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The driver turned into a large garage building with the door on the alley side. I was more than ready to get out of this vehicle because we’d all been cramped for way too long.
A team dressed in scrubs came rushing out of the building into the garage and put Tommy on a stretcher without even speaking to each other.
He was rushed out and everyone else was shuffled into a small waiting room of sorts.
I crawled out of the car, unsure of what I was supposed to do, I just followed the first group.
Two guards that were with me in the first SUV walked behind me, as Tommy, the injured one, was placed on a table in the other room surrounded by surgical equipment.
I scanned the room; sterilized equipment filled the area. This was the Romano surgical center. The way all the equipment was on wheeled pallets showed me that it was a portable set up.
Nick sat next to me as one of the men in scrubs took the lead and his coworkers jumped into action. An IV was started and they began to remove his bloody shirt.
I fisted my hands as flakes and slime had me look down at my hands and clothes. I was covered in Tommy’s blood as well. I wondered if they would let me change. Blood was sticky and would for sure stain the nice dress I had put on to meet my fiancée. Who was I fooling? The dress was a goner.
I watched the medical staff do their thing and inspected the men surrounding me. I was judging their capability and how smoothly they ran their operations. I’d always prided myself on my ability to think quickly in an emergency situation. It was like my brain went into action when everyone started to panic at the bullets flying.
Today was a perfect example, I had been the one to neutralize the threat to us, while his men did nothing but drive the getaway car. I hoped Luciano could appreciate and see that.
I was considering asking about that change of clothes when someone came into the room.
One of the guards took a call behind me.
“Ms. Montrelli, follow me,” said the man from the phone. “Luciano wants you in here.” I got a good look at him this time. He had a small scar over his left eye and light freckles dotting over his nose, which was odd, considering how tan his skin was. His hair was black and slicked back. I’d noticed that all of these men, for some reason, were incredibly attractive. Did that have to be a requirement when joining the Romano outfit? I hold back a chuckle, keeping my deadpan expression on my face.
Nick stayed behind and merely watched us as we disappeared down a hallway that was attached to the door the doctors came through.
I took in mental snapshots of my surroundings as we walked. Hoping I would catch a glimpse of something that would be of use to me down the road. To be a great underboss nothing could be left amiss. But the hallway was sterile and white, with all the doors closed. The floor was polished concrete.
When the man stopped, it was sudden, and, since I hadn’t been paying attention to the man before me, I nearly bumped into him. I cursed myself as I was an inch away before I realized and took a step back. I was coming down from the adrenaline of the shootout and car chase that had to be the only explanation as to my little faux pas.
“This is where Luciano wants you,” the man said, his voice even, although he didn’t bother to turn around and look at me. My blood started to boil and I almost grew angry before I remembered that it wasn’t my place anymore to make commands. I instantly controlled my emotions and calmed myself down.
The man knocked two times on the door and then allowed his hand to drop. A couple seconds passed by before there was a barely audible ‘enter’ heard through the door.
The smell of lilacs hit me as the room we entered was an office of sorts, with more lush chairs and pillows than I would expect in a mafia family’s office. The room was feminine in a sense with the light pastel colors and softer textures, and inside was a lady who had to be in her fifties or so. I entered the room at the insistence of the guard. The lady stood looking me over and then extended a hand to me.
“Krysten Romano, I didn’t expect to see you until dinner tonight.”
“Bria Montrelli, or soon to be Bria Romano.” I extended my hand then stopped when I gazed down at the coating of blood. Mrs. Romano looked down as well and still reached out and I gently shook hers. I knew the name, this was Luciano’s mother. Why was I in her office? I had no clue.
She released my hand and gestured for me to take a seat. She grabbed a towelette and handed me one. We both wiped our hands. The guard that had walked me to the office shut the door leaving us alone inside the room together.
“I’m not sure what happened, one of the guards received a phone call and then escorted me here.”
“Ah,” Mrs. Romano sat back in her chair and eyed me, “then my son wanted to make sure that you were okay after the attack on your vehicles. I heard that you used a gun and took out several of the attackers.”
“Yes, they were shooting at us and I had a clear shot.” I shrugged it off. “It’s not like I did anything heroic.”
The scrutiny in Mrs. Romano’s eyes were nothing new to me. I was used to being overly analyzed. It wasn’t normal for Don's daughters to be firing off guns at her attackers. Especially when she outshot her own bodyguards.
“You, Bria, aren’t the sister that we were expecting your father to send to us. I look forward to getting to know you better though.”
I hold in a chuff, I think my own father wasn’t expecting to send me here either. But here I was. Knowing everything had to be kept tight to my chest, I changed the topic.
“What exactly do you do here? I wasn’t expecting an office above an emergency operating room.” I tilted my head curiously.
“I’m the finance specialist and family accountant. I take care of all the payments and fund dispersions.” She gave me an appraising look and a grin appeared on her face. “You’re going to be good for my son.”
