Chapter 6 #2
Right now, the Cosa Nostra dominates the European market, but there’s been a major shake-up in the Corsican syndicate.
Under Bastien’s leadership, the French have managed to secure control of port operations and Customs in Marseille.
That port opens up opportunities for expansion, high-end logistics, and money laundering.
This is a pivotal shift in a previously untapped area, and every major Mafia outfit will be vying for the opportunity to secure it. But the biggest threat is the perpetual thorns in our side known as the Stavros family.
They met with Henri Vasseur yesterday, because as the supply chain tycoon of southern Europe, he’s another major piece of this puzzle.
He controls key distribution channels and has significant sway with critical contacts.
With the recent transition of power, Henri was vulnerable to outside pressure that could have forced his hand if he didn’t negotiate his own deal.
He needed protection, and we made the better offer.
But without securing an alliance with Bastien and the Corsican syndicate, this deal is worthless.
It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. By aligning with the Cosa Nostra, the French will gain power in numbers, which will prevent competitors from challenging their control.
They’ll also benefit from the Cosa Nostra’s global network and the international trade routes they don’t currently have access to.
The problem is it all hinges on a marriage contract to sweeten the deal. And if I don’t agree, there’s a good chance Ares will happily throw one of his five brothers on the sacrificial altar.
We can’t allow the Greeks access to those operations. If Ares gets one foot in the door, he’ll make aggressive moves to dismantle our trade routes in other regions.
Aligning with Bastien is a priority, and right now, I’m the only thing standing in our way. Angelo isn’t aware of the marriage stipulation yet, and I plan to keep it that way while I continue negotiations.
“How’s it coming along with him?” he asks.
“I’m handling it.”
He scrubs a hand over his face and sighs. “Just try to get it done. I don’t like giving Ares more time to come up with a scheme of his own.”
“I’ll let you know what we figure out.” I check the time on my watch. “I’m going to take Chantel home.”
“How is she?” He glances at the closed door.
“I’ll have Mariella check her over tomorrow, but I think she’s okay for tonight.”
“I’ll bring Abella by to see her in the morning,” he says.
I nod, and we go our separate ways.
Inside the suite, I find Chantel asleep again, but at least she ate half of the waffles.
When I lift her into my arms, she doesn’t stir, and it reminds me how panicked she was when she woke up on the boat. It’s not often she lets her guard down, and I’m not sure how she’ll feel about me taking her home tonight and putting her to bed. But there’s no way I’m letting anyone else do it.
I carry her to the private elevator, and it delivers us directly to the rear access door where my car is parked.
To my annoyance, the sight that greets me there confirms what Angelo and I had suspected.
“Well, isn’t this an interesting development?” Ares casually strolls over from his vehicle, eyeing the woman in my arms.
When Chantel’s eyes flutter open briefly, she mumbles his name in confusion. I don’t like the familiarity with which she says it, and I like it even less when he studies her with concern.
“You seem to be quite intoxicated, Miss St. James. Do you need a ride home?”
“She’s not going anywhere with you,” I tell him.
Ares smirks. “Interesting, indeed.”
I ignore him and get Chantel settled into the back of my car, adjusting the seat and buckling her in. When I’m done, I close the door and turn to face Ares.
“I heard there was a sinful party underway,” he says. “I suppose you lured Henri here with his cliché weaknesses.”
“It didn’t take much. A few escorts, his favorite wine, and his mother’s necklace that was sold at auction decades ago.”
Ares sighs. “Some people are so sentimental.”
“Yes, well, I know human nature is a mystery to you, sociopath that you are.”
“I’d say I have a decent understanding. Enough to get by anyway.” His eyes alight with amusement. “I find it curious you’ve gone the extra mile for Henri, but you’ve yet to secure a deal with Bastien. I wonder what it is that presents a problem for you.”
“Don’t think about it too hard. You have so little brain capacity to spare as it is.”
I open the door to leave, but Ares takes the opportunity to get one last shot in.
“You know, I have five strapping younger brothers,” he says. “All of them single, and far less sentimental than your lot seems to be. I’ve invited Bastien to meet them while he’s in the city.”
“Fine by me. He should know mental illness runs in your family.”
“That reminds me,” he muses. “I heard rumblings that Maxwell Montgomery has his sights set on your sister for the Sterling’s Yacht party.
You may want to let her know that would be ill-advised.
It would be a shame for him to meet an unfortunate fate like that other fellow she tried to go out with last month. What was his name again?”
“You’re spinning your wheels,” I tell him. “Hell will freeze over before Mariella ever gives you another chance. Let her move on with her life.”
“That doesn’t really work for me.” He sighs. “What’s that old saying? If I can’t have her, nobody will.”
“You mean the mantra of psychopaths?”
“If the shoe fits.” He shrugs.
I slide into the driver’s seat and start the car, but Ares grabs the door before I shut it.
“See to it she gets home safely.” He nods at Chantel in the backseat. “I wouldn’t want anything happening to my old friend.”
With that vague insinuation, the fucker walks away, whistling as he goes.