Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

D’Angelo

It was a week before I was able to go back to the coffee shop. Usually, once I’d set my sights on someone, I moved on them as quickly as possible. A week was probably longer than I’d ever waited before, but dealing with the Russians was proving more difficult than expected. Whatever Alex’s father had done had really insulted them, because even getting any of the Pahkan’s men to talk to me ended up being extremely difficult.

Finally, however, I managed to set up a meeting with a Russian representative so we could at least get the ball rolling. Only then was I able to return to the coffee shop, this time earlier in the day.

The sun shone through shop windows, glinting off the earring dangling off Oliver’s ear when he looked up at the sound of the bell over the door. For a moment, a stiff customer service smile covered his face, but a complex mix of emotions immediately replaced it when he realized who he faced. Just like before, he instinctively turned himself slightly to the side, keeping his scars out of sight.

“Oh, um... hi. I mean... hello. Welcome to Brew Crew Coffee .”

Brew Crew Coffee?

Oh, right, the name of the coffee shop. I hadn’t even bothered to check the name of the place. The shop itself held no value to me beyond the man behind the counter.

There were no other customers in the shop at that moment, so nothing stood in my way as I approached the counter. I watched Oliver fidget under my attention and tried not to let the heat show in my eyes as I imagined him writhing under my gaze for a different reason and in an entirely different situation.

“I have to say, you look even better in the daylight.”

I expected the other man to blush and get embarrassed, or maybe even scoff and tell me to leave if he wasn’t interested in me. What I didn’t expect was laughter, but that’s exactly what I got.

Oliver snickered behind his hand, biting his lip in a failed attempt at holding back the sound. Hazel eyes glittered brighter than his jewelry when he looked at me.

“That’s the first thing you say to me? After a week? You certainly like to come on strong, don’t you?”

The unexpected reaction was refreshing. My smile widened, and I held out both my hands to the sides as if putting myself on display.

“Of course. I’m a busy man, and I hate the way people so often dance around each other when they could just say what they mean. Besides...” I leaned forward until my hip braced against the counter. “I don’t think you mind.”

The blush I’d expected earlier finally spread over his cheeks. For a moment, he seemed to forget about his scars and faced me directly. His posture relaxed, and I was already celebrating my victory, but his self-consciousness settled back onto his shoulders like an iron cloak.

Clearing his throat, he turned partially away and clawed at his bangs to make sure they covered the left side of his face.

“What, um... what makes you say that?”

At least he was still willing to engage with me. I hadn’t lost yet.

“Well, you noticed how long I was gone.” My smile softened until it was only the slightest curve of my lips, and I let some of the heat show in my eyes. “That means you’ve been thinking about me.”

It was the moment of truth. I would know from his reaction if there was truly any interest behind those hazel eyes.

“I would never think inappropriately about a customer,” Oliver said with a little extra breath in his voice. “Besides, I don’t even know your name, sir.”

“D’Angelo,” I said, completely ignoring my last name. A regular civilian likely wouldn’t recognize the significance of the Bianchi name, but there was always a chance, and I didn’t feel like using any of my aliases.

Although, he did bring up a good point.

Technically, I was a customer. Usually, I picked up my partners from clubs, bars, or the various events I attended. Occasionally, I hooked up with the family or friends of my various connections who were already part of the criminal underground life that I lived in. This was my first time taking an interest in a service worker. Not that there was anything wrong with the job, but the employee-customer dynamic could cause problems.

Turning off the charm for a moment, I addressed Oliver with a serious tone. “Just to be clear, you can absolutely tell me to fuck off. My ego can take it, and I’m not interested in anything that isn’t mutual.”

Oliver nodded, though he didn’t look as relieved as I’d hoped. “That’s good to know...” He trailed off, and couldn’t seem to decide between looking at my eyes or looking anywhere but my eyes. “However, I still don’t really know you.”

Oh, so he was the type who wanted to talk first. I was used to partners who immediately wanted to jump into bed, though that was probably at least partly due to the environment where I chose to meet potential lovers. However, I could work with this. It would mean a little more effort, but the outcome would be worth it.

How about this?” I laid my credit card on the counter. “Ring me up an espresso, and whatever drink you like best, then come share it with me and talk for a bit. That way we can get to know each other.”

Oliver looked uncertainly around the shop. I could practically see the wheels turning in his head as he weighed the pros and cons of my offer. It had been the same the last time we talked, and I suspected that the man was a chronic overthinker.

“All right,” he finally said, and started punching buttons on the cash register. “It’s dead right now, so I have nothing to do, but if another customer comes in, I’ll have to leave to take care of them.”

I easily agreed to his requirements, safe in the knowledge that no one would disturb us. Gavriil and Eva had spent twenty minutes chasing away anyone who tried to come into the shop before I’d stepped inside and they would continue to do so until I left.

While Oliver was busy making the drinks, I slipped a hundred dollar bill into the tip jar on the counter to make up for the loss of business.

Oliver was efficient at his job. I’d barely sat down at a table in the far corner, away from the windows and door, when he joined me carrying two drinks. The espresso came in a delicate cup, which he placed in front of me, while his own drink seemed to be something iced. I could hear the ice shifting around in the cup every time it moved and condensation dripped down the side of the glass.

Taking a sip of my coffee, I watched Oliver over the rim of my cup. He stared down at his drink without touching it, letting his hair fall partially over his face while nervously twirling one of the rings on his fingers.

For someone who had insisted on ‘getting to know each other,’ he didn’t seem keen to talk.

Sighing quietly to myself, I set my cup down with a soft clink against the table. “That’s interesting jewelry you’re wearing.”

He stopped toying with the ring and gave me a confused look.

“It’s custom work,” I continued, pointing between the rings, necklace, and earrings that he wore. “And all made by the same artist, if I’m not mistaken. It’s quality work.”

The last time I saw him, all his jewelry was filled with Garden of Eden symbolism. Today, however, was a cosmic theme. Vastly different designs, yet there was a similarity in the construction that said it was all made by the same hand. To have so many pieces from the same artist, they must have some significance to him.

My instincts turned out to be right as Oliver lit up, his nervousness forgotten as he held out his hands to show off the rings he wore.

“My friend, Ashes, made it all. They’re really good, and they’ve got a popular online business. I really wouldn’t be able to afford any of this, but they usually give me the experimental pieces when they’re trying out a new idea.”

From there, conversation flowed much easier as Oliver started talking about how he’d known Ashes since elementary school and telling me stories from their shared childhood. I would have been jealous that Oliver was spending so much time talking about someone else, if it weren’t for the clearly platonic, sibling-like relationship they seemed to have.

Plus, the conversation topic allowed me to pick up some crucial information about Oliver.

He’d had the scars on his face since he was very young. Money was very tight for his family due to his younger brother’s genetic illness. And, most importantly, Oliver had a passion for art.

“There were free after school classes,” he explained as he showed me some of the drawings in his sketchbook. “I didn’t know it at the time, but my mom basically used it as daycare for me while she worked. The only thing I cared about was that the classes were fun. The art teacher was also great and would often let me stay late even after the free class was over. Since then, I’ve dabbled in all kinds of different mediums, although I think watercolors are my favorites. I’d love to get into oil painting, but oil-based paints are expensive, not to mention the cost of canvases and brushes. Watercolors I can just do on paper.”

The pictures in the sketchbook were simple pencil drawings, obviously just a collection of random thoughts rather than finished pieces. There were several portraits, probably of people he knew, a cute dog that he’d passed on the street, and even a sunrise that he’d seen one morning on his way to work. Although the picture was in black and white, each stroke of the pencil was so finely placed that I could easily imagine the colors.

I turned the page again, revealing an unfinished image. It was another portrait, and although the figure’s features were only partially defined, I still recognized myself.

Oliver quickly snapped the sketchbook closed. “Forget about that. It’s, um... that was just... sorry.”

Propping my elbows on the table, I let my chin rest atop my laced fingers. “I’m flattered. Does this mean you see me as a work of art?”

Oliver scowled at me, sticking out his lower lip in a way that begged me to bite it.

“They say fishing for compliments is a sign of insecurity.”

My grin turned sharp and just a bit lecherous. “What do you say? Do you think I’m insecure?”

He honestly studied me for a moment as if he was actually considering the possibility. “No,” he eventually concluded. “You’re spoiled and you like teasing other people too much.”

I scoffed. “Spoiled? Hardly. I’ll have you know, my parents only let me have two ponies growing up. All my friends had at least three.”

Finishing off the last swallow of his drink, Oliver rolled his eyes at me. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize your childhood was full of such suffering.”

The sarcasm in his voice couldn’t have been more obvious.

Worry flashed over his face for a moment, causing his scars to pull at the edges of healthy skin. He must have worried that he’d offended me. If I was actually as insecure as he implied, I would have been.

Luckily, I’d always had a very healthy ego, so I just laughed.

“In all honesty, you’re probably right. I was a spoiled little brat. I threw a tantrum every time I lost at tag or hide-and-seek.” Taking a risk, I reached out and grabbed Oliver’s hand, letting my thumb press against the pulse point of his wrist. “That hasn’t really changed. I still prefer to get my way. I’ve just moved on to more adult games.”

Under my thumb, I felt Oliver’s pulse flutter. His breath became shallow and uneven, and he stared down at our joined hands like he didn’t quite know what he was looking at.

Then, unexpectedly, his brow furrowed, and he grabbed my wrist to bring my watch closer to his face. “Crap. Is that really the time?” He stood up so quickly that his chair toppled over, and he scanned the store. “I can’t believe you let me ramble on so long. Thank God no one came in. Usually, we’re super busy this time of day.”

No one would be coming in so long as Gavriil and Eva were guarding the place, but Oliver didn’t need to know that. Instead, I just grabbed his hand again, forcing him to look at me.

“Don’t say that. I like listening to you talk. I definitely want to hear more. Let me take you to dinner. What time do you get off work?”

After such a pleasant conversation, I thought I had the other man locked down. Yet, to my surprise, Oliver suddenly turned shifty and pulled away from me.

“That, um... won’t be possible. I don’t get off work until late.”

I kept a firm grip on his hand. Not so much that he couldn’t get away if he tried, but enough to make it clear that I wasn’t giving up so easily.

“It doesn’t have to be tonight. Any time will do.”

Taking a deep breath, Oliver picked up his toppled chair and perched on the very edge like he was ready to run at a moment’s notice.

“Look. What you’re suggesting sounds... really nice, but I can’t. I work a lot, and when I’m not working I have to be home. Earlier, I mentioned my brother is sick, right? Well, he has Spinal Muscular Atrophy. He needs round the clock care, but an at home nurse is expensive. My mother also works long hours, so whenever I’m not working I have to look after my brother in order to cut down on costs. So, I’m sorry. I’d like to go out with you, but... I can’t.”

Perhaps it was the shock of rejection that loosened my tongue. Not many people said no to me so I didn’t have much practice for how to handle it. Whatever the reason, I found myself speaking before I’d even thought about what to say.

“Bring him along.”

Oliver jerked in surprise, knocking over his thankfully empty cup. “What?”

The shock on his face mirrored my own feelings, but once the words were out of my mouth I couldn’t take them back. My only option was to push forward with as much feigned confidence as possible. “You have to look after your brother when you’re not at work. All right. Bring him along. We can make a day of it.”

Oliver stared at me in shock, his petal pink lips hanging open as he tried and failed to form words. “Why... you’re... are you sure?”

Was I sure?

Absolutely not.

This whole situation was so far off my usual script, I had no idea what I was doing.

None of that uncertainty showed on my face.

“Of course, I’m going to have to change my plans. A romantic restaurant wouldn’t be appropriate, but it can’t be that hard to find some family friendly activities in this city.”

Oliver didn’t immediately reply, staring at me with his eyes so wide the whites were visible all the way around the iris.

“But... I mean, why? You barely know me. Why would you bother going so far?”

Why indeed?

I was asking myself the same question.

Throwing one arm over the back of my chair, I adopted a nonchalant pose. “It’s because I want to get to know you. And if this is the only way to do that, then so be it.”

So many different emotions played across Oliver’s face I couldn’t keep track of them.

“If you’re sure, then... Rowan doesn’t actually get out of the house much. He’d love to spend a day out. So, I guess, okay.” The emotion he finally ended on turned out to be a wary sort of excitement. “All right. Yes. If you’re sure this is what you want, then it’s a date.”

We spent a little more time discussing days and times, agreeing on when exactly to meet. I hadn’t decided what we were going to do yet, but I asked Oliver about his brother’s interests. The boy, Rowan, seemed fairly typical for a fifteen-year-old. He liked action movies, especially ones with monsters and explosions.

I wasn’t sure what to do with this information yet, but it at least gave me something to start with.

Eventually, Oliver could no longer ignore his responsibilities and returned to the front counter, leaving me at the table to contemplate what I’d just agreed to.

My plan for the day had been to charm Oliver into my bed. It was meant to be quick, and probably temporary. Instead, it looked like I was going to have to commit a lot more time and effort than I expected.

I automatically watched Oliver as the man set about re-stocking the cups behind the counter, admiring the sure way he moved.

More effort, but worth it.

The coffee machine made a weird noise and Oliver started lecturing it like it was a misbehaving child.

Yes. Definitely worth it.

The bell over the front door dinged as a new guest stepped into the shop. I was so lost in my thoughts that it didn’t immediately occur to me what the sound meant. A moment later, as I heard footsteps approaching, the hair on the back of my neck stood on end.

Eva and Gavriil had been specifically instructed to keep everyone away from the shop so I wouldn’t be disturbed. There were very few people my bodyguards would have allowed through that door, and none of them would be here for a good reason.

Keeping all emotion off my face, I listened closer to the approaching footsteps. High heels clicked against the linoleum floor, and I immediately knew who I was dealing with.

“Caprice,” I said as the woman sat down across from me at the table.

That was it. No greeting passed my lips. There was nothing I could say that would be both polite and truthful.

Sharp red nails tapped against the faux wood tabletop as she stared at me.

“D’Angelo. You were harder to find than I expected. Baltimore isn’t your usual territory.”

Caprice Vidales, head of the Vidales family, led one of the other most powerful Italian Mafia families on this continent. Still nowhere near as powerful as the Mariano family, she and I had been thorns in each other’s sides for years. The woman had her sights set on one day overtaking the Mariano family, but she wouldn’t be able to do it alone.

First she tried to get someone from her family married to Alex Mariano, but that had been almost immediately shot down.

Her second plan was for her and I to combine our families so that we could take down the Mariano family together. Her idea was to combine our families through marriage, with her in charge, of course. That hadn’t gone as well as she hoped, and she’d never forgiven me.

In the grand scheme of things, I could almost understand her frustration. A few decades ago when homosexuality wasn’t as accepted, her plans would have probably worked. Alex and I both would have needed to marry women for the sake of public image, and a woman from her family would have been an ideal choice.

Gay men were really proving to be an insurmountable obstacle for her. One she could have overcome easily if she’d thought to offer a man from her family for marriage. Either Alex or I might have actually accepted that deal, but either there weren’t any men in her immediate family that she trusted enough for such a role, or the idea never occurred to her.

I smiled in her general direction, showing too many teeth for the expression to be genuine. “So, what are you doing here? Come to thank me in person for my gift?”

She sniffed in disdain and brushed a lock of poker straight dark hair out of her face. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Dealing with the criminal underworld on a regular basis meant that I was fluent in the language of lies. For example, when someone really didn’t know something, they tended to get to the point with simple phrases like “What are you talking about?” A long, formally worded sentence like “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” was usually a sign of lying.

My grin grew wider. “Oh, come now. I made it especially for you. Tell me you at least read the card I attached.”

She sneered at me but said nothing.

Still, I could easily imagine her disgusted face when she found Shane’s body spread out in pieces on her doorstep. There was no doubt in my mind that she was the one who set my previous lover up to try and kill me. I still wasn’t sure if she convinced him after he’d already found his way into my bed, or if he’d been a plant from the start. However, it didn’t matter. The outcome was the same.

Shane was dead and Caprice’s latest attempt at getting rid of me so she could take over the Bianchi family had failed.

As if sensing my thoughts, she narrowed her sharp eyes at me until they were as thin as dagger blades. “You may not realize, but I’ve been expanding my business into this area, so I was concerned when I heard you’d been hanging around here. Along with Alex’s presence as well, I can’t help but wonder what’s going on. Has the little prince already got himself into trouble trying to fill daddy’s shoes?”

The Vidales family was moving into Baltimore?

It must have been a new move, because this was the first time I was hearing about it.

Either that, or it was a very successful secret.

Baltimore was only a stone’s throw from D.C. It was a great location for influencing the country’s capital without being right on their doorstep, but that close location also made it a risk. It was much easier to mobilize against an enemy that was practically camped out in your backyard, meaning federal law enforcement could also come after us much easier when we were so close to their headquarters.

Recently, the FBI director had been killed in the line of duty, and there had been a scramble to find a proper replacement. Perhaps this disruption had given Caprice the confidence to try increasing her influence on the country’s government.

Could that also be why the Russians were so set on meeting in this area?

Whatever the reason, her involvement in Baltimore could prove problematic for both me and Alex if she interfered with Russian relations. I would need to get rid of her.

Under the table, I fingered the dial of my watch. Oliver was lucky that he hadn’t accidentally activated it when he grabbed my wrist earlier. The watch had a hidden compartment that could shoot out poison needles, which were fired by turning and pressing the winding dial in just the right way.

The Bianchi family had always specialized in drugs. My great grandmother invented the poison on these needles, and the formula for the antidote lay locked away in our family vault. The table was only a few feet wide. At such close proximity, I wouldn’t even need to aim. One prick from a poisoned needle and she would be dead within minutes.

Problem solved.

However, killing her would incite backlash from the Vidales family. I was already trying to prevent a war with the Russians. I couldn’t afford to initiate a war between Italian families at the same time.

I let go of my watch and placed both hands on the table in front of me.

“My business is my own, and doesn’t concern you. Stop sending assassins after me and I’ll stop returning them to you in pieces. Understand?”

After so many years of association, I was immune to her intimidation tactics. The conversation was over and we both knew it. She stood to leave, but not without one last parting comment.

“Don’t bother buying anything here,” she said as she left. “The drinks aren’t worth the price.”

Then she was finally gone, and the bell over the door marked her departure with a merry jingle.

I breathed a sigh of relief, but deep down I knew I couldn’t relax. Usually, Caprice was a problem I just ignored, but this time I might need to find a more permanent solution for her.

At least we’d been too far away for Oliver to hear us. I didn’t need to scare away my latest conquest before I’d even won him.

Nodding at Oliver on my way out, I found Eva and Gavriil waiting for me just a few steps away on the sidewalk.

“Sorry, sir,” Eva said as they walked with me to the car. “You told us to keep everyone away from the shop, but we couldn’t...”

I held up a hand to cut her off. “No, you did the right thing. Caprice Vidales can’t be chased away like some ordinary citizen. If she was determined to come inside, nothing short of death would have stopped her, and we don’t need that right now.”

Gavriil opened the car door for me, and handed me an unmarked manila folder once I was settled inside.

“That’s everything we’ve found about Oliver Grant so far,” Eva explained as she took her place in the shotgun seat. “He seems to be just an ordinary civilian, but we can keep digging if you’d like.”

As I opened the folder, Gavriil slipped in behind the wheel and started the car.

“Keep looking,” I said as I glanced over the picture of Oliver on the first page. “Shawn also seemed like an ordinary civilian, right up until he tried to kill me. Oh, and while you’re at it, get me everything there is to know about Spinal Muscular Atrophy.”

If Eva or Gavriil found this request strange, they knew better than to question it, and I was left to read in peace.

The picture of Oliver wasn’t very good. The harsh lighting threw his scars into stark relief and dulled the colors of his eyes. Scowling at it, I quickly turned the page. Most of the folder contained information I already knew, but one page stuffed right in the middle of everything caught my eye.

“Oh, now this is interesting.”