Chapter 22

CHAPTER 22

N ico

Gregory.

He’d been on my mind even more than before, the documentation and photographs from his murder haunting me. I couldn’t put my finger on why, but I knew I was right. Something was missing about my friend. But what? In my frustration, I’d made a call to a buddy of mine in the States. He’d been an old police captain in the same precinct where Greg’s murder had been handled. Plus, he wasn’t the kind of guy to follow all the rules.

He’d told me stories over wine about the lines he’d crossed over the years when things had been entirely different within police departments. He might be able to gather whispers from the past. He certainly was gruff enough he’d know how to rattle chains.

It was a longshot given the murder had been so long ago, but finding anything might prove to be helpful at this point.

I’d even bugged Elio, but he hadn’t answered his phone. It would seem I’d hit a hot button. I was considering a visit. Loose ends weren’t good for business. And the cargo ship was still rolling into the port.

Now it all seemed a sit and wait to see which players came forward. I wasn’t the kind of guy to stand by the sidelines. At least rousing Gio would help improve my mood.

Or so I hoped.

Business meetings were typically boring in my world. The Marciano corporation was a private company, which meant my mother, brother, sister, and an attorney I’d known since college were on our board of directors, but our meetings were semi-annually and usually weren’t contentious. Our business plan had been laid out together, certain aspects altered as times changed and our business expanded, but for the most part the corporation had run smoothly.

Granted, a couple of projects we’d acquired over the last two years had placed us into entirely new territory with being forced to have already existing investors. The initial meetings after our takeover had definitely been lively. Shouting and even tomato throwing had been involved.

I’d left those meetings thoroughly energized, eager to strip apart and remold the companies. Isabella had literally flown across the table in the middle of one, wrapping her hands around one of the investors’ throats. I’d had the most fun I’d experienced in a long time.

Today’s meeting was meant to be low-key as well. I’d decided the best thing to do was to plant seeds and watch them grow. That didn’t mean I wasn’t planning on having a little fun, but as Gio entered the smaller conference room of our office, he was still flirting with the receptionist. He even touched her face, pushing an imaginary strand of hair away from her cheek, his words that she was the most beautiful woman in the world making her cringe.

Gio wasn’t exactly a man I’d consider to be good looking on any level, merely average. He tried to make up for it by acting suave but failed miserably.

Maybe I was just in a piss-poor mood and nothing more.

I hadn’t moved, doing my best not to react as he handed my receptionist a card with his phone number. Which I knew she’d promptly toss into the trash. That pissed me off. No one came into my world and dared put their hands on my employees.

Gio had been allowed to get away with minor infractions for years, mostly because I’d spent such little time with him and up until now, the clients had been decent.

Although I was beginning to wonder.

Luca eyed me carefully, lifting his eyebrows. He could tell I was fuming.

Both men loathed the prick, and had told me more than once they’d enjoy dragging Gio into a dark alley. Perhaps I should let them.

Instead, I was angry enough that we’d start the meeting with my exercise in restraint, although not completely. More importantly, it was time to teach the pipsqueak a lesson. Maybe that would soothe my rage.

I lifted my hand from the table, overextending my fingers. Luca tried to keep from whistling but failed. He was shocked I’d drifted straight into instant violence.

But honestly, a little pain could mean decent gain.

“Come in, Gio. I’m glad you could make it.”

Enzo closed the door after him, which wasn’t unusual.

“I’m grateful you called. I was getting worried,” Gio said as he tugged on the lapels of his jacket. He truly believed he was something special as a man. “The clients I mentioned the other night are antsy.”

I was certain they were.

So was the asshole he was working for.

“Nonsense,” I told him. “I simply need to think about how to handle a business opportunity. Prudence is often necessary or I might walk into a situation that could be deemed… difficult.” I allowed Gio a full twenty seconds to see if he could read between the lines.

He wasn’t that bright.

I eyed Enzo who immediately wrapped his massive forearm around Gio’s neck, jerking him as tall as was possible without being lifted off his feet.

He was already floundering, confused as to why I’d attack him.

I continued to remain in my seat, elbows on the table and my fingers steepled. I even had a smile on my face.

Luca took his arm, immediately placing a hold on the man’s wrist.

“What… What are you doing?” Gio was horrified. Enzo was using restraint, the guest able to talk. He usually enjoyed crushing a man’s windpipe to the point of suffocation before letting go.

“What am I doing? I’m providing a reminder of two important things.”

Now Enzo squeezed to make a point. “One is that you aren’t welcome at my home. Ever. I didn’t convey that message well enough the other night and for that, I apologize.”

Luca was good at pressure points, a method of close combat weaponry that he’d taught me over the years. Today, I didn’t want to become overexerted. I had plans with Alexandra, not that she was aware of what they were. However, I wasn’t going to allow anything to interfere with spending time with her.

When my second in command added the first level of pressure, Gio instantly cried out. It was funny what pressing against a certain nerve could do. Not damage at this level, but the kind of pain to make a man sweat.

His face was already turning red and soon, sweat would develop. “A stronger point is that I’m a consummate businessman who doesn’t like changes made at the last minute. Especially for a contract that was on the table for almost two months. What you did was disrespectful and unacceptable. I have new terms. If you don’t like them, I already have other clients lined up in the United States in several cities. Dozens of them. If I go with them, I’ll take a lion’s share. They are eager to do business with my corporation and I will make more money since the middleman will be cut out. And I don’t like cutting out the middleman.”

I did enjoy dropping clues that would get back to Mattia. And hell, maybe Adonis.

Luca added another pressure point, taking the pain threshold up to level two. Gio was sweating, finding it difficult not to tear up. The insinuations were still easily reflected in his eyes. I’d put the fear of God into the man.

“Now, the agony you’re experiencing is not harmful at this point, merely painful. However, Luca is very experienced in this particular martial art. You don’t want him to head to level five. I do hope you can understand that.”

He nodded as if that was going to matter to me in the least.

“Excellent. Nod again if you accept the fact the terms are being changed.”

“Yes, sir. Fine. I’m fine with that.”

I was shocked he’d managed to huff out the words, although I couldn’t recognize his voice any longer. “Very good. Maybe you are a quick learner. Lastly in this lesson in respect, you will never touch one of my female employees again or I’ll have your hand cut off. Understood?”

Gio’s eyes opened wide and he did appear as if he was going to cry. But he nodded.

I shifted my eyes toward Luca and he brought the man’s anguish to level three just for a few seconds. It was enough to make a final point.

When my second in command let go, Gio stumbled forward, immediately wrapping one hand around the other.

“The pain will subside quickly. Now sit down. We’re going to discuss me taking a much larger percentage of business in New York, Washington DC, and Philadelphia.”

Given the Greeks were in Philadelphia and I’d come close to confirming Mattia was working with them, I threw out the additional carrot. At minimum, I knew Mattia wanted a new slice of the pie, one that wasn’t tarnished by his bad business decisions. That would take heading into another country.

Adonis would be furious, and possibly scared. If he had some list he was using to knock off bothersome people, that would curtail his activities.

Or speed them up.

The news would travel fast.

I’d done what I’d set out to do already.

Although I’d made another rather fun decision to continue turning up the heat.

It should put Mattia and Adonis on guard.

If I was still good at what I did.

Mattia had selected the Villa Igiea hotel to spend some time in. The location was considered five stars and very romantic, the layout and rooms designed with lovers in mind. He’d been married for five years, an arranged contract between a smaller crime syndicate within Italy. Both families likely hoped the union would provide additional clout within the five families.

It hadn’t.

No one cared any longer about marriage. Yes, they were considered holy, families the most important aspect of every regime, but the outdated ways of the Don selecting who the son or daughter would marry was almost never done any longer.

It was simply something else that had failed for Mattia.

He was batting zero at this point.

What his choice of hotels meant was that he wasn’t spending time alone while in Palermo. I’d heard the gossip, the man enjoying the company of at least one mistress while his wife looked the other way.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less what he did in his private time other than his behavior was repulsive. But his proclivity would prove to be useful at this point. Next to an Italian boy’s mother was his adoration of his mistress. He would find time to spend with her.

I’d sent another one of my soldiers to discover whether Mattia was still in the hotel and if I was right.

My soldier should have been a detective. I was correct in my assumptions. I did so love when I was right. It was time to rattle Mattia’s chain my way.

I headed into the hotel, shoving aside Luca’s push to join me. Mattia wasn’t going to kill me in the middle of broad daylight with his mistress on his arm. While I was playing on a hunch, given the late morning, I had a feeling the two would be down for brunch in the opulent restaurant before hitting the heated pool, perhaps the beach later in the day. It was certainly a very warm day, perfect for lounging and fucking.

The thought brought a twitch in my cock. It shouldn’t, but the moment I’d walked into the kitchen that morning, Alexandra’s simple, classic beauty had once again caught me off guard. Hell, I think I’d been rude.

What the hell had come over me?

I was half smiling as I headed to the fancy bistro. I wasn’t hungry, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy a cup of coffee and perhaps a Bloody Mary for a change. I’d even managed to snag one of the local newspapers that still existed in the city on my way in.

The hostess seemed enamored the moment I’d walked in, slightly flustered as she allowed me to select the perfect seat in the restaurant. Not only did I have a bird’s-eye view of the only elevators leading to the suites up above, but the happy, salacious party would need to walk right by me.

“Mr. Marciano. Please. Please enjoy your stay. If there is anything I can do, let me know.”

She was speaking in English without a heavy accent. That could mean she was an exchange student. Perhaps that write-up in the Sicilian men’s magazine had caught her eye. And here my brother had made fun of me for daring to sit for an interview.

After I’d placed my order, I sat back to relax for a little while. I’d take an hour, no more. A little relaxation time while I read the paper and enjoyed a beverage, allowing my mind to wander to Alexandra would be precious.

I checked my emails, the first from the lead technician of the security firm. Everything had been finished at the estate. They were in the process of heading to the office. Excellent.

The second was from a computer expert and part-time hacker on my own payroll. She was a tough cookie. The additional security I’d wanted on all the bank accounts were in place, with boosted security on the computer systems as well.

And no one had attempted to worm their way into either one.

I even tried Elio again, the call going directly to voicemail. There was nothing worse than someone ignoring me. If only I had time to pay him a visit. I knew people everywhere and made another call. He’d also been on my father’s payroll years before and didn’t like Elio in the least. He would do my legwork.

It was good to have friends in low places.

The thought made me smile.

Things were looking up. Although I preferred when a new enemy jumped right in my face. At least when dealing with corporate clients, you knew what you were getting involved in right way. Arrogance always came into place.

With the coffee and beverage in front of me, I settled back even more, my thoughts firmly locked onto the beautiful woman fuming at my house.

I was itching to get back to her. There were a couple of stops before I made it home. After that, I planned on shutting down business for the rest of the day.

One of two things she’d told me this morning was that she was taking her last exam this morning. That would allow for a slight celebration anyway.

Thankfully, I didn’t need to wait long. A single sharp and very feminine laugh drew my attention to the elevator.

The stunning couple I was hoping to see walked off the elevator arm in arm, heading in this direction. Yes, I enjoyed when I was right. If I had to guess, I’d say Gio had already contacted Mattia so my sudden arrival would be a slight but decent warning.

Stay the fuck away.

Or… Show his hand.

They were greeted by the hostess and at that point were only paying attention to each other. I sat back in the seat, enjoying the moment.

Mattia was firmly in control, almost dragging the girl through the restaurant. They were about two feet from the table when he finally looked in my direction. He locked eyes with mine almost immediately and there was a hitch in his step, an immediate slowdown.

His expression went from utter surprise to concern to a quick view of his anger in less than two seconds. Neither one of us said anything, and he finally regrouped, passing by me with only a slight glance over his shoulder.

I’d done what I came to do. After taking a gulp of my drink, I pulled out several euros, tossing the bills on the table. I didn’t need to look over my shoulder as I was leaving the restaurant.

I knew he was watching.