29. Matteo

29

MATTEO

E nzo and I pull up to The Ruby Lounge, and I've already spotted Mauricio's silver Bentley in the parking lot. Looks like my source was correct.

My strip club contact, Frankie, lets us in through a side entrance. The club is owned by Mancini. With Lux and I married, it won't be out of the ordinary for me to be here, but I'm not taking a chance on spooking Mauricio. If he knows about Lux's mother's kidnapping and sees me here, he'll be on guard and even the stripper won't be able to distract him enough to get anything out of him.

I slip some cash to Frankie for his help tonight. He gives me a nod, allowing Enzo and I to pass. Just because he works for Mancini's establishment, doesn't mean he can't be paid off. He's not a made man. He's not even an associate. He has nothing to do with the Mafia. He's simply a bouncer working at a strip club owned by Angelo Mancini.

Enzo and I walk through the narrow hallways lined with dimmed lighting reflecting off the red walls that lead to the main floor. I locate Mauricio immediately. The silver-haired man is sitting front and center with two other men.

Giuseppe Silvestri.

The other one's Niccolò Silvestri, Giuseppe's only son. He hasn't been seen around the city the past few years. Rumor has it Giuseppe sent him to Sicily to train to take over for him. I had no idea he was back.

I pull back so I'm hidden behind the wall. "You see who's out there?" I ask Enzo.

He leans around me, popping his head out to peer into the lounge. "Well, shit. I didn't expect that ."

"Neither did I. We need to make sure we're fucking discreet. Stay in the shadows and stay alert. Text Rocco and let him know we may need him and Tito for backup in case we end up getting fucked." Enzo nods before taking out his cell phone and sending the message off to Rocco.

I watch the men closely as they guzzle down the drinks the cocktail servers keep bringing, loosening them up effectively. Mauricio already has the stripper on his lap, shoving her bare tits in his face. He whispers something in her ear before she giggles and stands, pulling him up with her. Looks like we got here just in time.

I speak to Enzo but keep my eyes trained on Mauricio and the stripper, knowing I need to get to the private room before they do. "Keep an eye out on the Silvestris, but do not approach them by any means. I don't want to scare the fucks before we have the information we need."

"Got it, Boss. Rocco and Tito will be posted up outside shortly."

Looks like the stripper is about to lead Mauricio to the private room any second. "Good. I'll be back as soon as this fucker blows his load. "

Enzo lets out a low laugh. "Man, I would not want to be you in this situation."

"That makes two of us. This stripper better get some information out of him, or I'll fucking kill them both back there for putting me through this shit."

I head to the private rooms, staying in the shadows so no one sees me. The stages and poles are lit up for the dancers, but the rest of the club is lit up by red ambiance lighting, making it difficult to see anything unless you're laser focused on it.

I find the farthest private room. This is the one I told Frankie to tell the stripper to use. Typically, the girls use the first one available, so the last one seemed like the safest bet to make sure we end up in the same room.

Slipping into the dimly lit room, I find a spot in the darkened corner.

And now we wait.