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Giovanni cocked his head, arching a brow. “Perché?”
“Nooo!” One of the Colombian drug cartel leaders, Miguel Alvarez, stretched his arm out, tapping on the table with one finger twice. “No. If I can’t speak Spanish in the meetings, the Italians can’t speak Italian either.”
Giovanni lifted his hand without taking his gaze off mine. I had known him long enough to know he was exercising an extreme level of patience, but rage was hidden behind his tightened jaw. He was ready to fight. Unfortunately, Miguel supplied the Rovati family with most of their drugs for trafficking. It would have caused a war. “Excuse me, Miguel.” Giovanni cleared his throat. “Valentino,why? Is the problem not disposed of? I thought—”
“It’s safe, yes.” I cut him off as he was the only other boss in the room I had fully informed. “The safety of attendees is not a problem. It’s a rather personal matter.”
Enrico Vitelli, the twenty-one-year-old son of the Vitelli Crime Family boss in Chicago, furrowed his brow. “I know I’m new here, but I know what my father would say. Your problem is our problem. Personal or not. Our family will help you with whatever you need.”
All our eyes turned their attention to him. There were murmurs throughout the room. Enrico was to take the place of his father, but he was still young and inexperienced in running an entirefamily. However, so were most of us when we started.
“As much as I appreciate your offer,” I scanned the room, “all of you need to let me handle this.”
Giovanni leaned back in his chair, glaring at me. He knew we had his brother, Emilio, checking into things with Noah. He chose to remain silent, leaving the rest of the men in the dark when he understood it was no longer up for discussion from me.
“Now that that’s handled, moving on. Security will be tight. Another change will be, I will be giving keys to rooms at the hotel if you need it. I have the top four floors reserved if you do not want to take the women home with you. I know some of you have come from out of state and overseas. Since security will be overboard, I have hired them for the weekend and the offer is there. I know you all brought your own team, but now you’ll have mine as well.”
I took a cigarette from my inside jacket pocket, lighting it. Sliding the ashtray closer to me, I deeply inhaled the first drag. “Next. There are seven more women this year than the last two years. I have been told they have signed the contracts already. You will find their stats in the books in front of you. You know the drill. Burn the books when you’re done with it.”
Enrico picked the book up, flipping through the pages. “Can I take more than one?”
There were several low chuckles throughout the room.
“That brings me to the next change.” I pointed at him with the cigarette before taking another drag. “We’re allowing multiples this year. Please keep in mind, they will not all agree to a threesome, so please make sure you read through theYesandNolist under theOptionssection. I don’t care what you pay for them. You will not force or bribe them to do anything they have not agreed to already. The non-VIPs will be given the book as well once at the event so they may look as well. If you have your sights set on someone you want, I suggest you bring the means to bid on them.”
The rest of the meeting went smoothly. Questions were asked and deals were made. I glanced down at my watch and stood. “Gentleman, I’m due to go to the venue now, but if you have any more questions, please give me a call. My assistant will see you out.”
After pleasantries and goodbyes, I closed the folder in front of me, and stood. I snuffed my fourth cigarette out in the ashtray then buttoned my jacket. Sliding my cuff back over my watch, I bowed my head before exiting the room with Joseph trailing me. The moment we stepped out, I slid a mint from my pocket and popped it into my mouth.
Isabelle sat perched on the edge of the black, leather sofa in the executive lobby having a conversation with Noah. Her ankles were crossed, bringing attention to her toned legs, hugged tightly by her black pencil skirt. My face lit up when I laid eyes on her. The moment her gaze met mine, she excused herself and waltzed over, pressing her lips to mine.
“How did it go?”
“Good. Are you ready?” I offered my hand to her.
While Valentino meandered the room with the event planner, his new assistant, and Joseph, I sat in a chair against the back wall by the door. Noah stood close by, guarding the general vicinity around me. He was always ready to protect me at a moment’s notice. Since it came out that we were cousins, he had not let his guard down whatsoever. In fact, he seemed more protective which Valentino now loved.
Noah seemed quieter than normal since we left the office. He kept taking his phone out of his pocket and checking it then putting it away. Chewing my bottom lip, I stared at him for a moment before he noticed.
“What, Miss Ayala?” He always addressed me formally in public even if no one was around. He did this so he would never slip up when it counted.
“You keep checking your phone. Is everything okay?”
“Don’t worry about it.” He muttered, glancing the other way and scanning the wide-open room.
Squinting, I crossed my arms, raising my eyebrows. “Did something happen with Laura?”
Whipping his head around, he clenched his jaw. “There is nothing to talk about when it comes to her. It’s over.”
“Sooo, something did happen.” I sighed. “Want to talk about it?”
His shoulders rose and fell as he took a deep breath. Instead of responding, he folded his arms high on his chest and continued to monitor our surroundings. I felt bad for whatever he was feeling. He seemed like he liked her so much. Now he was cold about her.
“Okay, never mind.”
He shot me a glance out of the corner of his eye but did not look at me. “It’s okay, Miss Ayala.” He lifted his chin toward the front of the room. “Mr. Greco wants you.”
I turned to see Valentino motioning for me. Standing, I paraded through the room, avoiding the freshly waxed dance floor in my heels. I did not want to chance scuffing it up before the event, or worse, sliding down.
