Chapter 18 #2
And then another door opens for us and it’s like we’ve entered old England.
Wood everywhere, leather chairs too, stag heads, shields, swords, and axes mounted on the walls and so much whiskey in crystal glasses the whole room sparkles in soft amber tones.
The only thing that’s probably different from every other such club in England are the waitresses.
All gorgeous, all young and all wearing outfits that would make even strippers blush.
“Follow me, Mr. Rovina,” the butler says. “Your table is ready.”
He means my family’s regular table near the fireplace, which is burning brightly tonight, despite the near summer temperatures outside.
“I’d like to sit closer to Moretti tonight,” I tell him and pass him on my way to the man.
He’s deep in conversation with the two guys he came in here with, but stops talking mid-sentence as he sees me approaching. He even flinches, looks around for his bodyguards. But then he remembers he left them all outside, sitting in the Range Rovers and he looks even more scared.
I stare at him all the way to an empty table next to theirs. By the time I’m sitting the two guys he’s with are both looking at me too, trying to place me.
“You were saying,” one of them says to Moretti pointedly once they realize they don’t know me.
But I know them.
“Those are the guys from Hydra that he was meeting with the night I escaped,” I tell Caputo.
“It kind of seems like they’re not too happy with him,” Caputo says. “But they are talking.”
One of the barely-dressed waitresses deposits two whiskeys in front of us. I send her away with mine and tell her to bring me a club soda. Caputo does the same.
“Moretti’s deal with them involved getting them my sister’s boyfriend,” I say. “I fucked that up for him too.”
“They wanted your sister and her boyfriend?” Caputo asks. “Why? Just because that’s the guy she chose over Moretti?”
I shake my head. “I thought so at first, but there was more to it than that. Her boyfriend is high up in a local biker club and Hydra wanted him. I have no idea why. But if they’re still talking then maybe they still do.”
“You should warn them,” Caputo says. “And recruit them to our cause in the process. The more the merrier.”
I take a long swallow of my club soda, welcoming the pain in my throat. It distracts me from my sister’s betrayal, which still stings despite all the years that passed and the fact that I understand where she was coming from. It’d be easier if I could just forgive her, but I can’t seem to do that.
“I will. But later,” I say and stand up. “Right now, I’m gonna go say hello to Dante.”
Caputo gives me a look that plainly says he doesn’t think that’s a good idea. But he doesn’t say anything. Just stands up and follows me to Dante’s table.
Moretti looks like he’s in the process of shitting himself as he watches me approach. His jaw is so tight that his lips are shaking, and his eyes are darting all around, looking for the exits, for help, even though he’s trying to look calm.
“Dante, fancy running into you again,” I say as I reach him. I glance at the other two guys. “And I see you’ve all made up while I was gone.”
“Who is this?”
“What’s he talking about?”
That from the two guys.
“He’s just a guy that used to work for me,” Dante says, not taking his eyes off my face. Except to glance at the door behind my back a couple of times. I’m enjoying seeing the fear in his eyes.
“But I don’t work for you anymore,” I say and turn to the two guys. “I wouldn’t be making any long-term plans with this guy, if I were you.”
From the corner of my eye I see Dante’s face turn as white as the gloves of the butler approaching our table.
I think he sensed the tension in the air and is coming to stop whatever’s about to happen.
The butlers here have a real nose for that kind of thing, since keeping things calm and steady is a big part of their jobs.
I’d prefer it if it was Goldie here to calm me.
But the truth is, I don’t need calming. I will enjoy serving Dante a very painful revenge and I want him to witness all of it. So I can’t kill him yet.
“Would you like us to bring two more chairs?” the butler asks me, but I shake my head.
“I was just leaving,” I say. “Just wanted to say hello. Might not get a chance to do it the next time we see each other.”
Dante is speechless, the two guys with him look totally confused, but the butler looks relieved as I turn to leave.
“Don’t you dare threaten me, Rovina,” Dante hisses as soon as my back is turned. Acting exactly like the coward that attacks from the back that he is. “I will crush you. Again.”
I glance at him over my shoulder. “Never again. And you should be afraid, Dante. Very afraid. The bill’s come due.”
I walk away and this time he doesn’t call out after me.
“I think he knows you’re coming for him,” Caputo says once we’re outside.
“I think you’re right.”
“And I think he’s very scared.”
“I think you’re right about that too. And that makes me very happy.”
I’m not even exaggerating. Seeing Dante tremble in fear filled me with joy like I haven’t felt in a very long time. Except with Goldie. The joy she gives me is still better.
And I want a taste of it right now. Can’t wait a minute longer.