Chapter 9
My distraction was getting our staff ready for Aria’s arrival.
It was a big deal for a few reasons. Not everyone on staff in the office was entangled in my brother’s illegitimate affairs, but there were enough to know this project was big, and it took a lot of pulled strings to get approvals and permits.
Some were on edge about having Aria around, and I was curious to meet the woman who finally had everyone by the balls.
She was set to arrive today but would start working on Monday.
Luca had her stay at his hotel, the Lagos.
The hotel had a penthouse that was Luca’s second home, usually where he would take women for the night.
My brother never let a woman into his home other than his family.
I wasn’t expecting Aria to be placed in the penthouse, but it made sense since it was heavily surveilled.
On my way out, Luca calls me.
“Have plans tonight?”
“If I did, I’m sure you are calling to tell me to cancel them.”
“Good. We are going out tonight.”
“We?” I asked. “As in you and I?”
“Alfie mentioned you were having a rough week.”
Rough didn’t cut it. Setting up for Aria’s arrival was a nightmare; everyone had questions about every detail.
“Your treat,” I reply.
“Isn’t it always.”
I wasn’t exactly sure how to dress. Still, seeing that Luca was wearing dark jeans and a leather jacket, I opted for the same—picking out my tightest skinny jeans and a matching black color tube top paired with a cream leather jacket and red bottom heels topped off with a matching clutch.
I was ready for whatever Luca had in store.
Driving his all-black Bugatti La Voiture Noire, he flies down the streets of Chicago.
Even on the roads, people seemed to clear the path for him.
“Can you tell me now where we are going?”
“Club Chaos.”
I was surprised at his response. “For?”
“Aria should be there. Would be nice to meet out in a social setting.”
“I thought this was all business, no play with the Cassariano girl.”
Luca smiled, “Sometimes you just have to jump in a mud puddle because it’s there.”
“That sounds… messy.”
As we pull up to the alley behind the club, we see a group of people outside.
They were all squinting from the headlights pointed at them.
I saw Emilio there with other men who surrounded a man I had never seen before.
A woman stood to the side watching them.
Seeing Emilio in his navy suit looking so good made me nervous to the point that I was ready to jump out of the car and run home.
“Shit.” Luca spat out.
He jumped out of the car, and I could hear the conversation.
“What’s going on here?” Luca demanded.
“They were just leaving,” Emilio replied as he turned to Luca.
Luca then looked at the woman. I had no idea what was happening, so I jumped out of the car and approached my brother.
“I’ll be inside,” I said to Luca, touching his arm.
But he focused solely on the woman, and I could see why.
She was beautiful. She had long black hair, olive skin tone, light brown eyes, and the perfect body with her small waist and curvy hips.
I left them outside and entered the club through the back to wait in the private room.
A few minutes later, Luca and Emilio came inside.
“You think they are together?” Luca asked.
“Doubtful,” Emilio replied, “But that shouldn’t be your concern. There’s a bigger issue.”
My brother did not look happy. “If you’re going to ruin my night even more, I don’t want to hear it. Figure it out.”
Emilio cleared his throat, “The Appollo brothers are here.”
In irritation, Luca took a deep breath, “Get them out.”
“They want to talk to you. Gabe claims they know something you don’t want to be made public.”
“Bullshit,” Luca replied.
“That’s what I thought, but the fact they flew into Chicago without a worry has me thinking it must be serious. The Appollo brothers don’t have those kinds of balls to bluff.”
“Nothing that could be of concern to me.”
Emilio leaned in and whispered something to Luca, which seemed to have gotten his full attention.
“Where is Alfie?”
“He’s out there with the redhead.”
When Luca looked confused, I said, “Aria’s assistant, Molly.”
His confusion turned to annoyance, “Take the brothers to the back showroom.
The showroom was another room at the club that held private parties. The kind of private parties hosted to cater to men’s guilty pleasures all for the sake of doing good business. After Luca searched for Alfie, Emilio motioned for one of the men to carry out the order.
Emilio and I were left together. Unsure how to act, I stood there looking anywhere but in his direction.
“Nervous?” Emilio asked.
Stunned, I reply, “No.”
“You haven’t stopped tapping your foot.”
I smile and divert the conversation. “So, who was Luca talking about?”
“Aria and Gio. Your brother seems to think they are sleeping together.” Emilio found it amusing.
“Why does it matter?”
“You’re too young to remember or even know. Gio was a captain under Baricelli for the Southside a long time ago. He faked his death and became Consigliere to Aria’s brother.”
“How did he manage that?” I replied, shocked.
You don’t leave a family unless it’s by death, and death only.
“Long story.”
“And no one has tried to… you know.”
“Another long story. Plus, Consiglieres are off limits. No one touches them. Unless the boss himself offs him. Or in this case, Cassie.” Emilio laughs.
“Cassie? Your sister? Why would she?”
“That’s her husband.”
Shocked, I replied, “I didn’t know she was married.”
“His name doesn’t get spoken about around here. I can’t believe the idiot set foot in this city.” Emilio took a deep breath, “He was lucky to have Aria with him tonight.”
“You said Consiglieres are off limits.”
“I wouldn’t go to him as a Consigliere, I’d go to him as a pissed off brother. He broke Cassie’s heart.”
“E,” one of the guards walked in. “Everyone is in place.”
“Thanks,” Emilio nodded.
As he walked away, he spoke over his shoulder in my direction. “You should stick around. Get to know that redhead who works for Aria. She will be a good source.”
Just like that, on cue, Alfie came in with a stumbling Molly.
“Hey, B. You mind?” he asked me while plopping the redhead onto the sofa.
“Seriously, Alfie? I didn’t come out to babysit.”
Alfie walks up to me, “Luca just ripped me a new one, having Molly here, especially for tonight. Just watch her for a bit, please?”
“What do I get out of it?” I question. “And it better be fucking good.”
Leaning in, almost whispering, “I’ll let you know what happens at the meeting.”
“What makes you think I’d care about that?” I bluffed.
“Inside information isn’t always a bad thing.”
“Isn’t that against what you’re supposed to do? Luca would be disappointed.”
“As long as he doesn’t know. Plus, it’s for you. You’re family.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine. But I want all the details.”
Alfie winked at me. “Thanks, B!”
As I turned to face Molly on the sofa, she sat there happy. She’s drunk. Great.
“Hey,” I say as I sit beside her. “Having fun tonight?”
“This place is nothing like the clubs in California,” she hiccupped.
“Is that a good or bad thing?”
“Good, I guess. Chicago in general—it’s different. You’re the office manager, right?”
“I am,” I reply, sounding as if I was so proud of it. Being nice to these California people is already annoying me.
“You’re like, really pretty.”
I smile, “Thank you.”
For however long, Molly and I sat chatting.
Thankfully, she was drunk and didn’t notice my asking about Aria.
I learned a few things, and I was impressed.
Molly didn’t know all the details, but piecing what she did say, the rumors were true.
She broke away from her family. She chose to walk away and only reunited years later when her father passed.
Part of me didn’t know how to feel about that.
How can someone walk away from family? Even when there were those times I despised being a DeCarlo, never did it cross my mind to leave.
Would I ever muster the strength to walk away?
After an hour, Alfie walks back in, but alone. I stood up to meet him so that Molly wouldn’t hear anything Alfie had to tell me.
“Good news or bad news first?”
“I don’t like the fact there is bad news,” I replied.
“Well, there is. So, which one first?”
I huff, “Make me smile, then break my heart.”
“You’ll get to live in California like you always wanted.
“What?” I spat out in surprise. California was made for me. It broke my hear when I had to leave after college.
“Don’t get too hyped; that’s only happening because Luca offered your hand in marriage to Gabe Appollo.”
“What?” I spat out again in surprise.