Chapter 40
forty
Mateo
New Group text: Loch Ness Hunt spy emoji
[Mateo Santos-Manolo, Stef Carter, Lee Carter, Christian Cleary, Delia Shane, Liam Kelly]
Mateo:
I’m recruiting you all to help me pull off something big for Nessa, can I count on you?
Delia:
WTAF is this group name?
Delia changed the group to: Matty Has it Baddy
Stef:
rolling laughter emoji x3
Liam:
I’m in, whatever you need. Christian too.
Mateo:
Thanks guys.
Delia:
You gotta include Lily.
Mateo added Lily Long
Lily:
Is it time for a grand gesture?
Delia, Stef, Liam loved Lily’s message
Liam:
When and where, brother?
Mateo:
We got to figure out how to show her this was all real.
Delia:
I’m pretty sure she knows. Next step is getting her to open up to you.
Let’s chat at The Featherweight. I’ll reserve a private room.
We’ve just settled when Prudence barrels in with Sofia Salvatore. We all still, the room so quiet you can hear the blinking of eyes.
“I thought I had this space for a reading,” Pru says.
“We have a bit of a pressing matter. Can you use your shop?” Delia asks, using her best customer-service voice.
“What sort of pressing matter?” Sofia asks, her cheeks pinking.
“Oh, is this about the boys who think they’re men?” Prudence asks with a knowing look.
Lily and Delia, along with my sister, who’s patched in through video call, fall into a fit of laughter.
“I’d swear you four are a coven if I didn’t know better.” Prudence tuts as she pulls out a chair and sits.
Sofia glances around the room slowly, worrying her lip.
“Please, feel free to join us, ladies.” I gesture to the table.
What the hell. Nothing happens around here without the Salvatores and Pru finding out anyhow.
As we polish off bar pies, I call out, “Let’s recap. Jim has been courting the Reynolds Group for a few months, hoping they’ll purchase the land that Grant put up for sale. What he and Grant have conveniently ignored is that they have no voting rights. They cannot approve the sale.
“There’s a mile-long list of reasons we should turn down the Reynolds Group offer.
This includes their reputation for screwing over local companies they contract for work.
Not to mention they will destroy anything in the historical preserve out on Kelly farms. And finally, they will run the current residents out of town using tax hikes and nefarious country club clauses. ”
I scan the assembled group, chest filling with pride, feeling like an even better version of myself as each person looks back at me, rapt.
“The people at this table make up the ground team. Your job is to spread the word about these bad business practices. But…” I drag the word out for emphasis. “But I need it to be authentic, and keep my name out of it. Avoiding any connection to me is extremely important.”
“And you weren’t going to have a Salvatore on the team?
” Sofia scoffs. “Wow, you’re lucky Pru and I showed up.
Get me information on the lawsuits against the Reynolds Group.
I’ll tell Chiara I’m thinking of switching to prelaw and ask her to take a look at some of the documents ‘my new class’ is analyzing.
” She breaks into a devious grin. “She’ll be excited I’m making decisions, and once she dives into the lawsuits, she’ll get pissed off.
Once she sees how they screw over contractors, she’ll run to Tommy and warn him to not take any jobs with Reynolds.
Tommy has connections to all the local suppliers and crews, he can tell them too.
Nobody around here is going to risk losing the family business. ”
“Done. Stef, can you send the document called Adams vs. Reynolds to her?” I ask.
My sister nods and taps away at her laptop.
“We need to work on getting this to all the North Side business owners.”
Liam points a finger around the table. “Nah, dude. You have all of us. Me for the vet clinic land. I’ll talk to Gran tonight. And Lily’s here. The property the library is on is owned by the town. You’re set.”
Nodding, I check an item off the list on my tablet.
“Okay, then we’re set. Let’s get the word out using the whisper network, not the Springer, to make sure people know what they’re in for if they push for this country club.”
Liam and Christian, both on duty, leave first, their matching navy cargo pants and PSFD shirts making a statement.
“Pru, why don’t you take the room. I’ll bring these two back to the office,” Delia says.
“Thank you,” Sofia says, again speaking softly and lowering her gaze.
Should I have consulted the senior Salvatore women?
I run my hand through my hair, deciding a visit to the salon is necessary. Not only for my hair, but for intel. The bells chime overhead as I step inside, and every head snaps my way.
“Hey, Matty. Haven’t seen you up close in forever. How are you?” Tina gives me a kiss on each cheek in greeting.
“It’s been too long, for sure. I’m hoping to get in for a trim soon. Have any openings?” My smile is deep and charming. Flattery is the best way to handle Christina Salvatore.
“Let me take a look.” She steps around the counter and peers at her computer screen. “It doesn’t look like we have anything in the next month, and no offense, but that is too long given the hair growing in at the back of your neck.”
The tone is light, teasing, perhaps even flirty. She rounds the counter again and runs her hands through my hair, her nails scratching my scalp lightly.
“I can squeeze you in tonight if you can come back after closing. How about nine?”
She preens and bats her glued-on lashes my way. They are so oversized she looks like a Muppet.
“Sure thing,” I say as I extricate myself from her fingers. I’m playing with fire here.