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Gia secured the free seat next to me, Vince stayed seated, and the others kind of split up, fortunately without getting into each other's hair for the first time. As soon as we started eating, I had already forgotten my concerns about Gia and my family.
Emilio raised his wineglass and toasted us all with it. "I guess, here's to family. But blood is thicker than water, so we should all learn from this to take a careful look at the people we want to make contracts with."
This was the first time he honestly admitted his mistake. I nodded, raised my glass and looked at him as the glasses clinked together.
"To the people who have your back in spite of everything," I added, winking at him, while also winking at Carlotta, Fiero and Natale. Last but not least, I also turned to Vince.
"You're still a hell of a leader. You should put that to use more."
Under the table, I felt Gia's hand on my thigh. The individual pieces of the puzzle finally came together.
* * *
Deep bass vibratedthrough the club and my body, silencing every thought. Peace from myself and my family, which had cost me some nerves in the past hours. At some point, we always reached the point where we could no longer be in the same room without being at each other's throats. I closed my eyes and concentrated on the music that was blaring at full volume through the empty rooms.
Over the past few years, this had become a fixed ritual that I followed several times a month. Being alone in the club, turning the stereo up to full volume, and playing a few songs from my playlist that I liked.
The opening of the club was still two hours away, and yet the first party-goers were already gathering outside the doors, hoping to get into the club earlier. This was nothing new either. In all the years that I had been runningthe Tyche, I had long since become accustomed to the strange preferences of our guests.
"We need to call an ambulance, D. There's a guy outside who's had enough to die of alcohol poisoning," I heard the head of the security team– Silvio– say over my in-ear security headset.
I rolled my eyes. Not a day went by that some idiot didn't think he had to put his life on the line. Not only out there, drinking. Also in here
Because some of them played for it. Their lives if they lost, a damn colossal sum of money if they won. Of course, they didn't know in advance that I wouldn't kill them. Their behavior was reckless at best and absolutely naïve at worst.
Not that I didn't understand it. I, too, felt an attraction toward uncertainty and adrenaline. I, too, had a penchant for action. Unlike these idiots, however, I could afford both.
In some twisted, stupid way, I could afford to put my life on the line now and then– my real life, and not a created construct.
"As long as he doesn't die on my property," I grumbled, shaking my head.
That's all I'd need right now. The cops, a few paramedics, and onlookers creeping through the club, looking around to satisfy their curiosity.
Afterwards, they'd find their way to the cellar and think they had to inspect. No, that was out of the question.
"Should we make sure he waits on the side of the road for the ambulance?"
"I would appreciate that, yes."
While there was little to hide and the cops certainly wouldn't uncover the one secret I was keeping with a quick search, I didn't want to tempt fate. It was better if they didn't have my Mafia business closely on their radar.
After all, games of chance were only fun if you always won without exception.
Before Silvio could pester me with more questions, I took out the in-ear and put it in my pocket. On the lower floor, which I had an excellent view of from the gallery, the first waitresses were already starting work. I had also noticed a couple of my bartenders and some dancers, so nothing stood in the way of a successful evening. Right?
* * *
I couldn't take my eyes off the dance floor. Five meters below me and yet I felt as if I were right in the middle of it. But that wasn't because of the loud music or the bass vibrating through my bones. Nor because of the crowd in.
But because of thisonewoman who had been dancing there for about half an hour and attracted all the attention.
Normally, bodies crowded close together. Privacy did not exist in rooms like ours. But around this one woman, a small ring had formed where nothing happened. She could move without bumping into another person, and she moved well.
I knew that body. I knew the sway of her hips and the curves that made it so seductively sexy. I knew the long legs, the tanned skin and the dark hair that fell in a wild mane down her graceful back.
And yet it surprised me to see her down there. After the past weeks, I had not expected to see her so liberated. Right in front of my nose, which was like a nasty provocation, even if she could not have guessed that I spied her down there.
The way she moved her body to the music fascinated me even more than the fact that she had squeezed her curvy body into that tight outfit. It looked great on her– and it would be an adventure to get her out of it.
