August
Lorenzo closed the door behind him, hesitating before he walked any further. “Nice digs. You do well for yourself.”
“The perks of corporate America.” I poured us both a drink, handing him a glass before settling on the leather couch. “What is so important that couldn’t wait?”
He remained standing. “I believe we could have a mole in one of our organizations.”
“A mole?” While this wasn’t shocking news, the timing was horrific.
“Yes.” He took a sip then swirled the glass. “I have strategically placed soldiers in and around our respective cities. Don’t worry,” he mused, obviously seeing my bristling reaction, “they’ve been given explicit instructions to watch for this fucker who is threatening both our livelihoods. Nothing more.”
I leaned forward, moving the glass from hand to hand. “What else?”
“Word on the street it that there is going to be a major hit.”
“Meaning?”
Lorenzo laughed, finally easing into the chair. He crossed his legs and settled in, appearing the arrogant ass I knew him to be. “I’m well aware that you have a runner coming in from South America later this week. If that shipment is hit, along with a few… let’s just say overdoses, then you’ll find it invariably impossible to salvage the operation, your reputation and, I might add, there’s a very good chance both you and your father will be indicted. I suspect these charges will stick.”
My first reaction was to scoff at everything he said, but I knew better. I’d heard enough to realize the possibility was plausible, even though I was incensed that he and his organization had any details about the shipment. The activity was my father’s bread and butter, and I often wondered about his carelessness. However, if the setup was planned and it involved my casino, I would be forced to take the lead. “Very well. What does this mean to you? Why bother telling me, Lorenzo?”
“Because almost every drug-related activity filters down to my turf, including my casinos. You are well aware of the hit last week. I’m certain it was a planned event. A shame the vice president’s daughter had a seizure because of the crap she ingested. I heard she will recover, although there is a chance she’ll be scrambled, if you know what I mean.” He snorted and fingered the rim of his glass. “I don’t like not knowing who this fucker is. Enemies I can see are easy. This is just bullshit.”
I’d heard about the fallout, the investigation by the FBI. Lorenzo was a careful man, that much I could say about him. He refused to tolerate the kind of bullshit in his organization. “What do you propose?”
“That we work together. I can certainly position my men in various locations, scour the streets in an effort to find this fucker before he strikes.”
I mulled over the concept, my thoughts shifting to Marco. The various hits on my other businesses were obviously planting seeds for the FBI to find, setting up a pattern. “And what if this drug runner is found?”
“Then we enjoy the retaliation and our world goes back to normal. I’m certain we can leverage the situation for some additional funds, although I don’t think either one of us cares about money, simply toasting the fucker’s ass.” Lorenzo grinned, his eyes locking on mine. “I am well aware of your distrust for me, Dom. That is the nature of our business, but it does neither of us any good if we’re implicated on drug charges that have nothing to do with us.”
“Yes.” I took a sip, savoring the slight burn sliding down the back of my throat. “I agree that whoever is behind this scheme must be found. I’ll assign my soldiers as well, which will include invading your… turf. I’m certain that will be fine with you.”
“Of course.” He rose to his feet, polishing off the remainder of the glass. I could tell he was hesitating, finally tipping his head in my direction. “Sasha is truly beautiful. I’m not certain what you hope to gain by forcing this alliance, other than the obvious, but be careful of the senator. He may seem like a pompous fuck, but I assure you, he is cunning and has powerful friends in every aspect of his life. His secrets mean nothing in comparison to what he can do by picking up a phone.”
“Do you care to be more specific?”
“If I had specifics, I would certainly be in line to eradicate these influencers. Sadly, I’m going on gut and certain tips, but let it be a warning. Don’t turn your back.”
I gave him a nod of respect. He’d earned it in my book. “Let’s talk in a day or so.”
“I’ll start working on our project.” He sucked on a cube of ice before easing the tumbler onto the table. “You have excellent tastes in several ways, my friend. I believe I underestimated you. I assure you, I won’t make that mistake again.”
I fingered the glass, only exhaling after he’d left. The information he’d provided had proven to be very interesting, although my gut had already told me that Senator Morales could retaliate in some manner, especially given my father’s search for Margaret. Sighing, I rubbed my eyes. The night hadn’t gone off as planned, but at least word would be on the street about Sasha.
For good or bad.
I’d lost the taste for scotch, leaving the glass and walking out of the office. I had a hell of lot to think about and needed to discuss things with my father. That would come tomorrow. Tonight, I would begin training my lovely fiancee. I took slow steps down the stairs, curious that Bruno was nowhere to be found. As I neared the dining room, a glint caught my eye.
“What. The. Fuck?” Bending down, I froze before my hands could pick up the source. Her necklace. Yanking it into the light, I could see that clasp had been broken, as if ripped off her neck. I shoved the jewels into my pocket, rushing into the doorway. Even from where I stood, I could see the table was empty and the chair she’d been sitting in pushed off to the side.
Rage consumed me as I rushed into the dining room, locating and yanking the waiter off to the side. “Where is she?”
“Who? I mean…” Flustered, his face turned beet red, his lower lip twisting as his breathing became ragged.
“My fiancee.” I twisted his arm until he winced.
He shot a look around me, although unable to see the table. “I don’t know, sir. I swear to God. I refilled her champagne and walked away to other customers. I’m sorry. I just didn’t think…” His pleading followed by a single whimper.
Control. I had to think about this. For anyone to come into the casino and be brazen enough to abduct Sasha with the amount of firepower in the building would be insane. I released him, running my hand through my hair. “See if you can find her and do so quietly. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir. Yes. I will. I…”
I waved him off, turning and scanning the dining room. Bruno peered in from the hallway and within three seconds I had my hand wrapped around his throat. “What the fuck? You were supposed to be watching her.”
He opened his mouth, choking sounds pushing past his lips. “Boss… I came to…”
I jerked back, backhanding him. I heard several gasps and hissed at losing control. She had that kind of effect on me, which would easily be seen as a weakness. Still, there was no need for an apology. Bruno had broken my number one rule, at least since she entered my life. Her safety was paramount over every other aspect of business. If the head of some new regime was out to take down two crime families, they had balls the size of watermelons. They’d use whatever tactics necessary.
“I’m sorry, boss. She got away from me. I was coming to find you.” Bruno rubbed his face then stood to his full height, a conciliatory look on his face. “She asked if I could find the waiter for her. I was just gone two minutes. She must have bolted. There’s nobody here to worry about, not checked in to either the suites or private parties, and certainly not in the casino or dining room.”
Which meant she’d likely fled on her own. “Cunning.” I’d drawn enough of a crowd that I was no longer in the mood to celebrate in front of anyone. She would need to learn her lesson. “We find her. Now!”
“Yes, boss.”
There was an irrational level of fear, a chill racing into my system. She had no idea what kind of danger she was in. Whether I cared to acknowledge or not, I was falling hard for the stunning creature.
And if that was truly the case, she could very well mean my damnation.
“I’m sorry, boss. She got away from me. I was coming to find you.” Bruno rubbed his face then stood to his full height, a conciliatory look on his face. “She asked if I could find the waiter for her. I was just gone two minutes. She must have bolted. There’s nobody here to worry about, not checked in to either the suites or private parties, and certainly not in the casino or dining room.”
Which meant she’d likely fled on her own. “Cunning.” I’d drawn enough of a crowd that I was no longer in the mood to celebrate in front of anyone. She would need to learn her lesson. “We find her. Now!”
“Yes, boss.”
There was an irrational level of fear, a chill racing into my system. She had no idea what kind of danger she was in. Whether I cared to acknowledge or not, I was falling hard for the stunning creature.
And if that was truly the case, she could very well mean my damnation.