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I arch a brow. “You were the one who wanted to speak, and your digestion is of little concern to me. I am a busy man and do not have time to sit around and eat for hours on end. Being a Don is a never-ending job, after all.” I let that sit just long enough that the fury in his eyes gives him away. He does not like to be reminded of his position, and I’m going to enjoy getting that dig in as often as possible. “But, I’ll indulge you this once since I have a little time to spare. How is the search going for your missing niece?”
His jaw clenches but he gives a careless shrug. “She has disappeared. Nothing of hers was taken, so it does not appear she has run away. Leonardo is eager to get her back so he has our best men working on finding her.”
“Of course. Would you like me to request some of my men join in the search?”And make sure they throw you completely off the trail.
Giovanni shakes his head. “I don’t believe we will need to call on anyone for help just yet, but I’ll let Leonardo know of your willingness, of course. I’m sure we will get her back quickly and we’ll deal out justice once we find the men responsible.”
“I’m sure. Though, what is the loss of a woman? One, I’m sure could be easily replaced.”
Giovanni brings his wine to his lips, but I can tell by the look in his eyes he agrees with my sentiment. “Yes, well, she is his only daughter, and there are marriages and mergers she will be useful for.” There’s a sly look in his eyes, and I sense that my gut was correct on why he brought me here. Still, I say nothing more and let him do most of the talking. “You know, the more I look at you, the more you remind me of your father,” Giovanni says conversationally after we’ve placed our orders to the nervous waiter. “You have a ways to go to match him for his skill and wisdom, but I’m sure in time you’ll get there. A sad way for him to die. Though, a good thing for you I suppose.”
I give him a cold smile. “Come now, Giovanni, we both know my father was a bastard. And well, we both know I like to surpass him in everything I do.”
“Hmmm, well we all try to surpass our father’s don’t we? I hear you are doing well in your territory. Well, other than that unfortunate business of one of your men dipping their hands into the business and taking what doesn’t belong to them.” His smile turns sharp, cunning. Like he thinks his knowledge of the workings of my organization should surprise me, or infuriate me. Another difference between him and his brother. Leonardo would already know I let him have that information, not because their spy managed to get it.
I give him my own sharp smile, and his falters for the briefest of seconds before he rights it. “Yes, well, it seems my father let certain things slide, and I’ve corrected those problems.”
Giovanni doesn’t reply, since our waiter brings our food, but I can see that my unaffected answer wasn’t what he wanted to hear. If he’s hoping to put me in my place, he’s going to have to work much harder than that. We eat in silence for a few minutes, but I barely taste my food. Thankfully, he doesn’t make me wait too long to get to the point of this little posturing session.
“It seems, Nico, you and I have some things that, while you are still young and making a name for yourself, we can work together,” Giovanni says casually as he takes a bite of his chicken parmigiana.
I take another bite before I respond. “How so?”
He regards me carefully before he finally says, “Our families have always been allies, though perhaps not as close as we could be. I think it’s time we change that. Make a strong, united front, and if we were to merge together, we would be unstoppable. Especially with the nonsense happening between the Russians and Irish.”
“Yes, I’ve heard that they are feuding. Though I’m sure it will be resolved soon enough. They never fight for too long.”
“The damn Irish and their tempers,” Giovanni sneers lightly. “And the Russian fuckers are no better. All brawn and no brains, which is why they were stupid enough to try and mess with Seamus in the first place. But it does bring up the problem that they could start turning their attention to us, and while it would be an easy victory, it could be one entirely avoided should we join forces.”
I arch a brow at him. “And your brother is in agreement with this? I think it’s been clear enough that Leonardo and his sons have never been a fan of me or my father. Seeing me as an obstacle in the way of them gaining access to my territory and suppliers.”
“My brother will come around,” Giovanni assures me. “After all, he has asked me to handle making sure our family remains strong and our operation grows. I am not one to ignore a possible merger to ensure that happens.”
“And how would you secure this merger? Especially considering Leonardo is not going to be on board with this idea without some kind of assurances from me.”
Giovanni’s smile is confident, edging on smug. “You are still young, and you will need an heir. For that, you will need a wife. Men such as ourselves, we love the variety of women we have at our disposal, but of course, those are not the women who bear our children.” I don’t reply, just wait, watching. “My niece has not yet been betrothed to anyone, and considering she is the only female in our family. And now that people know of her existence, I’m sure many will be beating down our doors looking for her hand to secure our alliance with them. But what kind of uncle would I be if I didn’t first speak to someone that could benefit from our association. And one much closer to home.” His eyes go shrewd, cunning. “And one that is still learning the ropes, so to speak. We could take over the entire city between both our families, and be the most respected, and feared, in the country with the work we can accomplish.”
And there it is. The exact thing I figured he was going to do. He’s offering Gia up like a damn broodmare for sale, all so that he can live out his agenda to secure a powerful merger and a way to the top. And I’m not an idiot. I know if I ever agree to such a thing, he’ll kill me and his brother before the ink is dry.
“You mean you want me to consider marrying your niece that is now missing and could very well come back as damaged goods?” I ask tightly. The words are sour in my mouth, because in no way is Gia damaged goods, but I can’t give anything away. I need to make sure I play this right or everything could come crashing down. No one has figured out I have her, and I want it to stay that way until I’m damn good and ready for them to know it.
Giovanni doesn’t react to my question. “She will be found soon, and I doubt she will be damaged. Not if whoever has her knows what’s good for them.” There’s a cold, hard edge to his tone. “After all, if they are hoping to ransom her, they will know the wrath of our entire force and allies should she be damaged.”
I don’t react to his veiled threat. “And yet, there is a chance they have no plans on using her to get to you. Depending on who has her. Perhaps they are wanting her to marry someone they have chosen to force your hand.”
He waves that away, effectively dismissing me. I tamp down my irritation, but barely. I’ll be putting this son of a bitch in his place soon enough. “My brother is already onto her trail, and she has only been gone one week. And, well, if she comes back damaged and no one wants her, then we’ll deal with her. Still, I have full confidence she will be home very soon and no worse for wear. And if so, then I’ll allow you to have the first look at her. Though I warn you, my niece is a beautiful girl, and there will be many men who will want her hand and our alliance.”
“You seem to think I need you, Giovanni, when we both know I don’t. Just like I also know your brother probably has no idea of this meeting, and has not agreed to any terms you are laying out to me. I also haven’t decided when I will take a wife, and while your niece may be beautiful, by your own admission, she hasn’t been around our world. The last thing I need is a simpering little wife that’s too afraid of me to be anything more than a pretty decoration and someone to fuck on occasion.” All of that is bullshit, because the only woman I will ever consider marrying is, indeed, Giulia De Luca.
Giovanni’s jaw clenches. “Your inexperience is showing, Nico. A smart don would not dismiss such an offer quickly. Especially one that could go badly for him should the tables turn.”
I give a bland smile. “You mean, you plan on marrying off your niece to someone else you think will be able to assist you in taking me and your brother down?” Time to lay some of the cards on the table and see where they fall. I’ll give him credit; he doesn’t react in shock that I know of his plan, but the look in his eyes and the slight change of expression on his gives him away enough to know I’ve hit the nail right on the head.
He gives a dry chuckle. “Well, I see someone has his delusions well in hand.”
I ease back in my chair and regard him coolly. “Come now, Giovanni, let’s not kid each other. You think I don’t know that you want me out of the way so you can have territory of your own. But what you really want is the empire you think should be yours. So what better way to get it than to align yourself with me. Then take me out and take out your brother and his sons so that you and your boys will own both territories. Plus all the contacts with it, and then also make connections with others back home. How am I sounding now?”
At first, he doesn’t react, but then he loses the easy look and replaces it with the shrewd one. “You certainly do have more brains and a mind for business than your father than I thought,” Giovanni remarks calmly. “And what’s to keep me from killing you now to ensure you don’t make sure such traitorous accusations aren’t mentioned to my brother? I mean, my brother would never believe you over his own family.”
