32. Sean
SEAN
P axton Rossi and, to a lesser extent, his twin brother, Kincaid, hung out with Evan and me throughout college. That was before we learned that our families’ businesses were incompatible with our friendship.
At that point, we faced a difficult decision.
In the end, Evan went back to Catalinius, so it wasn’t as much of an issue for him.
Kincaid took off for medical school and wasn’t around much.
Paxton and I opted to find a way to preserve our friendship.
As part of the solution, we agreed to never discuss business, and we never have.
It was the only option given the conflict between our two families’ occupations.
Mine runs a casino; his runs the Las Vegas mafia.
Regrettably, today I must break that pact. We have to discuss business, and it’s his fault. His people brought Rossi dealings onto my property. That was beyond unacceptable, and I’m going to find out why and make sure it never happens again.
Arriving at Henri’s Bistro ten minutes early, it’s obvious Paxton is already here.
Two of his security men are stationed by the front door, and another is roaming the parking lot.
Knowing him, his security team arrived at least twenty minutes before me to scout the place.
Of course, there are more people gunning for his life than mine.
Walking into the restaurant, I scan the dimly lit dining room, immediately noting that it’s completely empty.
A moment later, the tux-clad ma?tred' greets me and motions for me to follow him. I do, chuckling to myself that Paxton has taken this meeting request to an extreme. We need to talk, but there was no reason for him to buy out the restaurant. A private room would have been sufficient. He’s been a bit dramatic ever since his father’s revelation at the end of college.
It’s probably why he’s still alive though.
Who knows what I would do in his situation.
Walking through burgundy velvet drapes guarded by two burly linebacker types, I’m greeted by my college buddy, who extends one hand and slaps my back with the other, saying, “It’s good to see you. It’s been too long.”
“What’s up with the deserted restaurant? I was starting to expect a body search before I could be in your presence,” I say, only half-joking.
“My apologies for the extra precautions. Your invitation was unexpected, and I’ve received verifiable threats lately. I’m taking extra security measures when I’m in public these days.”
“I wanted to meet in person, but I don’t plan to cause you bodily harm.”
“I know. It’s everyone else who worries me. Like it or not, that’s the life my father left me. I’m trying to reform our business as much as possible, but change happens slower than I’d prefer when it comes to how others perceive my family.”
“Our dads both threw us curveballs when they passed away prematurely.”
“They did. Have a seat and let’s talk. Mauricio, Macallan for my friend and a vodka martini for me.”
“Of course, sir.”
“It’s been close to a year since we’ve met. We’re overdue for a lunch, but why the emergency meeting today?”
“Let’s enjoy our drinks before getting serious. Tell me how you and your family are doing,” I say.
“Kincaid’s a successful surgeon in Los Angeles.
Our little sister, Brooke, is in Europe now, studying art history.
Neither of them wants to be near the family business even though I’ve cleaned it up considerably.
We still see each other occasionally. Mom did a stellar job shielding all of us from Dad’s world, but you know what happened.
In the end, I couldn’t escape it. Luckily, they could. ”
“Your mom made the correct choice using her British citizenship to take the three of you to England for school. I know you hated boarding school, but she gave you a normal childhood, which wouldn’t have been possible here.”
“That’s true. Dad showed up for visits when the other fathers did, so we didn’t figure out the family secret.”
“I’m surprised your parents let you attend college in the States.”
“They tried to convince me to study in England, but I was an adult by then. They didn’t have much choice but to let me return to the U.S.
Regardless, I didn’t learn the real nature of Dad’s work until my senior year of college.
It was a shitty day when he sat me down and explained the family business. ”
“I’ll never forget that day either. I wasn’t sure I believed it when you called and shared the outlandish story. I mean, it was unbelievable that my friend’s dad was the head of the Las Vegas mafia.”
“It felt like a nightmare, and I couldn’t wake up.
Can you believe that day he asked Kincaid and me to decide which of us wanted to take over for him when he was gone?
I’m still shocked my twin got up, said he was going to med school, and walked out, leaving me to deal with Dad by myself.
That was the first time I felt alone. Before that, Kincaid and I were inseparable. ”
“I remember.”
“You and I got ridiculously drunk that night trying to figure out what I was supposed to do.”
“We never did come up with a solution where you weren’t stuck with the business.”
“We didn’t,” he says as food arrives.
As we eat, I remember Paxton wasn’t the only one impacted by Mr. Rossi’s revelation. It shook my life too.
When I returned home, I told Dad that my friend Paxton Preston just learned he was Marcus Rossi’s son rather than Marcus Preston’s son.
It turned out that Preston was his middle name.
Surprisingly, his parents hid this fact from him all those years.
Preston was his mom’s maiden name, and the name she’d put on his birth certificate.
His dad had gone along with it to protect Paxton and please his wife.
Dad quickly sat me down in his office and explained that my friendship with the eldest son of the mafia don could cause problems for our family’s casino business.
In recent times, casinos have had to maintain a clean record or lose their licenses.
Dad couldn’t risk anyone thinking he or his family had mafia ties.
That meant publicly hanging out with Paxton was a problem.
I was devastated that one of my best friends was being pushed out of my life.
It wasn’t fair. Eventually, Paxton and I found a way around the “friendship ban” when we both joined a soccer league in Las Vegas.
That meant we didn’t completely cut ties with each other—at least not when we were on the field, or the pitch, as our friend Evan calls it.
After a couple of years, I had to quit the team though, and our contact with each other became infrequent.
But when Dad passed away, Paxton was one of the first people to reach out to me.
A year earlier, he’d been called upon to take over his father’s business too.
Ironically, we had a lot in common again.
We’d both lost our fathers and inherited major businesses to run at much younger ages than we ever expected.
The renewed connection with Paxton came with the problem of navigating the conflict between me being a casino owner and him being head of the mafia.
We dealt with it by only meeting in large social settings, not meeting at my casino, and talking on the phone when we had the chance.
We’ve never spoken about our businesses in any detail.
More recently, we’ve both been busy. It wasn’t until I was told Paxton’s associates were on my property that it dawned on me how long it had been since we’ve talked.
Paxton interrupts my thoughts, asking, “What’s going on with you?”
“More than I’d like. I’m hoping you’ll answer a couple of questions. Do you agree that our families have an understanding that none of your people are ever to come onto the Athena’s grounds?”
“Absolutely. The agreement goes back to our fathers’ promise not to let their businesses interfere with each other.
Then you and I agreed that a line in the sand separating your work from mine wouldn’t be sufficient.
There had to be a wall, so we don’t accidentally step across and interfere with each other.
I’m not sure how much that matters now that my business in the U.S.
is legit real estate. The agreement stands nevertheless. ”
“I know you’ve redirected your gambling business online and offshore and use that money to buy the real estate.
You’ve said that makes it legal, or at least puts it into a gray area that’s arguably legal.
Nevertheless, you still have associates here who work with you on the gambling side of your business, correct? ”
“What if we do?”
“They should never set foot in or around the Athena.”
“Agreed.”
“Then why the hell were these two guys talking to one of my employees on Athena property?” I ask, handing over a printout of the video image.
He stares at the image, recognition showing in his eyes.
“Those are your men. Don’t bother denying it,” I say.
“Calm down. I’m not denying it. Where was this photo taken?”
“It’s from a camera near a back entrance to my hotel.”
“Shit.”
“No kidding. That’s why I’m upset. Why were they there?”
“I’ll find out. They had no business on your property.”
“Did you know they came to the Athena or that they were involved with one of my employees?”
“Of course not.”
I take a deep breath. My need to protect the Athena and its future can be overwhelming. Paxton’s my friend. I should have trusted that he wouldn’t purposefully cause my business harm.
“Please forgive my frustration, but you know the problems this could cause for me. I’m already dealing with the police investigating circumstances surrounding an audience member who died while participating in one of our shows.
Now I have mafia guys intimidating one of my employees.
I don’t need the headache of a gaming commission investigation because the mafia is on my property. ”
“I understand. We’ll figure this out before it causes you problems, but my family shouldn’t be considered mafia after the changes we’ve made.”
“Your business may be in a gray area, so you can argue it’s legit.
It may even be one hundred percent legal.
But as you said, perception is slow to change.
The Rossi family is still a powerful machine in this city, and our connection could cause me problems with the commission.
I can’t afford to be put in a position where I need to prove your business is above board to keep my casino in the clear. ”
“It won’t come to that. These guys will be dealt with. You have my personal assurance.”
“To be clear, I don’t want them dead. Just keep them away from the Athena and my employees,” I say somewhat jokingly.
“Who said anything about killing them? I’m not my dad. I avoid violence. My best guess is that these guys were trying to collect a gambling debt, but they aren’t supposed to facilitate bets for your employees. I’ll find out if they took the bet before or after you hired this person.”
“If you don’t condone violence, why does the video show them threatening my guy?”
“Sometimes these lower-level associates get out of line and turn to old-school tactics to collect. While nonpayment of debts is unacceptable, violence isn’t the proper method of persuasion. I’ll deal with them. They won’t bother you again.”
“Good. I also want the name of my employee they were talking to.”
“You don’t know who is in the photo? How do you know it’s even one of your employees?”
“His blue badge showed up on the video. There’s no question it was one of my employees. The image doesn’t have enough resolution to read the name or ID number on the badge. I need to know which staff member it is and why he’s gotten on the wrong side of your guys. You owe me that.”
“Of course. Give me a few days. I’ll fix this. We’ve known each other for a long time. Trust me.”
“Okay. Can we meet here again in a few days?”
“I have a better idea. I heard you hired Evan’s future princess as a chef.
I know you don’t want a Rossi on your property, but would you consider making an exception for my alter ego, Mr. Simon?
I’d love to dine in the new restaurant that everyone’s talking about and have a chance to see Evan again. I’ll deliver the info you want then.”
“She wasn’t a future princess when the deal was made. Then our buddy, Evan, proposed. I’m shocked he’s giving up his bachelor status, much less this soon. He’s a lost cause now.”
“That’s what I’ve heard. What about you? Any chance of you tying the knot anytime soon?”
I choke on the coffee I’m sipping.
“You know I’ve always avoided relationships. What about you? Is there anyone special?” I ask, deflecting.
“No. There hasn’t been anyone special for a long time. My family and work are not conducive to relationships with the type of woman who interests me.”
“What do you mean?”
“The one woman I fell for walked out when she learned about my family. Let’s not talk about that. It’s in the past. Now what about dining with the princess?”
“We’re doing a private soft opening of Pinot & Pie in a few days.
If you promise to have the information by then, you can attend disguised as Mr. Simon.
But I don’t want my head of security identifying you as a Rossi, so make sure you’re not recognizable.
I’ll explain to Daniel that you’re a wealthy friend of Evan’s.
You can’t bring your security though. We’ll assign my guys to guard you during the event.
If that doesn’t work for you, then we can meet here in three days. Your choice.”
“It’s a risk, but I’ve asked you to trust me.
I’ll trust you to have my back at the Athena.
Send me the details. You can give Evan a heads-up that I’ll be there.
Don’t tell anyone else, not even your assistant or your security team who I really am.
You can tell your security that Evan’s wealthy friend recently received various threats. That should be sufficient.”
“Done. What does Mr. Simon look like these days?” I never know what to expect when Paxton decides to disguise himself as the mysterious Mr. Simon.
In the past, he’s shown up as a red-headed rocker, a Hollywood producer, and an archaeologist back from a dig in Egypt.
Regardless of the specific cover he picks, it gives him freedom to move around safely.
“It’ll be a surprise. Look for my college signet ring. I’ll be wearing it.”
We shake hands, and I check this off my list for now. Soon I’ll know which employee will no longer be working for me, and if he has a gambling problem, we’ll also offer him help to overcome the addiction. As for the debt to Paxton, they will have to work it out without my assistance.