gulp of my soda, still staring in every direction but hers.
“Why are you being so difficult?” she whines, pressing her body against my back. “And why won’t you look at me?”
“Because I don’t want anyone to think I give a flying fuck about you,” I say.
She grabs my arm, yanking it backward to get me to turn around. But she’s got nothing on me and my feet stay rooted to the spot.
That pisses her off enough to make her stomp around and slap the glass right out of my damn hand. It shatters on the floor around my feet and a vein in my neck throbs, anger coursing through me. She may not have been the target, but that’s what happens when you show up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Crazy bitch.
Does she really want to risk everything? Because that’s exactly what’s going to happen if she continues to piss me off with her clingy psycho bitch bullshit.
I grasp her wrists and slam her backward against the bar. Her eyes actually light up, sicko that she is. “This isn’t foreplay,” I hiss through clenched teeth. “You need to get the hell out of here now.”
“What if I don’t want to leave?” she says in a low, sultry voice. “What if I say you have me exactly where I want you to?”
“There’s nothing left for us, Melina. And if you walk away now, I’ll make sure your family’s little scandals will be kept quiet. If you stay, you know what’ll happen.”
“I don’t believe you, Xander,” she says, swaying a bit as she stands on her tiptoes to speak to me. It’s then that the scent of booze hits me.
Great, crazy and drunk.
Something in my periphery catches my attention, and I see Lorenzo walk into the main lounge with some big guy behind him. I squint, the flashing strobe lights making my vision blur.
The man turns away, and that’s when I see it.
The scar.
Motherfucker!
They shake hands, Lorenzo gives him a slap on the back, and he disappears to the back of the club.
The vein throbs harder and faster and I push Melina aside. She stumbles, caught off-guard, and falls against my chest. She throws her arms around me and spins around so her back is to me. She flashes a big bright smile and pulls out her phone. “S-say cheese!” Her finger clicks about a thousand pictures of her plastered against me before I can shove her out of my way.
I need to get to Rossi.
I didn’t think I’d get lucky enough to actually find him, but now that I have, fuck me if I let him get away.
I push her away and ignore the expletives flying out of her mouth as she nearly trips over herself trying to stop me. I rush through the crowd — people dancing and drinking and basically fucking while standing up. Scarface headed toward the back of this place. That must be where he’s parked.
I need to get out there before he has a chance to leave!
I push and shove, crashing through groups of partiers and navigating a path across the dance floor. My feet hit the polished floor hard as I break into a run and collide against the back door, forcing it open.
My breaths are short and sharp as I pant, trying to catch my breath from that impromptu sprint.
Goddammit! I’m too late!
The parking lot is empty. No cars, but plenty of broken bottles, blunt wrappers, and assorted drug paraphernalia.
And no Scarface.
I lean against the brick-faced building, pressing my fingers to my temples. A deep sigh shudders through me. I could have had him! I could have had Moretti! I bring my fist into the air to lash out at the wall and then remember what I’d be hitting.
I decide I’d much rather kick in Lorenzo’s teeth. It’s his fault that this is even happening.
He defied my father.
It’s because of my dad that he was able to get this club off the ground in the first place. He was given permission to do it in my father’s territory because of loyalty he’d shown in the past and work he’d done in support of my dad when he took over the organization. I’d heard grumblings as time passed, about what’s going to happen to my father’s territories. My dad wasn’t making big, strong moves to show power, and people were worried about other families taking over.
Well, another family sensed opportunity.
And Lorenzo just fucked us all by aligning himself with Moretti, the head of that family.
I shove open the door to the club and head for Lorenzo’s table.
I’m sure he’s there, flanked on both sides with half-naked women.
He thinks my father is weak.
He may be right.
But I’m not.
I cross the dance floor and stop in front of Lorenzo’s booth, fists clenched.
He’s not here.
And I’m not gonna stand around with my thumb up my ass waiting for him.
I dart into the darkness, with only those blinding lights
as my guide. I wander around the outskirts of the lounge, nodding at a security guy who recognizes me. He nods back.
He’s smart.
Maybe he knows his boss is a two-faced sonofabitch.
Lorenzo’s private office is down a long hallway and tucked into a corner. Close enough so that he can make a fast getaway, but hidden enough where he can fuck a couple of cocktail waitresses without being interrupted.
I stand outside of the office, listening to moans drift through the crack at the bottom. A smirk lifts my lips and I slam open the door, standing there with my arms folded.
He looks at me, completely unsurprised to see me. He doesn’t even have the nerve to look caught off-guard since his pants are around his ankles. The two girls who had been crawling all over him jump away with loud squeals, trying to cover themselves.
“Girls, get back to work. We’ll finish up later,” he bellows, still sitting on the couch, legs spread.
They scramble out, not making eye contact with me, and I kick the door closed behind me. Then I lock it.
“Xander,” he starts to stand and pull up his pants, and I cock an eyebrow.
“Last time I was here, you said you’d keep an ear to the ground for me, to let me know who I need to watch out for.”
Lorenzo nods. “Yes, I did.”
“And what’d you come up with?”
He looks around, avoiding my gaze. “Why don’t you sit down?”
“I’d prefer to stand. That way I can react quicker if someone tries to stab me in the back.” I narrow my eyes. “Oh yeah, you already did that, didn’t you?”
He holds up his hands. “Xander, you know I don’t work for anyone but myself.”
“Oh yeah, I know that damn well. You work to line your pockets and you don’t give a fuck about anyone you crush in the process.” I step closer to him. “You owe my father everything for what he did,” I growl.
“And he has my loyalty,” Lorenzo replies, buckling his belt and walking over to his desk.
“Bullshit!” I yell. “You’re a backstabbing asshole, Renzi! And I’m the one who got you the conversation with my father in the first place. I’m the reason this place is even here! And this is how you repay me? By bending over for the enemy?” I step closer to him. “How does it feel to take it up the ass that hard? Did Moretti use lube? Or did he just ram it in dry?”
My fingers fumble in my pocket for my blade and I pull it out, careful not to catch his attention.
He looks at me with an even stare, but I can see the fear lurking in the depths of his gaze. He’s scared and rightly so. “I did what I had to do, Xander,” he says, his voice shaking slightly.
“Oh yeah? You opened the door for Moretti and gave him free reign to do business on your…or should I say our…property?”
“I had no choice?”
He doesn’t sound very strong himself right now.
With one swift motion, I bring the blade up to his neck, sliding the steel against his skin. “Did you ever hear the story about the guy who sideswiped my car to get me back for taking drug money he stole from me? Do you know what I did to him before the cops even showed up to write the report?”
Lorenzo shakes, his face as pale as the starched shirt on his fat back. “Y-yes.”
I nod. “It was pretty fucking gruesome. It took a DNA test to actually ID the cocksucker since I sliced his face into carpaccio.” I hold up the blade to Lorenzo’s wide eyes. “With this exact blade.”
He sputters his next words, the threat becoming a little too real for him. He’s not used to this kind of shit. He lets his guys handle the rough stuff.
Me? I am the rough stuff.
“Tell me what Moretti is doing here, Lorenzo,” I seethe, pressing the blade against his plump cheek. “Or I’ll channel my inner deli dude and start slicing.”
Lorenzo trembles and quivers, pussy that he is.
“Don’t cry, bitch. You brought this on yourself. You invited him in, for Christ’s sake!” I dig the tip into his face and he lets out a high-pitched, ear-piercing shriek.
“If only your pal Moretti could hear you now,” I say, rolling my eyes. “You know, you’re really not cut out for this kind of work, dude. You need a bigger set of balls. And judging by that last scream, I wonder if you have any at all.”
“Please don’t! Tell me what you want me to do.”
“I want you to tell me what Moretti is up to.”
“I don’t know!”
I dig the blade in farther until a drizzle of blood courses down his cheek. “This is gonna leave a scar, Lorenzo. You wanna look like your new buddy, Rossi?”
His teeth chatter as I drag the blade a bit farther down his cheek. I don’t press too hard since I’m gonna save the best for later if he doesn’t do as I ask.
“Wh-what do you know about Rossi?”
I lean in, my voice hissing against his ear. “I saw him here before. And he’s been showing up around here a lot more. Why?”
“I really don’t—ahh!”
Now the blade is at his throat and I really think he’s damn close to pissing himself.
“You know and you’re gonna tell me.”
“Moretti is meeting with some real estate developers in the area!” The words tumble from his mouth with lightning speed. I guess he wants to keep his head attached to his body.
“What developers?”
Lorenzo shrugs. “He didn’t give me names. And Rossi was here asking if I wanted in on a new location that Moretti is scouting.”
“What did you tell him?” I growl into his face.
“I said yes!” he weeps. “He’d have killed me if I said no! I’m already in too deep!”
“That’s because you’re a greedy bastard.”
“No, it’s because I need to protect myself, Xander! Everyone knows your father is on borrowed time. Even you know it! If he doesn’t make some big moves, everyone who works for him is fucked!”
I grab Lorenzo by his shirt collar and slam him against a wall. “Don’t you ever say that again. He has the situation under control and he’s taking care of his own.”
“He’s not doing it fast enough. Moretti is coming and he’s got big money backing him.”
“Where’s it coming from?”
Lorenzo shakes his head, tears streaming from his eyes. “He didn’t say and I didn’t ask. I don’t give a fuck! I want to keep my place and make money! Period!”
“Well, guess what? If survival fits into your list of wants, then you’re going to do exactly what I ask.” My lips curl into a malicious smirk and I hold up the knife blade in front of his eyes. “You’re gonna help me get the information I need, or else keeping your dick attached to your body will become your top priority. Capice?”
Chapter 12
Charlotte
“Miss, we’re here,” Rolland calls out from the driver’s seat.
My eyes are still glued to my phone.
Nothing from Xander — all goddamn night. Nothing!
Feeling like a complete fool, I wave goodbye to him and exit the backseat.
I pull in a sharp breath.
Here goes nothing.
Ellie rushes up to me with a shit-eating grin and two Starbucks cups in hand.
“I thought you might need a little caffeine jolt to get you in the mood.” She hands me my latte as we start to walk to our first period together.
I take it, offering the nicest smile I can muster — even though my heart is twisting. “Thanks. You were so right.”
“I’m surprised you’re back already. I totally would’ve milked that shit for at least a week,” Ellie chortles.
I shrug. “I didn’t want to be cooped up any longer. I was getting a little bit of cabin fever.”
More like I was driving myself insane thinking about Xander. How he once again left me with empty promises and false hope. That I let myself believe him. And how stupid I feel for believing that he could actually love me. There is no fucking way that that man even knows what love r
eally means. How could he? He’s the product of his brother Jase. A cold, heartless brute who uses people and throws them away with the next breath. It’s embedded in the Iazetti DNA. And I need to start remembering that. Words don’t mean a damn thing. Actions do. And Xander’s actions were showing his true colors for the hundredth time.
“I guess I can understand that. I, for one, am super happy you’re back. English class is so boring without you. If I have to hear one more stupid kid butcher Shakespeare’s sonnets, I am going to fucking scream.” Ellie’s arm hooks with mine as we make our way down the long hallway.
I can’t help it, I scan the horde of students rushing to their first classes. Of course I don’t see Xander. Why would he show up on time for school?
“I am glad I am back to entertain you.” I force out a little giggle.
“You all right?” Ellie stops dead in her tracks before pulling me to the side to let the other students hurry by.
I bow my head. “Just a little overwhelmed with being back.”
Another person I am only telling half-truths to.
Xander is rubbing off on me a little too much.
There are too many secrets now.
Too many things that are so far up in the air, it makes my head spin.
But how in the fucking world could I explain any of this shit to my new best friend?
It’s not like I can tell her what is really going on. She would tell me that I was crazy for loving Xander and an idiot for not telling my parents about Scarface. And she would be right. I am crazy and a total idiot. Because no matter how much I try to fight it. I want to be with Xander and I want this entire mess to just go away. But deep down I know that none of that is going to happen. That would be a fairytale ending and this is real life.
As the bell rings, Ellie puts her hand softly on my arm. “I got you, babe,” she reassures me with a little wink. “And if it gets too much, you go home. At least you’re trying.”
My shoulders relax. “Thanks, I needed to hear that.” I take a long drink out of the to-go cup and nod toward the open door of our classroom. “Shall we?”
Ellie offers her arm to me and I laugh.
“Let’s do this,” she sings out.
Princess: Ridgeview Prep Book 2 Page 8