Chapter Thirty-Six
ORAZIO
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Who the fuck had sent the Miconis his way?
A tap at his window drew Raz's gaze in that direction. Damn, he hadn't even heard Leo get out of the car. With two guards flanking him, Leo opened the door for Raz. Raz stepped out of the vehicle, adjusting his tie as he did so.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Leo instructing one of the guards to let Isla out of the vehicle. Rather than taking her inside the gala, Raz would rather take her somewhere and interrogate her.
It was a struggle to remain calm when all he really wanted to do was fuck something up. More guards from the front and rear security details exited their vehicles and strode toward them. Leo walked beside Raz as they rounded the car.
"We'll leave through this same exit after the event is over. If an emergency arises, this is where we'll exit from," Leo whispered. "If anything goes down and you can't find me, make your way to this exit."
Raz nodded as Isla approached, accompanied by a guard. One of the security team members moved ahead to open the side entrance door, revealing one of Raz's men already stationed inside.
Leo entered first, with Raz and Isla following closely. As they stepped inside, Raz exchanged a brief nod with his waiting guard, who nodded back before stepping aside to let them pass. Leo adjusted his pace to walk beside Raz.
"We'll take the elevator upstairs. When we get upstairs," Leo instructed. "We'll escort you both to a sitting area. Ms. Miconi, that's where we'll go over in detail an escape plan for you and your father in case an emergency occurs."
"Shouldn't my escape plan be the same as my date's?" Isla asked, sliding between Raz and Leo, then wrapping her arm around Raz's.
Raz shrugged out of her embrace. "We may have come here together, but a security detail will be escorting you back to your room," Raz informed her.
Before she could protest, the elevator doors opened, and she was ushered inside and moved to the back of the elevator. Raz stood in the middle, with Leo standing in front of him. It was a short ride to the third floor, but it felt like forever.
When they exited the elevators, Raz told Leo, "You can take her into the designated room and brief her on the security measures. I'm going to step into this room," Raz nodded at a door across the hall. "And make a phone call."
"I'll go with you," Leo told him.
"I'll be fine."
"I wasn't asking, Don Cattaneo."
"I don't give a fuck, Leo." His guard needed to be careful. Raz was already close to losing his shit.
"That's not how this works tonight, Raz," Leo whispered as he stepped closer to Orazio, invading his personal space. "Whenever your father attended events like this, he had double the security you have."
"If you put any more guards on my detail, there won't be any room for guests," Raz complained.
"Though security is heavily in place and every room has already been cleared, things can still go wrong," Leo whispered. "If you're going into that room, I'm going to check it first, then remain inside with you. But first, I'll see to Ms. Miconi."
Leo faced two of the security detail guards. "Andrew, Rashad, escort Ms. Miconi into the sitting room and brief her on her and her father's security measures for tonight."
"Wait," Isla insisted. "Shouldn't my father be briefed also?"
"He has been," Leo told her.
"When?" she questioned.
"When he arrived a few minutes ago," Leo replied. "My guards let me know that he and his date..." Leo's gaze drifted to Raz.
Raz frowned. What was he looking at him for? He didn't care if Miconi brought a date. If anyone cared, it would be his daughter.
"My guard let me know that your father and his date," Leo continued. "Were already being briefed on their security measures in case an emergency happens."
"So," Isla drawled. "Most of your important guests were briefed separately from other guests, right?"
Leo nodded.
"Since you allowed my father and his date to be briefed together, I guess that means she's also important."
Leo looked at Raz again. "Yes. She's a person of importance."
Really? Raz was now even more curious to see who she was. He'd find out soon. First, he needed a moment alone to try to call Monique.
"We don't have much time before I'm needed downstairs. If we're to stay on schedule, we should get moving." Raz faced Isla. "I'll be right across the hall if you need me."
"I need you," she insisted.
This motherfucker! "Rashad, Andrew, take Ms. Miconi into the room and brief her on her security measures."
Isla smiled at him before she was led away by his guards.
"She's a clingy one," Leo mumbled once the door closed behind Raz's date and his guards.
"No, she's not. She's too independent to be clingy. Something is up with Frederico Miconi and his daughter," Raz stated, still staring at the closed door.
"I heard her say a member of her board suggested she come to the gala. While you're on the phone, I'll have someone on our team look into the members of her board."
"Do that. And find out if any of them were invited to the gala and are here tonight. If they are, I want to invite them to a private room to have a chat with them after my speech."
"Doing so could sever your ties with Mr. Miconi. Hell, the way you've treated his daughter could sever your ties with him."
"Fuck ties! If he's scheming against me, I'm going to sever his head from his body."
"Raz..."
"Fuck the Miconis. Our ties were severed the moment he decided to go against me. Fuck him, his daughter, and their board. She may not want to kill them, but I have no problem doing so."
"What about Mr. Miconi's date?" Leo asked.
"Why would I give a fuck about his date?"
"You don't need to bring someone who's innocent into his BS."
"She's his date. It's his job to look after her. He bought her here while knowing he was scheming. I didn't. Look, I need to make a call."
Raz went to open the door, but Leo pushed past him to enter the room first. As his guard swept the room, Raz pulled out his phone. He strode to the far wall with his phone pressed firmly against his ear.
He dialed Monique's number, his heart racing with each ring that went unanswered. Come on, Rosa. Answer the phone. The phone went straight to voicemail yet again, increasing his worry. Leo stood in front of the door, his gaze locked on Raz.
"I think something's wrong," Raz muttered, attempting to call Monique again.
"She's fine, Raz. Focus on tonight. And focus on staying calm."
Raz shook his head, frustration etching his features. "I need to check on her, Leo. Something isn’t right." Why isn't she answering my call?
Leo sighed. "Listen, you don’t have time for this. You're about to make a crucial speech. Missing it isn't an option unless you want to rely on Frederico and his daughter's goodwill to recover from such a blunder. Yeah, you're the don, and you can do whatever the fuck you want to do. But there are also some things you HAVE to do. And this gala is one of them."
Everything Leo said went in one ear and out the other. However, the mention of Frederico sparked a new tension in Raz's jaw. He despised the thought of being indebted to them. He wasn't about to put himself in that position.
And if he didn't do what he was supposed to tonight, other investors present wouldn't be comfortable joining him in his plans to expand his family's business. Shit! He hated the business politics he was now forced to deal with. With a deep breath, he nodded reluctantly as he shoved his phone into his pocket.
Fists clenched at his side, he said, "Fine. But send someone to watch her house until I get there."
"I'm sure she's okay..." Leo started again.
"Do it," Raz ordered.
"Yes, boss." Leo pulled out his phone and quickly texted one of the guards. "Done. Now, let’s get you ready for that speech and to greet your guests."
When Raz and Leo exited the room, they found Isla waiting in the hallway, a knowing smile playing on her lips. She stepped closer and latched onto Raz's arm. He tried to shrug her off, but she tightened her grip.
"We should at least pretend to be cordial for the gala crowd," she whispered. "You're the don of the Cattaneo family. You should know that."
If he gritted his teeth anymore, he wouldn't have any. But she was right. In families like theirs, appearances mattered. Reluctantly, Raz allowed her to cling to his arm as they followed Leo down the hallway toward the staircase leading to the grand hall. He flinched when Isla rubbed her breast against the side of his arm.
"If you want them, you'd get them off me," Raz growled. "I have no problem slicing them off."
"Go ahead. I'll just get them redone," she purred.
"You are nothing like I'd expected," Raz told her.
"You're just as dominant and demanding as I was told you'd be."
"By who?" he asked.
"I'll tell you over drinks."
Fuck that! He continued forward while wracking his brain for answers. The darkness around him matched his dark mood. The hallway was dimly lit, a stark contrast to the bright lights and lively atmosphere of the gala just at the end of the hallway and down the winding stairs.
He could already see the light peeking into the hallway from around the corner. He could also hear the voices of his guests as they mingled, awaiting his presence. Would his fucked up mood ruin the night for everyone?
"Remember," Leo whispered, walking to the left of Raz while Isla had a firm grip on Raz's right arm. "We'll be watching closely. If anything feels off, signal us." Leo stepped even closer. "You remember where the weapons are throughout the gala, right?"
Raz nodded. If he needed a gun, he knew where to find one. But he'd much rather use his hands if someone attempted to fuck up his night.
"I just notified the announcer that you're on your way. I'll escort you and Isla to the top of the staircase, where your names will be announced. Then you'll walk down and..."
"I know the plan," Raz told Leo. "Why are you talking so much? You're acting nervous."
Leo wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Maybe I am nervous."
"Why?"
"It's either going to be an extremely long night or a dangerously short one," Leo muttered under his breath.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"Nothing. Let's keep going."
Raz could've sworn he heard his guard mutter, "I don't get paid enough for this," under his breath. They were nearing the end of the hallway and moving closer to the grand staircase. When they reached the edge of the hall, Raz was able to peep around the corner to see just how long the staircase was.
The gala floor where guests were was just out of view. However, Raz's eyes locked on a couple nearing the end of the long, winding stairs. They had to have walked down minutes before Isla and Raz started down the hallway.
The fact that they had been on this floor at all meant they were among the Golden VIP guests, the ones who had to be briefed on specific security measures.
Isla's voice broke through his thoughts. "There's my father and his date."
So, that's who that was! Raz's gaze sharpened as he focused on the couple below. With their backs to him, he couldn't see Frederico's date's face, but the dress she wore captured his attention.
The gold fabric clung to her curves in a way that was hauntingly familiar. Her hips swayed with each step she took. The back of her dress dipped low, revealing smooth brown skin. Rose designs on her dress crept along the small of her back.
The sight sent an echo of a memory through Raz's mind, freezing him in place. Frederico turned to his date, saying something that made them both laugh. The sound of her laughter was lost in the din of music and chatter from the gala.
However, the way she moved set off warning bells in Raz's brain. He stood there, unable to move, unable to look away, unable to calm his racing heart. Leo's voice reached him from a distance, sounding muffled.
"It's time to go down the stairs, Orazio," Leo informed him.
Not yet. He needed to see her face first. He needed to quell the thought forming in his brain. He needed to prove himself wrong before he lost his fucking mind. Isla squeezed his arm, speaking words that he didn't register.
His entire focus was on the woman in gold who was descending the stairs with Frederico Miconi. Her arm was intertwined with his, and the older man was carefully helping her navigate in her heels.
Frederico leaned closer to her when he spoke, and she leaned in as well, their closeness sending rage surging through Raz's veins. Every little detail about this woman was sending rage surging through Orazio.
It couldn't be her. That was impossible.
Yet, the way this woman moved was imprinted on his memory, on his heart. He'd recognize her form anywhere. It wasn't until she turned to stare out over the room that Raz's heart stopped, and he was instantly filled with murderous thoughts.
It was her! Someone else was holding his Rose. She'd been unable to answer his call because she'd been in the arms of another man. His vision narrowed, and an unfamiliar snarl rose from his throat.
"Leo," Raz growled, his voice a dangerous whisper.
"Uh, yes, boss."
"Instruct the guards to lock all the doors. No one is leaving this bitch alive."
Isla started to protest. Raz's glare silenced her. Her eyes widened and she was no longer smiling as if she held all the cards. Instead, he saw real fear in her eyes. Good . He was ready to see that same fear in her father's gaze.
He was ready to be the last motherfucker her father saw!