Chapter 9
Maximo
I set off the metal detector when I step into the lobby of the building containing my offices. The two guards sitting behind the desk glance up at me, then both get to their feet as they recognize me.
“Mr. Luciani, welcome,” the guard I remember as Wilson Lombardi greets me. I don’t recall the other’s name immediately. He’s a newer hire.
“Good afternoon, Wilson. How are the repairs to the penthouse coming along?” I ask him.
A bomb that had been mailed to me destroyed part of the top floor, which I owned as an alternate residence, killing my cousin Luca and my friend Ricky.
I’d only survived thanks to blind luck and Constance’s paranoia and quick thinking.
“I haven’t been up there to put eyes on it myself, but there’s been a steady stream of guys from that contractor you hired coming through with supplies,” Wilson says.
“One of your team members sent us your itinerary today. It appears you’re expecting some visitors at noon and at two this afternoon? ”
“That’s right. Did they give you all the details?”
“Yes, sir. We’ll scan them for any weapons and keep them stored, per protocol. If you have any special instructions, just let us know.”
“I don’t think these meetings will require any special interventions, Wilson. Just make sure they’re unarmed when you send them up, and don’t forget to validate their parking tickets if they use the deck.”
“Of course, sir,” Wilson agrees before pushing a button on the desk that unlocks the elevator. “Have a good day, Mr. Luciani,” he adds as the elevator dings, and I walk past the desk.
“The same to you, gentlemen,” I tell them as I hit the button for the fifteenth floor. I’ll go check the repairs to the penthouse later. For now, I’m going directly to my office.
When the elevator arrives, I’m greeted by the smiling matronly face of my secretary, Renee. She worked for my father previously and has been an employee of the family for over three decades.
“Maximo, it’s so good to see you!” Renee gushes as she gets to her feet.
“I’ve just brewed a pot of that coffee you’re so fond of, and just in case, I opened one of those bottles of single malt, the Glenfidditch, and set up your service with clean glasses and ice.
If you need anything else, just let me know. ”
“Thank you, Renee. You’ve done wonderfully, as always. I take it you’ve seen who my guests are today?”
“Well, I recognized that old devil Salvatore Bianchi, but I admit I’m a bit confused about the noon entry for the…” She puts on her glasses and consults the computer on her desk before she continues. “The Savage Kings? Are they a band, or…?”
“They’re a biker gang, actually. They have a chapter headquarters over in the East Village,” I correct her.
“Oh my!” Renee blushes. “Well, I suppose we can’t discriminate against our clients, can we? People from all walks of life need financial advice. I’m just surprised they would be meeting with you directly and not one of the accountants.”
“Oh, you know I like to meet new account holders, especially large ones, directly,” I lie smoothly. Renee has lasted so long because she truly believes the company is a legitimate financial advisor. Which it is, of course, even though that’s the least of its functions.
“Well, I’ll let you know as soon as security buzzes them in and they’re on their way up!”
“That’s perfect. Take care, Renee, and I’ll speak with you later,” I say as I sweep past her and down the glass-walled corridor leading back towards my office.
On the way, I catch the eye of several of the accountants working in their offices and acknowledge them with a raised hand or a nod.
I’m not such an uncommon visitor to my own office that my presence draws much notice.
I have the place regularly swept for bugs and cameras, and I know that it’s a secure place to discuss the more far-reaching aspects of my business empire with my less savory contemporaries.
My office is the only one on this floor not walled in glass.
The heavy wooden double doors are already standing open, and I take a deep breath as I pass the threshold.
The walls of my office are lined with bookshelves overflowing with my father’s collection, which I’ve added to through the years.
I’ve always loved the way they smell. The drink cart is set up near one of the shelves, and I take a moment to pour myself a cup of coffee.
I briefly consider adding a shot of the Glenfidditch to the mug but decide that it’s still too early in the day.
I don’t like drinking before noon. It’s one of the few lines in the sand I’ve drawn to convince myself I don’t have a problem.
Walking around the massive desk that dominates the room, I roll my chair out and sit down, turning on the computer to begin preparing for the meeting.
I spend a moment making sure the video Detective Tillman sent to my e-mail will play on my desktop, then sit back and sip my coffee as I wait for my guests to arrive.
There are four heavy, leather-bound chairs facing my desk, and I briefly consider having more brought in since I’m not sure how many of the Savage Kings I’ll actually be hosting.
I dismiss the idea just as quickly. If they bring their entire crew, they can simply stand.
I’m on my second cup of coffee when the office phone on my desk rings. I hit the button and answer even though I know it’s Renee announcing my guest’s arrival. “Yes?”
“Mr. Luciani, your twelve o’clock appointment is here,” Renee confirms.
“I’ll be right up. Thank you, Renee.” I disconnect the call and then walk back down the long glass hall to the lobby.
I can see three men who are obviously members of the motorcycle club, as proclaimed by the variety of white patches on the black leather vests and jackets they’re wearing.
Surprisingly, they aren’t as hairy as I expected, with all three of them sporting short haircuts and only one wearing a well-trimmed beard.
“Gentlemen,” I greet the three of them. “I’m Maximo Luciani. Please, follow me to my office.”
“Thank you, ma’am,” one of them says to Renee as they all fall in behind me.
“I appreciate you agreeing to a meeting on such short notice,” I tell them as soon as I close the double doors leading to my office. “Would you like a drink?”
“I would.” The bearded one who had thanked Renee looks at the coffee pot, but before walking over to it he sticks his hand out to me and says, “I’m Reggie Ingram, Vice-President of the Savage Kings NYC chapter.”
“Pleasure to meet you.” I take his hand and shake it before motioning to the coffee. “Please, help yourself. Who are your associates?”
“The older one there is Billy Nolan, he’s our Treasurer. The one who’s sniffing your whiskey is Eddie Goins, he’s the club’s sergeant-at-arms,” Reggie explains.
The treasurer, Billy, takes a seat by my desk while the sergeant, Eddie, pours a tall glass of whiskey. “Stuff smells expensive,” he comments as he raises it to his lips and takes a long, slow drink. “Damn, that’s smooth. Tastes expensive, too. That’s good shit, boys.”
“Be my guest,” I reply with a smile as I take the carafe and pour myself two fingers’ worth, then take my seat behind the desk. “I’ve met your president, Jimmy Heathrow, a few times and my man Trenton says he’s brought your crew in on a few jobs in the past. He spoke highly of you.”
“Trenton’s been a good friend of the club,” Reggie agrees.
“He’s hooked us up with some good money-making opportunities in the past, as well,” Billy adds. “We were all excited to hear that you might have some work that requires our particular skills.”
“I believe I do.” I lean back in my chair and take a sip of the whiskey.
The coffee had done nothing to relieve the dry, tight feeling in my throat, but the alcohol immediately fills me with a spreading warmth and relief.
“Did your club ever have any dealings with the Volkov family, before they left town?”
Eddie grimaces as he finishes his drink, and for a moment I can’t tell if it’s from the burn of the whiskey or displeasure at the Volkov name.
He clarifies his feelings with a snort and says, “Fuck those Russian bastards. We had a couple of run-ins with that trash before they learned to leave us the hell alone.”
Reggie nods his agreement. “When they first arrived in the city a few years ago, they stepped on our toes a time or two, and we had to deal with them firmly. They learned to stay out of our way.”
“We didn’t deal with them as firmly as you did, though, did we?
” Billy grins. “We didn’t have the money to throw the entire police force at them.
That was a nasty piece of business, but I understand why you did it.
We all heard about that shipment they stole from Monroe’s, and about them killing the old man that ran the place.
Word on the street is that you took that shit real personal. ”
“I did.” I nod as I slide the whiskey carafe on my desk across to Eddie, who flashes a grin as he takes it up and refills his glass.
“Robert Monroe was a friend to my family, and his daughter…his daughter, Constance Monroe, is very special to me.” I have to pause for a moment to collect my thoughts.
“I’m sure you gentlemen understand how important it is to send a message that you’re willing to protect what belongs to you.
I should have anticipated a challenge to my family’s holdings.
Under my leadership, we’ve become more legitimate, with most of our earnings coming from gambling apps and our investments.
The Volkovs thought this meant they could move in on my captains and challenge their street-level businesses.
Kirill Volkov made his move, and I ended him.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to settle the issue. ”
“I thought they packed up and left town! You saying those dumb Russian fucks are still causing problems?” Reggie asks.