“Well, Emma is anxious for them to come to the house, but I think we should get business taken care of first, then let them come to the house and relax. What do you think?”
“Knowing Michael the way I do, he won’t be able to relax until the business portion of this trip was dealt with. What’s to signing some papers? Shouldn’t take long.
He nods. “Yeah, that was my thinking.”
We shoot the shit for a few more minutes when we hear over the loud speaker that Vitali flight number 8992 has landed. We both get up and walk to the window, which is right next to the runway where the plane should have already landed. And there it is. You can never mistake a Vitali plane. The Vitalis have two of them, and they are both marked with a big read V on the tail.
“It sure is pretty,” I say.
Ice laughs. “Yeah it is. If we ever get rich enough to have our own plane, I’m putting the fuckin’ dragon on the tail.”
I look over at him. “Fuck, that would be badass.”
“Damn straight it would.”
The door to the plane opens, and Ice and I go out to greet them.
“Michael!” I say. “Good to see you.” I pull Zaira into a hug. “And you, darlin’.”
She giggles.
“Watch it, Sainte,” Michael teases. He knows he has nothing to worry about from me where his wife is concerned. Zaira and I have always been nothing but good friends. I greet Ricco and Vince, and I notice a couple new guys following behind, carrying their bags.
“Michael! Good to see you again,” Ice says. “Thanks for coming here. I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to leave town. Emma is so far along with her pregnancy; I really wanna stay close.”
“Totally get that. Zaira is pregnant too, but not too far along that she can’t travel. That’s why she insisted on coming, while she still can.”
They both laugh as we make our way to our cars.
“So, clubhouse first, then my house,” Ice says.
“Sounds fantastic,” Michael replies.
Everyone gets in the vehicles, the luggage is loaded, and we take off.
Back at the clubhouse, Ice and I show everyone around. Some of the boys will be staying here, except Ricco and Vince. Ricco never leaves Michael and Zaira. He’s their main bodyguard and righthand man. The guys take their duffels up to their respective rooms. Everyone else’s bags remain in the Jeep.
“Let me go get Emma,” Ice says. He turns toward Zaira. “While we are signing papers and such, she will love the one-on-one time to catch up with you.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing her,” Zaira says.
He smiles. “I’ll be right back.”
“You guys want something to drink?” I ask.
“I’m good,” Michael says and then turns to Zaira. “You want something, sweetheart?”
“You got some type of sparkling water?” she asks.
“I think Honey keeps Pellegrino behind the bar. Let me look.”
I go to look and find a case. After taking a bottle out, I grab a cup and fill it with ice, then pour it over the ice. “Here ya go, darlin’.”
“Thank you, Nick.” Zaira could never get used to calling me Sainte, so after all these years of telling her to call me Sainte, she still calls me Nick. I don’t mind really, but sometimes if she is calling for me, I have to stop and think who Nick is. After all, I’ve been answering to Sainte for many years now.
“Just look at you, making yourself at home,” Michael says.
“Well, this is home, Mikey.”
