Angelo steps out first, adjusting cuffs to his suit jacket and causally checks his gun in the back of his waist band. Dante nods at Angelo before I exit the back of the car. As Angelo just did, I adjust my suit jacket. All three of us are dressed in black pants, black button up crisp shirt with a black suit jacket.
Angelo walks in front making his way up the steps and Dante at my back. One of Costa’s men open the door once we make it to the top for us to head inside. Another one is waiting for us.
“Don Costa is waiting for you in the great room.” He says in his deep, thick Chicago accent.
Following him down the very hallway from the event to the great room. It’s still the same. The gold accents, white marble everything and countless portraits on himself. Very little of his family, of course. Ciro Costa loves three things. Money, women and himself.
We enter the great room and Ciro is sitting in a massive, oversized chair with a tumbler in his hand just waiting for me.
“Ah, Don Ricci. I must say that I was surprised you wanted to meet to discuss business.” He stands to greet me with a fake smile on his face as he stretches out his hand.
Angelo and Dante stand behind me as I take Costa’s hand while pushing down the annoyance and hatred I have for this man. I came here to offer him a deal that I don’t fully intend to go through with. But he does not need to know that.
Plastering on a fake smile. “Well, what can I say? I think our families could really benefit from one another, don’t you think?”
He looks pleased with my response and gestures for me to sit in the other chair in front of him. Angelo still stands by my side with Dante not too far behind. Costa’s second also stands behind him.
“What can I get you to drink? I think it’s only fitting to share a drink together for our families to join forces?” He asks before he takes a sip from his tumbler.
I unbutton my jacket before I sit down. “No, thank you. It’s a little too early for me to be drinking.”
“Suit yourself.” He nods his head and sets his drink down on the table next to his chair. “I’m curious what business arrangement you are thinking of. If I’m honest, since your father’s death you have taken what he had started and made it grow bigger than he could have ever imagined. Not to mention a hell a lot richer. I will admit when you became the Don of your family, I was hesitant if it was going to work with you working with us old timers. Though, you have proven you are a force.”
He is not wrong. I have taken what my father had started and made it flourish into more than the old man could have dreamt about.
Nodding my head. “Yes, I wanted to take what he started to make it more. And I think I have done that time over time, wouldn’t you think?”
He stares at me for a min before he responds, “That you have. It’s very impressive.”
I take his response with a grain of salt because Ciro Costa does not care how his actions affect others. Prime example is how he thinks merging with the Di Marco’s it’s going to help him become more powerful to rule Chicago. Not happening. His world is going to be turned upside down. Though, my plan is not going to be a short one. No. No, this is going to be a long game.
I sit further into the chair, and I choose my words carefully before I utter them out of my mouth. “If I could be candid with you. There is another reason why I wanted to meet with you.” His brow furrow with confusion. “I have recently discovered something regarding the Di Marcos. More specifically, Ian Di Marco.”
He does not move. “And what would that be?” I can see how the look in his eye has morphed into anger. You’re not the only one.
I tilt my head and stare to him.
His jaw becomes tight when he spits out at me. “Don’t pussy foot around it, Ricci.”
I cross one leg over the other and lace my hands together on top of my lap. “As you know, the one thing we all have agreed on is that we do not get involved with sex trafficking of any kind regardless of how much fucking money it would bring in. It’s goes against morals and values. Being the men that we are and what we do, we draw the line at treating women poorly.” I pause and stare at him and I can feel my patience waning thin as I want to get this over with. “Ian Di Marco has brought that to our doorstep.” I take a moment before I give him the final nail in the coffin for Ian. Costa’s reaction will say everything that I need to know. “Even though he agreed to marry Isabella, that is not the only thing that he has agreed to.”
Costa’s nostrils flare and his olive skin turns a shade of red. “Fucking spit it out!” He raises his voice.
I remain calm and not react to his outburst as I know I am the cause of it.
“He has plans to sell Isabella to whoever will want to buy their time with her. It has been his plan all along. And there is nothing he won’t do to make this happen.” Taking a deep breath. “I’m sure you would not want your daughter married someone whodeals in trafficking or even be a part of a family who decides to go down this path. Which is rich considering what our families do.”
He is silent for a little. Letting what I have dropped onto him sink in. Have it swirl around in his mind trying to see if he could see any of the signs. There is none because this is all part of the plan I have orchestrated.
I to Angelo to hand me the proposal, and he steps to hand it to Costa. “I do have something I would like to propose to you. To help you get out of this situation.”
He narrows his gaze at me before casting his down on to the paper. “So, you’re wanting to marry Isabella in exchange to help protect her. And to join our families?” he asks with anger in his voice.
Smiling to myself inside. “Yes, that is what I think would be best. Marrying Isabella is an act of good faith.”
“Definitely so, no one would willingly want to that dull, incompetent whale. But it’s not even that. Have you ever spoken to her? She’s dull.” He laughs. “Enzo Ricci, while I don’t enjoy being blindsided, I do respect you saving my families name.” he says as he signs the contract. “I will have the contract with Ian rendered void and disappeared by the end of the day.”
“There is no end of the day, Costa. I will be leaving with the contract corrected.” I say dryly.
