Lucky Boys (Il Fortunato #1)

42. Luca

CHAPTER 42

LUCA

I walked out of the condo I managed to rent last minute and toward the car waiting for us. Money talks, and Miami was no exception.

Brooks was on my arm, and he cleaned up beautifully. He was wearing a designer suit that fit him like a glove. His hair was slicked back and he was perfectly groomed, making him look every bit the kept pet arm candy he was pretending to be.

The driver opened the door for us. “Good evening, sir.” The man said politely.

I nodded in greeting, and helped Brooks into the car.

“Thank you,” he told the driver, who closed the door after us.

I couldn’t believe after everything, after spending weeks in Finland, we ended up back on U.S. soil and in Florida.

As soon as Diego got a location we went to work changing the flight, and got to Miami as fast as we could. I wasn’t able to secure a safehouse, but the luxury condo I rented had top of the line security and was used to a certain type of clientele that required discretion. It wasn’t like we planned on bringing the kid back here anyway.

Diego had finally gotten a hit on the dark web. It was an exclusive invitation to a private party at a five star hotel that only the most elite could afford. The party was to celebrate Vladimir Andreev’s new toy. His words, not mine.

They weren’t even trying to hide it. Matthew’s picture was circulating with the invitation, and he was being highlighted as an elite acquisition from good breeding. They were bragging about where they got the kid from, showing it off and barely hiding. The fuckers thought they were untouchable, but we’d prove to them how fucking wrong they were.

My phone buzzed with a message from the head of my security, Leo. He and six other guys had landed in Miami a few hours ago and had just gotten into position. They’d be here as backup if we needed it.

There was no telling what we’d walk into. There was a good chance Matty wouldn’t be the only child or trafficking victim there. Leo and his team would be there if we needed to escort anyone to the local authorities to get reunited with their families.

Brooks looked a little stiff, so I rubbed his thigh hoping to calm him some.

With a little help from Diego, we managed to get an invite to this party. I was going as myself, Luca Castellano, heir to Castellano fortune and Brooks was going as my guest/arm candy.

There was a lot of back and forth about it. Except for the brief mission to break into Larsen’s house, Brooks had no undercover experience, and he certainly had never been in a situation with trafficking victims before. Diego had some strong opinions about him going, specifically.

At the end of the day we decided that Brooks being a relative unknown, plus so much younger than me, would benefit us in this situation better than taking Skye or Maverick in with me. Maverick looked too much like a bodyguard, and both he and Skye were well known as my partners by this point. It was already going to be a hard sell to convince these assholes that I was making a complete 180 and falling back on my stance to stay out of high society and all the dirtiness that came with it. If I had Maverick or Skye with me it would add more doubt. But a pretty, much younger man that no one has ever met before? That’s exactly who these fuckers would bring to this kind of event.

Plus, Brooks could easily slip away if he needed to. Mav and Skye would be on premise, but sitting in the van with Leo, ready to jump in at a moment’s notice. A few other members of our team would be undercover as event staff.

“Nervous?” I asked Brooks.

He smiled, “I’m good, sir. Just ready to go.”

“Me too. The wait is always the hardest part.”

“Waiting is always the hardest part for me.” He snarked back. Laughing I gave his thigh another squeeze.

Brooks and I were still on shaky ground. I wanted to make things right, but one thing happened after another and our badly needed conversation kept getting pushed off. I just hoped he trusted me enough to know I’d never let anything happen to him to tonight or ever.

It didn’t take long for our driver to pull up in front of our destination. It looked like any other swanky hotel I’d ever been to. You’d never know they were hosting a party for traffickers.

Brooks looked at the building wide eyed. “They’re really in there? It’s a damn hotel.”

I kissed the side of his head. “Not all evil hides in the shadows.”

“Mic check, can you both hear me?” Diego asked.

“You’re clear.”

“Good. Your other men are already inside, Luca. Skye, Maverick, and Leo are all parked in a van a few blocks away. They can hear and see everything you do. You also have two more as back up right outside the hotel.”

“Got it.” The driver pulled the car to the front and immediately a valet came and opened the door for us.

“Ready?” I asked Brooks. I watched him physically steel himself.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good, then let’s do this.” I slid out of the car and then took his arm once he followed me.

One we made it past security, who patted us both down and verified our invitation, we were smacked right in the face with the type of lavish party I used to hate as a kid. I had suffered through a few of these, and they never got easier. Brooks faltered a step once he took in the chandeliers and the over the top gaudiness.

“Holy fuck.” He whispered under his breath, quietly enough that no one but me could hear.

With an arm wrapped possessively around him, I nuzzled his neck. For all the guests watching us, it would look like I was claiming him. “You got this trouble. Act like you belong.”

His shoulders straightened, even as he tilted to give me more access. “Right. I go to shit like this every weekend. In fact, this one looks a little rough. They gotta step up their game.”

I laughed and reluctantly pulled back. I wanted to find a quiet corner and take my boy apart, but I managed to show some restraint. I scanned the guests and found someone I knew standing by the bar.

“Come on, darling, let’s get a drink.”

I led Brooks in the direction of Tanner Belding. We grew up together; same boarding schools, parents were part of the same country clubs. I think our father’s wanted us to be friends, but he was always a fucking prick and it never happened. I did knock out his two front teeth once and ended up expelled from that particular boarding school. That was a good memory.

But for as much as I hated the asshole, he knew everything about everyone, and loved to spill secrets, especially if he thought he was bragging or had something over me.

He was talking to someone I vaguely recognized as a congressman, his hand on the ass of a woman who was half his age—which I guess I shouldn’t be talking, but at least Brooks was and looked legal. This girl, I wasn’t so sure. Also, by the way she swayed and leaned heavily into Tanner’s side, it was clear she was under some kind of influence. I was going to be fucking sick.

Brooks stiffened at my side, no doubt seeing her condition, but I squeezed his hand, a reminder to play his part. He tilted his head and smiled up at me, sultry and sexy, and I relaxed.

Tanner stopped speaking the minute he saw me. He excused himself from his conversation and dragged the poor girl toward us. “Luca Castellano, as I live and breathe. I never expected you to grace us with your presence after your father’s passing. You always acted like you were too good for it.”

I just laughed haughtily, “Yes, well times changed.”

His eyes roamed Brooks in an overly possessive way that had me wanting to bang my chest and claim him as mine. How Brooks managed to give him a flirty smile while being looked at like that was beyond me.

“I can see that. Who is this pretty thing?”

“See, this was why Sunshine was a better choice than me,” Skye said in our ears, “I would’ve knocked his fucking teeth out.”

Brooks almost laughed, but managed to keep it in.

“Isn’t he lovely?” I gritted out, “I found him a few years ago, but it took a while to make him mine.” I squeezed Brooks, hoping to remind him how I truly felt about him, even though we went over all this and he knew some of the things that may have to happen tonight. Acting like he was my possession was honestly very low on the list of undesirable possibilities, considering during play time I wouldn’t think twice about it.

“I do love the ones who put up a fight.”

Skye made gagging noises through the earpiece, and I could even hear Diego grumbling. They were not helping, and Skye knew better.

Ignoring all of them, I focused on Tanner. “I know it’s a shock to see me here, but recently my business interests have changed. When the opportunity arose, I couldn’t turn it down.”

He eyed Brooks again, “Last I heard you were with those two brutish men. It was the talk of all society.”

I resisted the eyeroll. I could only imagine. “Yes, well, what my partners don’t know, won’t hurt them. They enjoy the lifestyle well enough.”

A snort this one from Maverick. Tanner squeezed the girl, she barely reacted. “Oh I know all about that.” Tanner leaned in closer, “Does your new business interests have anything to do with the reason our gracious host invited us all here tonight?”

I scanned the party meaningfully, “I’ll admit I was intrigued. Where is our host and this guest of honor?”

Tanner’s eyes widened like he was giving me the juiciest scoop, “I heard the boy was giving him some trouble. He did this too soon, if you ask me. The boy isn’t trained yet. Personally, drugs are the easiest, but apparently Vladimir does things the hard way. They should both be here soon.”

Fuck. I discreetly glanced at the girl. He all but admitted he had her drugged. I had my doubts about her being here willingly, but now I was nearly positive. I needed to get her out of here. “I’m finding it…difficult…to find the right business partners. I suppose my previous reputation preceded me,” I shrugged, like it was a nuisance that I worked fucking hard to separate myself from this. Though as far as I was aware my father never was involved in trafficking. Still, he was far from an angel.

Tanner was practically champing at the bit to be the one to give me the in. He loved having one up on me. Plus having a Castellano owe you a favor was beneficial, even if that Castellano was mostly considered a pariah these days.

“We have some time before this party really gets started.” He said under his breath, “How about we talk some business?”

“Yes, that sounds excellent.”

I turned to Brooks, squeezing the back of his neck possessively, “Darling, the men have some business to attend to. Why don’t you take Mr. Belding’s date to get her a drink and keep her entertained.” I gazed at Brooks meaningfully, hoping he understood he needed to find out everything he could and then get her the fuck out of here.

Brooks just smiled at me, licking his lips and batting his eyes. “Of course, Daddy. But make sure you save some time for me.” He practically fucking purred. I gave him a look that said he’d pay for that later and turned to Tanner.

He seemed a little reluctant to let his girl go but eventually relented.

He gave her a tiny shove and she stumbled into Brooks arms. She probably would have fallen if my boy hadn’t caught her. Tanner laughed, and I exercised amazing control by not punching him.

Brooks gave him the tiniest of glares before he composed himself, and thankfully Tanner didn’t seem to notice.

“Come on baby,” Brooks said to the girl, “Let’s go have some fun.”

He helped her away from us and I watched till they were out of sight.