Patting his shoulder, I smiled as if nothing had happened. “See you next Tuesday, Cesare. Now go and take exceptional care of your client.”
Grabbing my belongings from my locker, I dressed and placed my gun in my waistband. Leaving a few buttons undone, I left her pretty locket on full display and headed back to the lobby.
“Mario.” I snapped my fingers and held out my palm as he placed the information I’d asked for into it. I opened the folder and saw all the details we had on the system about who was staying in that room. A single woman named Allegra Vita. We’re offering a discount to well-known influencers to support our launch, and she was given one. I pulled out my phone and typed her name into social media. She was easy enough to find, as everything on her profile was public. I frowned at her brown hair and brown eyes.
That wasn’t the woman I’d just given three orgasms to.
“And she’s staying here alone? There isn’t another woman with her?”
“Si, Signor Buccini.She’s due to check out tomorrow morning.”
My phone began vibrating in my hand with an incoming call from my brother, Giovanni, the notorious boss of the Buccini Mafia Empire. I raised my finger to Mario and turned away, walking off to get some privacy.
“Pronto,Boss.”
“Where are you,Fratello?”
“Just checking in on the new hotel in Via Veneto.”
When my brother made me the underboss of our mafia empire and gave me control over Rome, I knew I’d fucking made it. All my life, all I’d ever wanted was his approval, to walk in his footsteps, in ourpapi’sfootsteps, and live up to the Buccini name and the power it held. Many of our businesses were fronts, including this hotel. The mafia owned most of Italy by now, and under our protection, the country thrived. Since all the mafia families had united under Alessio Barbieri’s reign, we’d all grown far more successful, wealthier, and expanded in our legal and illegal ventures.
The mafia owned construction companies, hotels, clubs, restaurants, casinos, shares in the metro, and major infrastructure projects in every key city. Most police officers, politicians, and mayors collaborated with us, accepting bribes and doing favours to keep us out of the system and conceal our less-than-aboveboard dealings. Gambling, underground fighting rings, sex clubs, drug cartels, armouries, high-profile protection services, and contract killings formed the hidden darkness of our world.
“Nico just rang. He couldn’t get through to you. There’s a problem withOstia Bianca.”
By the strain in his voice and his sharpness, he was stressed. I could already imagine him leaning back in his leather chair, whiskey in one hand and a cigar in the other.
“What’s wrong?”
“La Finanza.They’ve locked everything down. Saying they are doing a sweep. We need to secure theIl Vinoshipment, or we’ll lose the season.”
Merda. Just what we needed. My brother was speaking in code, of course. Ostia Biancawas the name of our warehouse atOstia Harbour, Rome’s port, which was the largest in the country for smuggling goods, drugs, and weaponry. We had a huge shipment of cocaine and firearms ready to go through the Colombian channels, which was the wine shipment he was referring to. Losing this would cost us millions and a huge fucking headache.
“Heading there now, Boss.”
“Assess the damage. Then I need you in Verona. Tonight. Take the helicopter and make it quick.”
“IsMammaokay? Raya?” They were always my first concern when my brother sounded so tense.
“Sí,it’s not family. It’s business. Alessio is flying in from Sicily.”
That meant this was bigger than a small financial police raid. For my brother-in-law, the mafia boss of Italy, to step in showed that shit was about to hit the fan. No one crossed that man. Those who did never saw the next sunrise, with my brother being the only exception. They had a complicated history, but that was water under the bridge now. We’re family. Alessio sat at the top of the food chain, the apex predator, while my brother sat to his right. Together, the Buccinis and Barbieris ruled Italy, attracting many allies eager to join our success. But with success comes jealousy. Sharks circled our shores — the Americans, the Russians, the Irish.
“Leaving now.” I hung up and pocketed my phone, nodding to two of my men who were waiting at the main entrance, signalling I needed my car outside. Turning back to Mario, I rested my hands on the desk and leaned forward. “I want security to send me any footage of Allegra Vita from the last few hours, especially if she is with another woman. And I want it before morning.”
“Of course,Signor Buccini.Is everything okay? Do you need me to–”
“Everything is fine. Just the footage.” I nodded at him, easing his worry.“Grazie, Mario. I’ll drop by again soon.Ciao.”
My beautiful rebel would have to wait until tomorrow.
War Declared
“Nico,” I greeted, grabbing our scout soldier by the shoulder as he dropped his cigarette to the floor and stamped it out with his boot. I stared across the dimly lit port and narrowed my eyes, studying the seemingly untouched shipping containers. They were all owned by our legitimate front companies, which we also used to hold our illegal shipments. We couldn’t get any closer without the risk of being seen if there were still officials patrolling the docks.
“It’s bad, Boss. They ransacked the main warehouse and seized the lot. Took the entire Semptin shipment and the overstock.”
My body stiffened. Fuck. Not only would that cost us and at least four other allied families millions, but the money was supposed to be laundered through a Vatican-linked charity, affecting not only our mafia relationships but also causing a loss of trust and putting pressure on our networks.
