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I shut the door and take out my key, quickly locking it behind me. Could she unlock any other door? Yes, but for safety reasons, I made this door a key lock on both sides. You need a key whether you’re inside or outside this room.
I hear her laugh and listen to her steps as she comes up to the door. I cross my arms, now reciprocating her gloating, and I wait for whatever she has to spit at me.
“Oh, so scary. Good thing I can just open the door and lea—”
The handle jiggles lightly at first, but it quickly turns into frantic tugging and twisting.
“Nico! Open the door! What the hell is this?” Emelia screams, slamming her fist against the wood. My teeth show as I smile wildly, knowing I have her locked away and she can’t leave. She will have to beg me to let her out. But until she decides to lessen her pride and do that, I have work to do.
Walking away, I puff out my chest, the sounds of her yelling blending with the banging on the door gradually fading with each step I take. Coming to the kitchen, I ask the chef what the menu is for the night, just to make sure my orders were followed.
“Steak, with mashed red potatoes and a savory gravy, and steamed carrots. Dessert is the tiramisu you requested, sir,” Ricardo, my personal chef for all occasions, including my meals at home, reads the menu I had Giulio send over.
“Thank you, Ricardo. I would like a variety of red and white wines and some champagne as well.” Giulio let me know what things my new bride enjoyed, and I made sure to accommodate that. But after her little bout of attitude back there, I’m thinking I should just make her drink what I’m drinking, and she will just have to deal with it.
Suddenly, the image of her peering up at me with her mouth open comes to mind, me taking a sip of my whiskey and spitting it onto her waiting tongue.
I am snapped back to reality when Ricardo speaks. “Will do, sir.”
My eyes go to my phone in my hand as I leave the kitchen and make my way up to the deck. I need to call some contacts and check in on things at home. The staff ignores Emelia’s pleas, trained to know better than to interfere with anything I haven’t instructed them on.
Emelia will learn from this.
The phone trills before my underboss answers.
“Giulio,” I say, and we get lost in conversation. We haven’t been able to find the entirety of the stolen goods, but Giulio has been working on it. There is someone out there who is fucking with me, and while that is not uncommon in my line of business, it hasn’t happened often. In fact, it’d been quiet in my outfit before now. The businesses were running smoothly, our deals were going unperturbed, and the money was coming in large waves.
Until now.
My marriage seemed to make people out there think my guard is down. But little do the enemies know I'm more vigilant and aware than ever before.
“Chicago is out? You’re sure?” I question, taking a drink of my water.
“Still, yes, but I have an eye on all their docks, sir.”
I release a deep breath and run my hand through my hair.
“Fine.” I can’t believe I'm asking this, but there is only one more place to look. The last enemy we had up until recently. “New York. Check into the Notellis.”
“Sir. You married Mrs. Valiente to ensure they would no longer be enemies.”
“Exactly, Giulio. Enemies are enemies. They may make deals to become your allies, but you can never trust them fully. Check into them. Keep tabs and get back to me.” I haven't even told Giulio that I have plans to get close to my new bride in order to take down her family after what they did to mine. Because this information is safest close to the vest.
“Sir, I don’t think that’s—”
“I would think twice before questioning me and my demands. I’d hate to think we need to look into you. Do I need to worry about my underboss, Giulio?” I let the threat roll off my tongue like it’s the only language I speak. Giulio was made my second in command just shy of a year after I took over as Seattle's king. I picked him, because his father was my father’s right hand. There has never been a time I’ve questioned his loyalty, but right now, no one is safe. I’m smart enough to know that our most trusted companions have the highest risk of becoming our biggest betrayers.
Giulio is dedicated, hardworking, ruthless, and loyal, yet he has a tendency to give certain people the benefit of the doubt. That is one thing I’ve had to teach himnotto do. But when it comes to women… he has a soft spot, and it surprises me that he hasn't found a bride—or a life partner, for that matter. Hell, I don’t even know what sexual orientation he is, since he hasn’t dated in the years we’ve been close.
“No, sir. You have my word. I will keep an eye on ChicagoandNew York.”
I cut the call and look out over the water, trying to think about what could be happening. I have to get ahead of this.
My new bride’s family could very well be in on this. They were the last ones we needed to make peace with. But marrying Emelia could have been what they believed was a good distraction while they made their moves.
Is it the most likely of possibilities? No. But it will always be one. No one is safe at war in our world. Every outfit has traitors, and every boss has enemies. Until business resumes as it was before, I will keep every fucking avenue open.
The chiming of my phone draws my attention back to it. Fuck, I hate being away from Seattle. I spend all my time on my phone checking in on business versus being there and on the scene. Whoever said doing remote jobs was ideal lied. This is fucking miserable.
