Chapter 8
EIGHT
Lissia
A gloominess filled me as I gazed around the eclectic nightclub in the middle of Manhattan. Maybe it was because, once upon a time, my father owned this place, and now it belonged to my husband’s family.
It was all a bit incestuous. And I could feel the bad juju surrounding me.
Shake it off.
“Hey, princess.” Marchello handed me a glass of prosecco. “Lost in thought?”
“Thanks.” I took the flute but wasn’t in the mood to drink. “My father owned this place. I’ve been here before.”
“He did.” Marchello pulled out a barstool for me. “About a decade ago.”
“It hasn’t changed much.” I took a seat and ran my hand over the chipped Formica bar as I frowned at the half-empty room, old light fixtures, drab windows, and chipping paint.
“It’s a dump, but we got it for a steal, despite the location.” He leaned against the bar, looking so handsome in his black dress shirt with no tie. “Milo will turn it around.”
“He’s going to need help. Lots of it.” I circled my finger around the rim of my glass, then motioned to the stage. “Even the DJ is dated. When was the last time you heard this song?”
“Ten years ago.” Marchello snickered.
“Why would you invest in such a shithole?” I asked.
“Don’t be crass. You’re my wife, not an associate.”
“I don’t know how else to refer to this.”
“We plan to use part of this place as a private club to entertain associates. There is a lot of potential downstairs to take meetings when we have to.” He glanced around the bar. “I trust Milo when he says he can turn a profit here.”
“What do you plan to do with this area?” I waved toward the sad dance floor. “We’re in the middle of the city that never sleeps. They should be lining up to get in here.”
“They will be.” He winked. “What would you do with this space?”
“I’d gut it and start over,” I said. “Lots of high-end lighting and granite—black, sleek, and sexy. I’d put in oversized booths with designer private curtains, and I’d add another bar to host private parties where people could still utilize the dance floor and music, but have that VIP feel. You know?”
No more bad juju.
“Anything else?” He smiled.
Is he amused or impressed?
“The possibilities are endless with your cash flow.” I pointed to the stage. “You could have celebrities up there headlining events, set up a section for important people, hire an expert mixologist to concoct expensive drinks that people think they have to get here to try, or bring in a famous chef to create cool bar food.”
“Keep going,” he said.
I gazed up at the landing that wrapped around the room. “Oh, you could have entertainment and another bar up there. Maybe charge another cover to get up the steps.”
“You’re hired.”
“What?”
“Milo and I are busy with the dealership. We’re going to need someone to oversee this project.” He placed his hand over mine. “I can’t think of a person more perfect.”
“Really?” I mean, he wasn’t wrong. I knew fashion and trends, and I loved spending money. This could be something I could get behind. Suddenly, my strange mood disappeared.
“I want you to do this.” He ran his lips along mine. “It will be good for you. It brings you into the family business.”
That idea really drew me out of my funk. He wanted me to be part of his business.
“I want to do it.” A project like this would give me a purpose. A new life, a husband, and a job. I could be a grown-up. “When can I start?”
“As soon as possible.”
I hopped off the stool and jumped into Marchello’s arms. He lifted me up and brought his mouth to mine.
When our lips connected, it was as if nothing else existed and no one else was around. He kissed me unapologetically. No one could stop us.
He deepened the kiss, and my heartbeat zoomed. I held onto him, never wanting to let go.
“I knew you would like this idea.” He set me back on my feet. “I’m sure you’ll find all the top designers and products.”
“I can do everything? Pick out the furniture and choose the color scheme?” I sat back down, trying to contain the excitement bubbling inside me. “Redesign the floor plan?”
“Whatever you want.” He picked up his glass of vodka and raised it to me. “You’re going to be amazing.”
“I can’t believe you’re trusting me with this.”
“Why wouldn’t I? You’re the most determined woman I’ve ever met.” He brushed his thumb along my arm. “Especially when you have an unlimited budget.”
Milo came to the bar and wedged himself in between Marchello and me.
“Did you tell her?” he asked.
“I just did.” Marchello nudged Milo out of the way and switched places with him. “She’s excited.”
“It was my idea.” Milo winked at me. “It’s a good one.”
“Fuck you,” Marchello hissed. “It was my idea.”
“Okay, it was Chello’s idea, but I agreed. If he didn’t suggest it, I would have.”
“Thank you.” I looked around, taking a quick inventory of all the work this place needed, which was a lot. “This job is going to be big.”
“We’re not in a rush,” Milo said. “It’s still a viable revenue source for the cartel.”
That was why they wanted this club. The cartel was moving products faster than they had in the past. They couldn’t funnel all the cash through the dealership. Marchello and Milo wanted this venture to be successful because Nico had a lot riding on it.
My heart swelled with pride because Marchello wanted me to be a part of this opportunity. I wouldn’t let him down.
“But we can make it a bigger source.” Marchello sipped his drink. “Especially with a private club downstairs.”
Milo pointed to my glass. “Not drinking tonight?”
“Oh, I guess I’m not in the mood.” I just didn’t feel like myself tonight.
“I’m sure it’s too cheap for her tastes.” Marchello shook his head. “Put that on the list too. Top-shelf alcohol demands top-shelf prices.”
“We want affluent people to frequent this place.” Milo reached in front of Marchello and pushed my flute away from me. “Nothing but the best. I’ll have someone bring you something better from someplace else.”
“No.” I held up my hand. “I’m okay for tonight.”
“You sure?” Marchello eyed me with suspicion. “Are you feeling well? You seem a little off.”
“I’m fine.” I traced my finger along the deteriorating bar. “You’ve given me a pretty big project. I have a lot swirling around, and I want my head to be clear.”
“As Milo said, there’s no rush.” He rested his hand on my thigh. “I’ll hire you a team of assistants.”
“I can be the boss?” I grinned.
“After me.” He smirked.
“He’s really bossy.” Milo finished his drink. “Trust me.”
“I know firsthand how bossy he can be.” I kissed Marchello’s cheek before whispering into his ear. “It’s one of the many things I love about you.”
“You two can whisper sweet nothings later,” Milo said. “Right now, Chello and I need to talk business.”
“Whatever.” I slipped off the barstool. “I want to check out the club and get a feel for where I can start with the renovations.”
Marchello grabbed my wrist. “Stay where I can see you.”
“I’ll be right in the area.” I waved my hand around. “There is more security than there are customers in here.”
He nodded and then released me, looking less intense when he glanced at his well-placed guards scattered around the room.
I didn’t stray far because I didn’t want to stress Marchello out, but as he became more ensconced in his conversation with Milo, I took a few steps away to get a better look around.
“Yuck.” That hideous gold wallpaper had to go. It didn’t even go with the worn floors and dull furniture. Could I save this place?
Of course I can.
I strolled the perimeter of the less-than-crowded dance floor, cringing at the out-of-date playlist blaring from the speakers. It couldn’t even be considered retro.
Spying a corridor at the side of the unstable-looking stage, I peeked down the dimly lit pathway. A bathroom. I might as well kill two birds with one stone. I could freshen up, pee, and check out what was sure to be a nightmare, if the rest of the club was any indication of standards.
I glanced back at Marchello, who was still deeply involved in his discussion with Milo.
I could be back before he even knew I was missing.
Besides, did I really want to trudge all the way across the room so I could get Dom to take me to the bathroom?
What sense did that make? By the time I did that, I could be done.
As I walked down the vacant hall, the lights flickered like a scene from some kind of horror film. Faulty electrics wouldn’t surprise me. When I was done, this clusterfuck was going to be the bomb.
I reached the bathroom and tugged on the beat-up brown door, but it was locked.
Are you kidding me? How the hell were the bathrooms not open? Where were customers supposed to pee?
Maybe these were inoperable bathrooms.
There were signs for the restroom when we first walked in, which meant I could have picked up Dom along the way to have him escort me to the bathroom.
Now, I found myself in a dark, empty hallway, practically begging to be murdered.
I hustled to the doorway of the club, relaxing a bit when I spotted the people on the dance floor in the distance.
I better get back before Marchello ? —
“Hello, Lissia.”
Fuck.
Danny blocked my pathway back to safety.
Flashes of him charging me and hitting me so hard I fell and hit my head rushed into my mind.
I tensed when he strutted toward me.
With a calming breath, I glanced over his shoulder at the people in the club. There wasn’t an exit behind us. The only way he could get me out of here was to drag me right past Marchello, Milo, and all the guards.
He couldn’t be that stupid. Could he?
“What are you doing here?” Feeling a bit more confident now that I’d convinced myself he didn’t have an exit plan, I placed my hand on my hip. “You must know that my husband will kill you when he sees you.”
“Your husband.” He smirked as he rubbed his jaw. “That really fucks up my plans for you.”
“Which one? The plan where you were going to force me to marry you or the one where you were going to force me into an auction where the highest bidder left with me?”
He smiled. “Your husband doesn’t keep much from you, does he?”
“Why would he?” I glared at him. “Why are you here?”
“You’ve been difficult to access,” he said.
“That’s by design.”
“You’ve been locked up in the Accetti castle, but when I heard they bought this dump, I took my chances that eventually Marchello would bring you here.”
“You’ve been hanging out hoping to see me?” I inched back, creating some distance,
“I’m a patient man.”
“You’re a sick man.”
“Not only was I right, but imagine my surprise when he let you wander about unattended.” He shook his head. “I thought he was smarter than that, or maybe he’s tired of your shit already.”
“He knows I can handle myself. Besides, you’re not cunning enough to get me out of here without Marchello noticing.”
Where the hell is Marchello? Doesn’t he know I’m missing?
“The only thing I’m noticing right now is that your husband isn’t protecting you, so he’s making my job that much easier.”
“What job would that be, you sleazeball?”
“I can see marriage hasn’t tamed you.” He crept closer to me.
I didn’t give him the satisfaction of backing up.
“That’s okay.” He shrugged. “I like that fire, and I’m disappointed that I can’t be the one to break you. But we have plenty of time to revisit that.”
“Are you out of your mind?” I pushed past him.
He snatched my forearm and spun me to face him.
“Let go of me.” I tried to yank out of his hold.
“I’ll let go of you when I’m done with you.”
His cigarette-scented breath made me nauseous.
He leaned in closer. “Right now, you’re going to control that temper or I’m going to control it for you.”