Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

N ico

Wham!

I wasn’t a patient man, nor did I accept bullshit from anyone. However, the worst offense was lack of respect. For my person. For my business. For my family. And for my home. My private home and grounds were sacred to me. I rarely handled business from my estate, preferring leaving the majestic seaside space free of bloodshed and violence.

Gio grunted from the force I’d used to slam him against the wall. “It was important. You didn’t answer your phone.”

“I tried. I really did.”

Christ. Now the asshole was whining. I loathed whiners. That resulted in a hard punch to the stomach. I wasn’t usually a violent man over the last few years, but this conniving asshole had gotten on my last nerve.

I allowed him to double over, trying to figure out what to do.

It was fucking ten at night. I’d settled in by the fire, enjoying a whiskey after a fucking long week and this clown had arrived unexpectedly. Not only had he interrupted my family time, but he’d also brought me an inferior deal involving my wines.

Not that my sister and brother or my mother lived here any longer. I was completely alone in a huge house with two dozen rooms. The thought was ridiculous at this point.

“Please. New contract.” He coughed and wheezed. What did the bastard think he was trying to do?

It was easy to read between the lines on the contract he’d presented, acting as if the new bigwig client he’d found all on his own mattered to me in the least. But the trouble he was causing was enough to piss me off. Everything had been set into motion, including the cargo ship docket. Fuck him.

I was a fucking billionaire. What the hell did I care about some businessman from Milan who was branching out from fashion design? He also mentioned the client in Philly was trying to pull back on the product that had been ordered, a deposit made. Not possible.

“You need to take this deal,” Gio dared recommend.

Fisting my hand, I pulled my arm back, ready to punch him in the jaw. I already had my other hand wrapped around his throat. I could snap his neck at a moment’s notice. It had been a long time since I’d reveled in that joy.

“Allow me to teach you something important, Gio. There are very few things in life a man should grasp with both hands. The love of family. That comes first over everything else. Years pass quickly, so much so that before you realize it, a loved one has faded, no longer able to recognize you. You spent so many years building up a business, you forgot about enjoying the real perks. Not yachts. Not fancy cars. Just family. Do you understand?”

I’d been known for being a bit deranged, which was all an act. “Yes, sir. Yes. I’m close to my sister.”

The guy reminded me of a used car salesman. Slick and always knowing when to say the right words. But I could tell he was scared, believing I was unhinged. Good.

“Equally as important is a man’s integrity. Without that, no one will ever be able to respect you. Now, in this case, I will never do business with a man who avoids rules and the sanctity of them. My suggestion is you take that deal back to this… businessman and tell him I am not interested. As far as the asshole in the United States, tell him I’m furious and might take my business elsewhere.”

I started to let him go when he balked, even blubbering. “He won’t be happy. He’s a dangerous man.”

The fashion designer out of Milan? Bullshit.

“And I’m not?”

My phone rang, another somewhat unusual occurrence this late. When I received a call, that usually meant there was an issue. Typically, the call would be from one of my Capos or my brother.

However, when I yanked out my phone, seeing a number from the US made my hackles rise.

“Are you going to kill me, sir?” Gio whined.

“You’re in luck, buddy. I have other personal business to take care of. Get the fuck out of here and don’t come back or I will.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.”

God, I loathed weak links.

I was immediately concerned the moment I recognized the number. My ward, a young woman who’d been placed in my financial care when she was a tiny baby almost never contacted me. She was her own person now, a grown woman from what I’d heard. She was making her way in life, a very good person from what I could tell.

Who the hell was I kidding? I’d all but stalked her over the years.

“Alexandra,” I said as I answered.

“Nico. I’m in trouble.”

I headed back toward my living room, grabbing my drink. “What kind of trouble?”

“I saw something I shouldn’t have by accident, a murder,” she whispered. “A man’s head being cut off inside a bakery.” I could easily tell by her voice she was petrified.

I closed my eyes briefly. “Are you hurt?”

“No, but they’re after me. They trashed my place. They threatened me. I don’t know what to do. I just don’t know…” She started crying, but at least she wasn’t hysterical.

“Alexandra, where are you?”

“In a park. I didn’t know where to go.”

Shit. This was some bad juju at this point. I was in Palermo, Italy and she was in Georgetown in the United States. I couldn’t be further away. “Do you have cash for a room?”

“I think so. At least for a couple nights.”

“Okay, here’s what you’re going to do. Find a motel somewhere off the beaten path where you can hide your car in the back or near trees. Rent a room that allows you to see the main road. Text me the name and address. I have contacts there, men who can temporarily protect you until I can get there. Do you understand?”

“You’re coming here?” she asked, obviously shocked.

“Absolutely. It’s going to take me a little time, but I will be there and we’ll figure this out. Don’t leave the room. Keep an eye out. Okay?”

“Yes. I can do that. Nico? These are some really bad men. Like the mob.”

It wasn’t news at this point. I was fully aware of the various crime syndicates throughout the world. Hell, my family’s regime was still considered one of then, the dark and infamous Cosa Nostra. You didn’t become as successful as I had without keeping abreast of your possible enemies. I did some business in the US, but not enough to warrant being on anyone’s radar. Yet, anyway.

“I understand, but I can handle the situation. Just stay calm and follow my orders. I’ll contact you when I’ve arrived in the States.” I almost told her to go get a burner phone, but I doubted the basic thugs I knew existed around the DC area were that sophisticated yet.

However, time was of the essence.

“Okay. Thank you. I had nowhere else to turn,” she whispered. “My aunt. What about my aunt? I told her to go stay with a friend.”

“Excellent. You did well. I’ll make certain we establish something to have her protected, but first things first.”

“Okay.” She didn’t sound as if I’d convinced her. I’d never heard her voice so small. She was a bold girl and always had been, rebellious in every way. Then again, I didn’t know her any longer. I wasn’t kid friendly and had urged her mother’s sister to care for the girl, even though I’d provided all the financial considerations over the years. It was the least I could do for my friend.

Shit. This couldn’t be much worse.

“Relax, baby girl. Just relax.” I ended the call, forcing my mind to put together a quick plan. I immediately called over a Capo I knew had ties to America. “Luca. I need your help.”

“Of course, boss. What can I do?”

“I need a team of security men in the Philadelphia area positioned around a motel until I arrive. Once I know the address, I’ll let you know.”

“As in the United States?” he asked, his tone incredulous.

And I wasn’t in the mood to take any shit. “That a problem? You have buddies there.”

“No, no problem. I’ll need to call in a favor is all. What’s going on?”

“My goddaughter and ward has gotten herself into some ugly trouble. I’ll give you the details later. Also contact my pilot. I need a team of at least six with you and Enzo. We’re headed to America.”

“For how long?”

“For as fucking long as it takes.”

He nodded, moving away quickly. I could count on my two Capos without question. I polished off my drink, slamming the glass on my desk and grabbing my iPad. It didn’t take me long to find a short article on the murder, although the details were clipped. One thing was clear. Alexandra was right. The men she’d made the mistake of crossing were very bad men indeed, considered barbarians in the world of crime syndicates. They were Greeks, their family lineage rivaling almost every Cosa Nostra within Italy for decades.

I’d known the firstborn son taking over from his dying father had come to America for greener pastures. However, I’d thought his regime remained in Philadelphia. It was a crucial mistake, one I wasn’t used to making. I’d crossed paths with Adonis Dimitriou on two occasions, neither one of them pleasant. In fact, he’d made the mistake of threatening my regime.

As if he had enough power to do so.

Now I was beginning to wonder.

I headed upstairs to pack a small bag, not planning on staying in DC but for so long. I had no desire to enter into a battle at this point. I simply wanted to keep Alexandra safe.

Somehow, I had a bad feeling a war might be inevitable. What I wanted to learn was the identity of the man they’d killed. That had yet to be identified pending notification of next of kin. Discovering that would answer a significant number of questions.

For right now, getting to the States as quickly as possible was most important.

A few minutes later, I returned to the main floor, moving to my safe to grab my weapon and several magazines of ammunition. There were more weapons on the plane, but even landing at a private airport, we’d still be required to go through international security. I wanted no trouble.

“Everything is in place just waiting for the final address,” Luca stated as he returned to my office. “Enzo and the other men are on their way to the airport. Now, what’s going on?”

I handed him the iPad highlighting the news article, securing my weapon and the ammunition in my briefcase along with my laptop.

“Yeah? Did your goddaughter witness this?”

“She did.”

“I thought she was a medical student.”

“Wrong place, wrong time.” My phone pinged and I breathed a sigh of relief. She was at this moment safe. But for how long? “I’m texting you the address.”

“Excellent. I’ll take care of the rest.” My Capo was shaking his head. He knew as well as I did this could get very messy.

I took a few seconds to think about the past, but quickly shoved the memories aside. There was no room for lamenting or for condemning my behavior around her. I’d known Alexandra would be better off growing up in the States and with a female as her role model. Never would I have expected this.

Things were about to get dicey.

“I’m so glad you made it,” Gregory said as he shook my hand. He looked very much the proud papa, although his eyes highlighted the recent tragedy he’d suffered.

“I wouldn’t have missed Alexandra’s christening for the world.” I pulled him in for a bear hug. We’d become fast friends in college. My father had insisted I receive an American education to broaden my horizons. I hadn’t lived in a fancy condo, my father also insisting I live in a dorm room. It had been humbling, but rooming with Gregory had been a godsend.

He was brilliant, funny, and someone I would always consider my best friend no matter the distance or the years.

“Georgine would have been so happy,” he said with the same sadness I noticed in his eyes.

“She’s looking down from heaven with a smile on her face.”

He tried to smile, but it was still tough for him after six months. To have his beloved wife, a woman we’d play fought over during our last two years in college die in childbirth had nearly broken him. I’d done what I could to be a support system, but other than a quick trip, I’d had to do so from afar.

To this day, I felt guilty.

“Thank you for agreeing to be her godfather.”

“It’s my honor,” I said. And it was.

While Gregory wasn’t particularly religious, he had grown up Catholic like I had. He’d once told me that his love of the law made it impossible to believe in a higher being. I hadn’t argued.

Only ten minutes later, the christening ceremony began. It had been a long time since there’d been a birth in my family, my brother and sister yet to have children. I doubted I ever would. My cousin had been the last, almost ten years before. We were a large family, but the huge number of children born including cousins had drifted into a more modern approach to women and their responsibilities. I still found it fascinating.

There was something so hallowed about hearing the words, being asked if I agreed to be Alexandra’s godfather for the rest of her life.

“Yes, I do,” I said, and it was funny. I had a hard time recognizing my own voice.

Gregory was beaming, real happiness crossing his face. When he’d called and asked me to accept such a great honor, I’d almost choked.

As Alexandra was placed into my arms, she opened her big blue eyes and I had to admit I melted a little bit. I was a hard man, ruthless to most, but a man could be brought to their knees by a tiny smile. And when she gripped my finger, I was certain I was going to lose it.

The christening came to a conclusion and Gregory rose to his feet first from our kneeling position. He was ready to give out cigars and toast with cognac. And I would be thrilled to join him.

Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Screams rang out in the church, people scattering in horror. I held Alexandra close, trying to figure out what the fuck was going on. My two Capos rushed toward me, trying to guide me away.

“Take the child. Make certain nothing happens to her.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the chaos continued, I pulled out my weapon, scanning the area, unable to see where the goddamn gunman had been. When I looked down, my heart sank and I dropped to my knees.

Gregory had been mortally wounded, still trying to talk. Blood was everywhere. He’d been shot at least twice, once in his neck. I knew he was dying.

“Don’t speak. I’ll get you some help.”

He managed to shake his head slowly. “No time. Promise me.” Blood spewed from his mouth.

“Anything.” I was furious, determined to find the person responsible. And when I did, they’d regret the day they were born.

“Take… care of… my little girl.”

The memories were ones I’d tried to ignore for years. I’d searched for Gregory’s killer over the years with no success. My friend’s death didn’t make any sense whatsoever. He’d just been a defense attorney trying to reach greater heights. I’d searched high and low, the assassination-style killing well planned. One day I would find the asshole even after twenty-five years.

Why did I have a terrible feeling it was all going to come to a head once again?