Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 40969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 40969 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 205(@200wpm)___ 164(@250wpm)___ 137(@300wpm)
“Seems business is already flowing. This agreement we have going on is right on track. Have you seen the casino?” Nico points at the screen. It was smart for the concierge to give every high roller a credit at the tables. And Nico’s not wrong, by the way. The bank on site gave me a count earlier. If things keep flowing like this, we’ll be taking care of things like we’ve agreed upon. That’s the thing when you do business with the Donotello famiglia; it doesn’t matter if you’ve been friends for years and years, business is still business. When I presented my plan to Nico and his father, Emilio, they were all in for a price—using the casino bank to launder money. That was the only time I ever sat in on the hiring of someone; they needed to be a part of the family, so I hired four of Emilio’s men, with Nico in on it as well. He’ll be the next in line to take over the wheeling and dealings when Emilio steps down.
“Yep, it’s going smoothly, almost too smoothly. Want a refill?” I nod my head to the glass in his hand while I take off my suit jacket, pulling at the knot in my tie, loosening it now that I’ll be in my office until I finally head home. The cuff links come off next, working at one then the other.
“Yeah, I know what you mean. Pops is making more and more noise these days about retiring. I think it’s only a matter of time until I’ll be the head of the famiglia.” I pocket the cuff links my baby sister gave me for my thirty-ninth birthday this year; gold in color with an onyx stone, something about being as black as my soul.
“He’s what? Sixty-five? Do you really think he’s going to retire?” I respond, grabbing my own glass from the wet bar in my office and pouring myself two fingers full, then taking the bottle with me and filling Nico’s.
“Sixty-three. Pops wants fresh blood in. A lot of the older guys are getting complacent, fucking up when they shouldn’t be. He thinks if I step up with my penchant of taking care of business, it’ll either make them buck up or have the others follow his path.” I set the bottle down on my desk and move to sit in the chair next to Nico’s. His eyes aren’t meeting mine. I swivel my head to where he's staring a hole in the security cameras, particularly on one person.
“I can see that working. It may take you busting heads together.” I take a sip of my bourbon, enjoying the woodsy flavor along with the cherries and apple undertone.
“I’ll look forward to it. Who’s the woman?” He nods at Celeste’s spa, the woman whose name I’ve been rolling around in my head the entirety of the night if my mind is not on work. Dark hair, brown eyes reminiscent of the liquor swirling in my glass, and I bet she’d go to my head even faster.
“Eyes off my employees, Nico,” I grunt, my eyes on her as she’s restocking the shelves for another event-filled day tomorrow.
“It’s like that, is it? Hmm, wasn’t it just last week you were with Vanessa?” The guy may not be my blood brother, but that doesn’t mean he’s not in every sense of the word, always having my back while giving me shit, too.
“Who?” I ask. A smug grin crosses Nico’s face at my response.
“You better be careful; you’ve been seen with her twice now. My mamma brought it to my attention, and when that happens, yours isn’t far behind her. Add in the sisters, and you’re fucked if you keep it up.”
“Two events, that’s all I took her, too. A few photos here and there. Woman wouldn’t even eat salad; could chug champagne like it wasn’t her first time. Vanessa is long gone.” I wave my hand that’s not holding the crystal glass holding a much-needed drink.
“So, that leads me to believe this woman you claim is an employee is off limits, but to whom, you or me?” If I respond with the wrong thing, Nico won’t shut up about it, so I make a decision that will keep him quiet instead.
“Both of us. I’m looking, not touching.” Meanwhile, my eyes return to the security cameras attempting to keep them away from Celeste. Instead, I glance over the pool area. My hackles rise when I see two guys getting rowdy on the pool deck. One of the men clearly had too much to drink with the way he’s swaying back on his feet. The other guy is attempting to diffuse the situation, but the drunk one is still running his mouth.
“You see what I’m seeing?” I ask Nico. I’m out of my seat, grabbing my suit jacket, knowing Nico is right behind me. My phone is to my ear, calling in security that should already be on the way there if they were watching the same thing we did.