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“And how would you know?” Tony asks, joking. Tony. Sweet, sweet Tony.
“My nipples never lie.”
Val bursts out laughing and we sit in silence for the remainder of the trip. Twenty minutes later, we pull into the entrance of the casino. It’s well known within circles, because well, I own it. Honey Death was purchased before Papa died but was definitely done with his direction.
I slip out of the back seat and the valet takes the key from Tony as we enter the glitzy entrance. Crystal chandeliers hang from the high ceilings, the decor black and glitter. The reception desk is to the side, where black marble meets white stone, and instead of walls there are mirrors throughout. People say that mirrors are the first sign of vanity. That if you have more than one mirror in your room, you are vain. So I filled the whole fucking hotel with them.
We move our way through to the back, bypassing the elevators to the hotel rooms on the upper level and going straight for the escalators that take you down into the heart of the casino. Cigarettes and alcohol fill the air as soon as we step off and make our way through. It’s a busy night, since it’s a Friday, and not just any Friday, but Friday the thirteenth, so my head of promotions thought it would be good to host a haunted style casino night. Everyone is dressed up in some kind of weird, dark attire, and honestly, a few years ago I would have eaten this up. I always wanted Honey Death to be a cross between what younger people want in a casino, but without it being tacky. So far, so good.
Passing the roulette tables, I ignore the stares like I always do, as we reach the back room, where two security guards stand with weapons strapped across their chests. They both bow their heads, opening the doors. “Mrs. Lala.”
“Miss,” I correct. “For now.”
As soon as the back doors close, I breathe out a sigh and make my way through to the boardroom. This area is purposely for business meetings that I, one, need to make sure no one loses their shit and starts killing people, and two, is away from my family.
I push through the opening doors to the boardroom and smile when I see Camitro and his right hand on one side of the table, and Billy on the left side of the table with his two most prized men.
“Wow. I could smell the testosterone from upstairs.”
“You’re late, principessa…” Camitro scolds jokingly, a slight smile on his wrinkly face. “Should we be worried of why you’re late?”
I lower myself down onto the seat at the head of the table, rolling my lips beneath my teeth.Why yes, yes, you probably should be.“No. Not at all. Now, how can I help you both? I’d reallyloveto get home to my kid before sunrise if that’s okay with you all.”
Camitro clears his throat, resting back against the chair. The lighting is dim, with the overhead in the middle of the table offering just the right amount to duck in the corner. “We have an issue.”
“What kind, and I figured or I wouldn’t be here.”
“Your cousins are running amok, and I can’t be the one to address it with your uncle. You know what happened last time he and I were in the same room? One of us almost lost our head.” I wave my hand for him to carry on. I already know the story—or should I say beef—between my favorite uncle and Camitro. Andhe’s right. But it wasn’t Unc’s head that almost came off. It was Camitro’s, which completely makes sense as to why he has come to me to address this, since he is, and I know this for a fact, afraid of the unhinged nature of uncle dearest. Camitro blows out a deep breath. “I’m all for making names and doing what you’ve got to do to protect what you got to protect, but Gio is snorting more cocaine than he is selling, and then there’s the issue of his activities. They need to be brought to the commission.”
I chuckle, leaning back in my chair and crossing my leg over the other. “No one likes a snitch, Camitro.”
“I’m not snitching, Lala, but there has to come a time where people have to be made accountable, and your papa knew that Giovi was going to be a problem and this is why he disagreed with a lot of what your uncle does. He’s a loose end, Ruby. You need to see that—”
I cut him off. “I’m Lala to you, not Ruby.”
“Lala,” he corrects.
I turn my chair to where Billy sits quietly, running his hands through his long blond beard. “And why are you here? You got issues with this too?”
“Nope,” Billy murmurs. “I’m here for a different reason.”
“Mmhmm. And what is that?”
“The letter that your father got from someone five years ago. You still got that?” My heart drops to my feet at the instant onslaught of memories that crash into me.
I blink, keeping my face void of any emotion. “No. Why is that?”
“I need to check over something, and I was hoping you had it on you.” I keep my eyes locked on his.
“You could have asked through a phone call.” Billy is from a smaller family in New York. He and Camitro get on to a certain extent, but it’s no secret how hard Camitro is to navigate.
“I thought we’d come along for the ride anyway…”
I stand from my chair, pressing my palms on the wood table. “Is this all?”
“No, we need to use Chicago to get through to Minneapolis. You think you could give us leeway to transport our next shipment?”
I wave my hand. “Yes, that’s fine.”
