Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
MARCO
T ry as I might, I could not get that woman out of my head.
Even as Nicolò droned on about the importance of maintaining a low profile so as not to attract the wrong kind of attention, I was busy wondering who she was.
Note to self: find out if Amy had any long-lost relatives.
It somehow felt like I was being haunted. Just when I was gearing up for a meeting to discuss Aleksandr Yegorov, I was visited by the ghost of the woman I had loved and that he had killed. The Italians had strict rules about keeping family out of business matters, but the Russians had never gotten that memo. They came to my pre-wedding dinner and opened fire, killing my father and my fiancée.
All just to send a message about trade routes.
What did they think would happen? Did they think I’d just roll over and hand them those routes? It had been ten years, and we were still grappling, albeit surreptitiously. I knew Aleksandr would like to kill me just as much as I would give anything in the world to kill him. But the cowardly clans would not sanction it for fear of setting off a war. Instead, they held talks with the Russians, who conceded that we could keep the disputed trade routes.
Ironically, those routes were already ours , for fuck’s sake. They were the interlopers.
“Don Nicolò, I know we have to think strategically but we need an actual plan for dealing with the Russians once and for all.”
“All in good time, Cassio.” Nicolò said, much to my unending frustration.
The meeting ended without any real resolution, simply more platitudes and action plans I wasn’t sure would ever materialize.
I walked to the car, where Valerio was waiting. He opened the door for me, and I slid into the back, digging into my pocket to pull out my phone. I switched it on, bracing myself for whatever messages were waiting. The meeting had gone on for three hours, so I knew I’d have a bunch.
I wasn’t prepared for just how many though.
My accountant alone had sent thirty messages. I clicked on them with trepidation.
I don’t think selling Accords shares will go down well with the Lamberts. I would also have appreciated it if you had let me know of your intentions.
I frowned, wondering what he was on about. I was about to call him when I read the next message.
Colbert’s too? That deal was part of our overall agreement. Did something happen? I need instruction, Marco.
My heart sank. What the fuck was going on? I called Jade right away.
“Mr. Cassio, finally. What is happening?” she asked sounding frazzled.
“You tell me. I haven’t sold anything. I’ve been in a meeting for the last three hours.”
“What do you mean by that? All the correct authorizations were given for the transfer.”
“You didn’t think to call me first?”
“I’ve been trying to call you!” she screeched. I winced, moving the phone from my ear.
“Yeah okay, send me all the data you have on what’s been sold and when. We need to know who did it and why and we need that info fast. Before I talk to the Lamberts or Colbert, the Hellers or anyone else. Quick, Jade.”
“On it.” She said and hung up. I straightened up, my heart racing with anxiety. Of course, my first suspicions were the Russians, but I didn’t think they were bright enough to pull this off. I had to trust that Jade's hacker would be able to find out who had done this so I could have the pleasure of killing them once I got all my money back.
And I would get it all back. There was no other option.
I was filled with simmering rage and was determined to find a target for it very soon. I got out of my vehicle and strode into the hotel, wanting to collect my belongings and get back to the office as quickly as possible. There wasn’t much in my hotel room, as it had just been a temporary base of operations in Santa Monica, and a much shorter drive to Malibu compared to my headquarters in Pasadena.
All I had there were some clothes, my iPad, a few burners, and some cash.
I should have just gone ahead to Pasadena and let Valerio collect all this shit.
Tapping my foot, I waited for the elevator, my brother a taller, calmer presence behind me. We walked in silence to my room, and then he held me back as he checked the door and the booby traps we usually left.
They were still intact, and I nodded as he stepped back and let me enter. He would stand outside and wait for me, probably very glad to be away from my simmering spirit for a few minutes, unless I called him in.
I was walking straight for my closet, one hand stretched out to open it when I realized the room wasn’t empty.
Giving a shout, I reached for my gun when the woman on the bed raised her hands. “Don’t shoot.”
She was lying on my clothes, my iPad next to her, cash spread all around her, wearing nothing but a black teddy and some red soled heels. It would have been comical any other time, but now it just played into my paranoia.
“Who the fuck are you and what are you doing in here?” I growled even as the door flew open and Valerio came barging in. He saw the woman on the bed and dived, grabbing her hands, and detaining them in his. He looked up at me, “Should I kill her, boss?”
I smirked a bit, cocking an eyebrow at her, “Well?” I asked, “Should he kill you?”
She batted her lashes coyly at me, “Not if you want to know where your money went.”