Chapter 11
CHAPTER 11
C hristos
“Be careful tonight,” Dimitrios said from the other end of the phone.
I was walking through the closed club, doing my final inspection while talking with my brother. “Why the warning?”
“Let’s just say I have it under good authority the club could have some very interesting guests.”
“There’s no one on the approved list that concerns me.” The opening was by invitation only. Certain celebrities, Italian parliament, and members of the press corps had been invited. We also had doubled our security given we’d still have a full house.
“Remember they were allowed a guest ticket.”
I hadn’t thought of that. “I’ll keep that in mind. Is there anyone in particular you see as a threat?”
“Let’s just say the New York assholes have been far too quiet. They are well aware of the opening.”
“How so? This is Milan, not the Big Apple.”
“You are many things, my brother, but you are not na?ve. They are watching us, waiting for any pushback. By now, they are becoming nervous that nothing has occurred.”
“Yes, that is a good point. I’ll add more security. However, I believe we can handle it.”
And I did.
The men who’d arrived for the opening were long-term soldiers we knew and trusted. There were also men and women that would pose as guests to mingle through the crowd. I wasn’t taking any chances. Not after the time it had taken to get the club up and running.
“Good. I’m sure tonight will be a raging success,” Dimitrios said, his laugh as if the man wasn’t worried in the least.
“Being a father has tempered you,” I teased him.
“Bullshit. Mind your own damn business. Speaking of which, I heard you had a house guest last night.”
“We need to hire different lieutenants. I’m going to kill mine.”
He laughed. “What are the odds the doctor who saved your life ended up in the same city where you’re opening a club?”
“Are you insinuating anything?”
“I’m just a cautious man. Remember, brother. There is no such thing as a coincidence.”
“How many times have you told me that? Think about it. Valencia had every opportunity to simply allow me to die on the operating room table. You do remember she went to near heroic methods to keep me alive. Don’t you?”
“Yes, but perhaps it was done with a purpose in mind.”
I was honestly annoyed at his constantly anxious state of mind. I knew he had a lot to lose personally as we did as a family. And I had to remind myself we’d all been through a lot in fourteen months. However, he also seemed to forget I wasn’t a stupid man nor was I easily caught off guard. I’d also conceded this wasn’t the time to pick a fight.
“Fine. I’ll keep my eye on her. If I suspect she’s working with anyone, I’ll enjoy interrogating her.”
“Clothes on or off?”
“Optional and at my discretion only.”
Dimitrios’ chuckle reminded me of the ones he offered when teasing me about my latest conquest. Little did he know I hadn’t been with a woman in almost two years. No matter the photographic dynamics depicted in the local news, I’d lost interest in dating.
“You know what you’re doing. Don’t forget you have a wedding to return to. Havros is quite anxious that there not be a hitch in the ceremony.”
“What about his lovely wife to be?”
“The honest truth is she’s taking everything in stride. I admire her tenacity and the way she’s handling our mother. That’s another story.”
Now I laughed. “I bet it is. I’ll be there.”
“I’ll let him know. Call me tomorrow.”
“Will do.” I shoved the phone into my pocket and resumed my inspection, heading to the main offices. One of us would stop by at least once a month. We’d hired a topnotch manager and assistant manager who’d been run through every security clearance we had access to. Nothing had been left to chance.
The rooms were located on the third floor, the second room created with full privacy in mind. We’d moved into the world of BDSM although I wouldn’t consider this a kink club by any means. We would still handle aspects of our import and export business through the offices, allowing for trade to countries we previously hadn’t had access to.
Everything had to run like a well-oiled machine for our reputation to remain intact. We certainly didn’t need anyone from law enforcement breathing down our necks. Certain members were considered good ‘friends,’ but there were always rogue militia determined to make a name for themselves.
I would take it as a personal affront if anything went wrong on the first night.
The offices were pristine, colorful art hung on almost every wall. There was a private bar for use by the executive staff and being it was already the afternoon, I helped myself to a congratulatory whiskey.
Why not?
I’d worked hard to make certain everything was exactly as envisioned. As I took a sip, I sat on the edge of the desk, allowing my mind to drift to the night before.
Our sexual escapades had lasted well into the night. When I’d dropped Valencia off at the hotel after two in the morning, I’d found it difficult to leave. She’d clawed her way into my soul during our rounds of passion. A single scratch inflicted by her long nails could be seen crawling under the sleeve of my jacket.
I laughed and the sound echoed in the empty space. Both Luca and Elias remained outside, although no one knew we were here. I had the place all to myself. This might be the only time. As I sipped my drink, images rushed into the forefront of my mind.
Valencia had been a wildcat and I’d loved every moment of her seductive foreplay. Yet it had been the first time I’d wanted to rip off a woman’s clothes without thinking whether she enjoyed it rough or not.
What did that tell me about the strong woman? What did that tell me about myself?
Maybe too little, too late. I wasn’t prepared to entertain a relationship.
However… I could certainly enjoy another round of foreplay.
Dimitrios’ question and concern also flashed into my mind. Anything was possible, but given my men had determined the closest hospital when I’d been shot, there wasn’t a chance she could have known about my arrival.
I gulped the remainder of my drink, checking my watch immediately after. There were a few phone calls to make and I’d head back to the apartment since I’d already checked out of the suite. If the rest of the furniture and other items hadn’t arrived, I’d be pissed.
Although it had been fun roughing it in an almost empty house. We’d even christened the kitchen, the best way of welcoming a new home into our expansive group of them.
And I’d had that scandalous opportunity.
I left my glass on the bar and turned out the light, deciding to take the stairs going down. As soon as I opened the private door leading to the main body of the club, I sensed not only an interruption in my space but movement in the shadows. I instantly reached for my weapon, holding the Sig-Sauer in both hands.
After taking a few steps into the darkness, I stopped and listened for any sounds. The drop of ice in the icemaker dragged my attention to the right, but I heard a single noise to the left. I moved stealthily in that direction, hugging the end of the bar.
The cocking sound of the weapon was something I knew instinctively. The locked and loaded position was a warning. If the shooter had wanted me dead, the gun would have already been fired.
But I wasn’t taking the chance. I dropped and rolled, firing off two gunshots.
“You missed.” The man’s deep voice came from behind me. He’d moved after cocking his weapon, trying and succeeding at drawing me out.
The fucker was close enough his words reverberated in my ear. I spun and lunged forward, catching the assassin by surprise. As soon as I knocked him to the floor, his weapon was pitched from his hand.
We scuttled and he managed a single punch to my throat before I caught him by his, easily able to crush his windpipe from this angle. Yet I jerked him to his knees, immediately pressing the barrel of my weapon against his temple.
“Who the fuck are you?”
“Just a messenger.”
The building had purposely been made soundproof so there wouldn’t be any complaints with the businesses who were close. While it would be helpful to have my men inside, I certainly didn’t need them. “From?”
“A friend.” He laughed.
I smashed his head against the top of the bar, sending glasses stacked on top crashing to the tile floor.
He groaned but somehow managed to shove me away. While I stumbled backward a couple of feet, I was too fast for him, punching him in the gut. He doubled over, falling on the floor. That allowed me a few seconds to turn on the light so I could see what the fuck I was dealing with.
I moved back around the bar, still pointing my weapon at him. He was dressed casually, as if nothing but a tourist, but the moment I picked up his weapon, I knew he was a hired assassin or a soldier from another crime syndicate.
It would seem our troubles with the Italians would haunt us for a long time to come. Then again, the man had no accent. Perhaps I should keep an open mind. This could be an American. While he steadied himself on the bar, I pocketed his weapon and moved toward him, patting him down.
I’ll be damned if the man didn’t have a wallet.
He didn’t react when I removed it, flipping it open. The driver’s license was from New York. It would seem Dimitrios had been right to worry. “Who sent you?”
“Friends.” He didn’t smirk or groan, but his damn eyes were screaming he was completely amused by what was happening.
I’d come across traitors and enemies who’d either tried to buy or talk their way out of being killed, but this guy acted as if he didn’t give a shit. That was interesting.
“From New York?”
“From all over. You can check my passport as well. I travel a lot.”
What the hell was up with this guy? “Why are you here?”
“Just to issue a warning. Nothing more. I have no intention of killing you.”
He made the comment in the present tense. The guy was cocky as shit and didn’t mind looking right down the barrel to his death.
I lowered my weapon slightly, almost amused by the exchange. “Alright. If that’s the case, I should know who I’m being warned about. Don’t you think that’s a good business practice?”
“Yeah, I guess.” He swept blood from his nose, wiping it on his pants. The guy was cool as a cucumber.
“Then who?”
“Just some friends of yours who don’t want to see you get killed. Stay out of New York and that won’t occur.”
Now we were getting somewhere. “That’s good to know. You can tell them thank you for me.”
“Sure. I’ll do that.”
“Where are you headed now?” I asked. This guy wasn’t going to give up a thing other than exactly what he’d been sent here to do. I’d used methods of interrogation that could break almost anyone. However, I knew when that wasn’t possible. He just didn’t give a shit about what was done to him. That was easy to tell by the number of scars on his arms and his face.
He believed himself stronger, faster, and more highly skilled than I was.
The man had lived through rounds of torture. Or he was ex-military. I honestly didn’t give a shit which. I simply knew it was a waste of time that I didn’t have in an attempt to break him. That didn’t mean I wasn’t watching him carefully. He was here for more than the reason given.
“New York. I need to report in.”
“Of course. Well, give them my regards. I won’t keep you.” I tossed him his wallet. “But I will keep your weapon. Call it a souvenir.”
He laughed. I laughed. After he nodded, a sign I would almost call respect, he headed for the door. I didn’t need to wait long. There was no obvious movement, but I noticed a slight flash, reacting instantly.
Pop! Pop!
The bullets hit him right between the eyes, but not before he managed to toss what had been expertly hidden to the point my pat down hadn’t found it.
I ducked, the whooshing sound too close for comfort. The object hit the bar with a solid thud just as the unknown assailant dropped to the floor. I moved toward him first, staring down into his vacant eyes. “I’ll be damned.” I was thankful my instincts were working on high alert today.
After crouching down and checking for a pulse, I moved toward the weapon. I was forced to use significant strength to pull it free.
“A fucking katana.” How the fuck had he been able to hide a Japanese sword from me? I shook my head and studied the curved blade. Well, fuck. I was losing my touch, or the assassins were simply becoming more creative.
I walked over the body toward the door, shoving my gun into my pocket and heading toward where the SUV was parked. With the katana still in my hand, I moved around the back of the vehicle to where the two men were standing, staring out at the street.
Elias jumped when I suddenly appeared right in front of him. “What the fuck? You scared me to death, boss.”
“That’s what I’d like to know. Where the hell were the two of you about ten minutes ago?”
One looked at the other sheepishly.
“Sorry, boss. I was taking a smoke,” Luca admitted.
Elias sighed. “I was walking the perimeter. What happened?”
“An assassin is what happened.” I held up the blade. “Call some of the soldiers in town to clean it up. Call the manager and let him know there’s broken glass.”
“Yes, sir,” Elias said as he glared toward Luca.
I wasn’t considered a brutal man with my employees, but my life had been placed on the line. I had my hand wrapped around Luca’s throat before he could react. When I placed the sharp edge of the blade under his chin, he threw up his hands, fear in his eyes.
“You fucked up,” I told him, digging the katana into his skin until blood trickled from the slight puncture wound. “If it happens again, you’ll face the pain of this very weapon. Do you understand me?”
He blinked several times, fearful the blade would slice through his carotid artery.
I kept it in place for another few seconds, feeling Elias moving behind me.
“He fucked up, boss. He’s a good man. A good soldier.”
“Yes. But one mistake is all it will take.” I yanked my arm away and Luca instantly grabbed his throat.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Nomikos. I won’t let it happen again.”
“See that it doesn’t. Take me back to the apartment. Tonight is important.”
And it could be deadly.
“Stop smoking,” I told Luca. “It’s bad for your health.”