Chapter 44
Alessa
Leo’s mom showing up is not how I expected last night to go.
I’m still in fucking shock that she’s sitting in the living room laughing and joking with all the guys, including Micah, Evander, and Mateo.
I wish I had a camera when she caught sight of Holden’s innocent-looking face, but after what happened in the office yesterday, I know he’s anything but innocent.
“I’m not your fucking errand boy,” Micah gripes. I had him get food for all of us. We just finished eating and are sitting around the living room.
I roll my eyes. “I never said you were.”
“You have a house full of guys.” He waves his hand. “Why couldn’t they go?”
“Are you really having a temper tantrum right now?” I laugh.
He smiles. “Fuck off, shithead.”
I just shake my head and run through the list of things that need to be done, but I’m not sure when they’re going to get done with Leo’s mom here.
She seems to take everything in stride, which is surprising as hell.
The sad truth is, none of us had mothers or know what it’s like to grow up with a good one, except for Leo.
It’s kind of nice to have her in the house.
We need to go to The Games tonight to meet up with Alexey and Dmitri to get a plan in action for their mom.
I need to check with Gerald and Boone about Lucas, Landon, and Playboy.
I need to tell Leo that I’m giving him the reins to the new restaurant, and I have a surprise for Holden.
I just don’t know when any of that will get done.
My phone starts ringing, and I look at the screen before excusing myself. This isn’t a conversation you can have in front of one of your boyfriends’ moms.
“Hello?” I answer, closing the patio door behind me.
“I have a meeting set with Spinner,” Ghost says. “Today.”
I groan inwardly. “What time?”
“He’s supposed to meet me at the garage around two. He said fucking Xander better be there.”
“Xander won’t be, but we will,” I promise. I don’t know how but business is business, no matter who’s visiting. “I’ll see you then.”
“Alright,” he answers and hangs up.
I start pacing, trying to figure out the easiest way to tell Leo we’re leaving. I can’t just sit around while everything else is going on.
My phone starts ringing again, and I almost don’t answer when I see the name flash across the screen.
“Hello?”
“Hey, Beautiful,” Zane greets. “How’s your boy toy?”
“He’s fine. Thank you again.”
“Yeah,” he replies, and he goes silent. I have to look at the phone to see if he hung up.
“Why are you calling, Zane?” I ask, trying to keep the impatience out of my voice.
“Can we meet?”
“Now isn’t really a good time,” I answer. It isn’t the right time for so many different reasons.
“It’s important, Alessa,” he implores. “I need to see you.”
I sigh. “I can, but it probably won’t be today.”
“The sooner, the better, Les.”
“Yeah. Yeah. I get it,” I agree. “I have to go. I’ll let you know when.” I hang up and drop into one of the patio chairs by the pool.
I lay my head back to stare at the sky. Now I can add two more things to the never-ending list of shit I need to do. I hear the patio door open and don’t even look, thinking it’s one of the guys until a floral scent hits my nose. I lift my head up when Leo’s mom sits beside me.
“It’s beautiful out here,” she sighs. “I didn’t realize California was this pretty.”
I smile. “It has its moments.” I look at her profile and can’t get over how much Leo looks like her. He definitely got her lips with the same color hair, eyes, and the same proud nose. She’s tall and thin and has one of the most relaxing personalities, just like Leo.
She turns to look at me. “I was wondering if we could talk.”
I nod. “Of course.”
She sighs and folds her hands in her lap.
“It’s a mom’s duty to worry. I will always worry about my son, no matter how old he gets.
I’m trying to be accepting of the life he’s chosen for himself, and all I want is for him to be happy.
He seems very happy here, and he loves you so much.
” She smiles at that. “I just need you to know woman to woman that I know who you are. I knew the name Poletti sounded familiar when Leo told me, but it didn’t hit me until I saw this house.
” She grabs my hand. “I need to know you will keep him safe.”
“I’ll do everything in my power,” I promise. “But Katherine, you can’t know who I am,” I tell her, hoping she gets the hidden meaning.
She waves her other hand. “You’re Leo’s girlfriend, and that’s all I know.” She squeezes my hand. “You have a house full of guys in there that adore you. I wanted to reject the idea last night when Leo told me until I saw you guys together. I’m glad he’s found all of you.”
“I’m glad I found him too,” I reply honestly with a smile. “I love him.”
She tucks her hand on my cheek; it is such a motherly thing that I want to cry. “You are a part of this family now. If you ever need someone, please don’t hesitate to call.”
I nod because my voice is all choked up. She pulls me into a soft hug before going back into the house.
Maybe her showing up isn’t such a bad thing.
Leo, Gage, and Dex take Leo’s mom to lunch and sightseeing, which leaves me two hours to get ready to ambush this meeting with Spinner. They’re taking her to one of my restaurants which I deemed safe, and I don’t think Viktor is dumb enough to wage an attack in broad daylight.
“He’s supposed to be there at two,” I tell Ryder. “We need him to get there, and then we can go in.”
We’re sitting in my office going over the plans for the day. Ryder has his feet propped on the desk on the other side. “We can stake it out, or we can go in hot.” He shrugs. “It’s up to you.”
“What if this is a setup?” I ask the one question that has been plaguing my mind.
“You don’t trust Ghost?”
“I don’t know yet.” I run my fingers through my hair, showing my agitation. “I don’t know who I can trust.”
He levels me with a look. “You can trust us.”
I wave my hand.“I don’t mean you guys. A lot of people think I can’t do this and that dad made a mistake putting me in this position.” I sigh. “Maybe they’re right.”
Ryder’s feet drop to the floor with a thud when he sits up. “They aren’t fucking right,” he says vehemently.
“Viktor never would have taken a stand against Dad,” I point out.
“No. Probably not,” he agrees. “But now you have to show Viktor he fucked with the wrong one. You were made for this, Il mio sole, never doubt that.”
The problem is, I did doubt that, and I’ve never voiced it out loud except to Dex.
I feel like I’m making all the wrong decisions and moves, and people think I’m weak.
Since my grandfather, we don’t run the Italians like his family before him.
They hid behind their fancy gates and sent other people to do their dirty work.
When my grandfather took the mantle, he didn’t want to hide; he wanted people to see his face and fear that face.
So, the tradition continued with dad and now with me.
People like Viktor still live by the old ways that leaders lead from afar; they don’t do it themselves.
Since I took over, I’ve been on almost every assignment we’ve had, and it isn’t because I don’t trust my guys to get the job done; I want to be there.
My phone rings, interrupting me from my thoughts. The display reads Dex, and I slide to answer and flip it to the speakerphone.
“We have a problem,” Dex rumbles as soon as the call connects.
“What kind of problem?” I ask, looking at Ryder.
“We have a tail. Been following us for the ten minutes Gage has spent trying to lose it.”
“You’re sure?” I need to ask because everyone is on high alert right now. The last thing we need to do is freak out Leo’s mom because of it.
“One hundred percent,” Dex replies.
“Where are you?” Ryder asks, already standing.
“Two twenty-two.” Two twenty-two is one of the more rural back roads.
“Go to Dad’s,” Ryder says. “We’re on our way.”
Dex grunts in agreement, and the call disconnects.
Ryder already has his phone to his ear. “Dad. Special cargo is coming your way. We’re on our way.” Special cargo is our way of telling the other person we have an innocent with us. Ryder listens to whatever his dad says. “Yes, sir.” He hangs up and looks at me. “Viktor?”
“I don’t know,” I answer, standing up and shooting off a text to Evander, Mateo, and Micah to meet us out front.
We need all the manpower we can get if it’s him.
Dex and Gage were discreetly armed when they left, but there were just two of them.
I saw the hell Viktor rained down on our limo, and I can almost bet that if there’s one tail, there are more somewhere waiting.
I shoot off another message to Holden to let him know we are leaving.
Ryder and I head out to the garage where some of our weapons are stored, so they’re easy to grab in a hurry. We both slide our holsters on, loading each side with our favorite Glocks. I slide my leather jacket over it, and Ryder pulls on a button-up to cover his.
Evander, Mateo, and Micah stride into the garage dressed similarly, and I can see the flash of their weapons.
“They have a tail,” I tell them. “They’re going to Rocco’s.”
Ryder grabs the keys to the Chevrolet Yukon Denali we have for when we need more room. I pull open the passenger side door, and that’s when I catch a glimpse of curly hair.
“Can I go?” Holden asks quietly, and the shock must register on my face. He holds up his laptop bag. “I have this in case we need it.”
Ryder and I exchange a look over the hood before Ryder looks back at Holden.
“Are you sure?” Holden nods, and my heart sinks.
If we tell him no, he’ll think we don’t want him to go, but if we tell him yes, it’s hard to tell what we’re getting him into.
Ryder and I exchange another look before Ryder jerks a nod.
“Get in the back and keep your head down.”