5. Zeno
CHAPTER 5
ZENO
M y Uber pulls up to my family’s new hotel, the Excelsior, about twenty minutes after I stormed out of the Severinovs’ property and away from Lily Salesi.
It isn’t a long-enough ride for the anger festering deep in my gut to subside.
Those fucking assholes!
I rub the back of my neck and step out of the Honda Accord, pulling my duffel out of the backseat before grunting a ‘thanks’ to the driver.
With a deep sigh, I push open the revolving door, not bothering to take a second to admire the glitzy exterior, or the elaborate porte-cochère leading up to the hotel entrance. I don’t give a good goddamn about the oversized potted plants, or the gaudy, gold-plated shit. I don’t care about the fancy lighting fixtures or the twinkling lights flashing at me as I stomp into the lobby.
It all means nothing.
I didn’t come here because I was invited.
I came here because I was ordered.
This place may be the hottest hotel on the Vegas Strip, but it’s not mine.
None of it is because I put my ass on the line for people who clearly don’t value it.
My own family included.
I fling my duffel bag over my shoulder and look around the lobby.
Lots of polished marble.
More gold.
Art I could have made myself in grade school.
I grit my teeth and pull out my phone when my cousin’s voice rings out.
“Zeno!”
I press my lips together, willing myself to not put a fist through a wall.
Maybe Sergio can explain what the fuck is happening since those shithead Severinovs only seem to care about their own interests.
He walks over with a hot blonde next to him. He grins at me and I can immediately see that it’s forced.
Not a great sign.
Sergio holds his hand out to the girl. “Zeno, this is Rayleigh. She’s the head concierge.”
Rayleigh eyes me up and down, practically drooling like she hasn’t been laid in a year. And I haven’t even showered yet.
“Pleasure, Zeno,” she croons, squeezing my hand and pumping it hard.
Something tells me she’d rather be pumping something else.
Unfortunately for her, I’d rather someone else do the pumping.
Like Lily Salesi.
The expression on Sergio’s face tells me he suspects exactly what I’m thinking right now.
“Rayleigh, I think it’s time for your morning meeting with the staff, yeah?” Sergio says without moving his gaze from my face.
She takes another long look at me and nods, sweeping her tongue over her pink-glossed lips. “Sure, Boss. And Zeno, I’ll be around if you need anything .”
Shocker.
Sergio watches her walk away, her hips swinging left and right in an exaggerated motion. He turns to me, his lips stretching into a tight line. “My office. Now,” he hisses.
I guess that’s the extent of my personal welcome wagon.
I hoist the duffel bag over my shoulder and follow him into a hidden doorway off of the huge marble and…you guessed it…gold-plated…reception desk.
He pulls me into a room at the end of the hall and slams the door shut. I fall into the black leather couch in front of his desk and put my feet up. Not a second goes by before he kicks them away, fixing an icy glare on me.
“You were supposed to lay low at the Montepremi,” he seethes. “Not fuck around with Salesi’s daughter.”
“I didn’t know who it was. I needed a break, Serge.” I shake my head and let out a dry chuckle. “That guy Kazimir is the one who took me to the club in the first place. If she was supposed to be off limits, someone should have told me.” I shrug. “She was hot and I was horny. And not to mention, fucking stressed because I have no idea what the hell is happening right now! It seems like everyone is in on this big secret, but nobody is sharing it with me.”
My nostrils flare and I stand up to face-off with my cousin. “I’m the one who executed the hit on Messina, remember? I’m the one who was holding the weapon. That means I’m the first one he’s gonna come after. But none of you gives a damn about that.”
Sergio sweeps a hand through his hair. “Look, you’re here so we can keep watch over you. Messina is back in Sicily, probably licking his wounds and trying to figure out how to launch his next attack, but by the time that happens, the syndicate will hopefully be complete and we’ll have a lot of muscle behind us with Salesi’s network. That’s what you need to focus on right now.”
Yeah, he’s right. Too bad the only things playing with my mind right now are the way Lily’s toned legs felt, clamped tight around mine, how tight and wet her pussy was as I massaged her soft folds, how sweet her lips tasted as I feasted on them.
I should be thinking about staying alive.
Instead, I can’t stop thinking about how incredible her tight little body would feel plastered against mine as my cock throbs deep inside of her.
I scrub a hand down the front of my face. “I know how important it is to my father to be part of this organization. This syndicate just better be worth it. I don’t like being ordered around by fucking strangers. It’s bad enough dealing with you guys.”
“Better learn to eat shit pie, cuz,” Sergio says with a grin. “And when you’re wiping your chin, get ready to ask for more.”
“I think I just lost my appetite,” I grumble.
“Well, you’d better get it back. You’re gonna run security while you’re out here. Just keep your head down and stay close to the hotel.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? I’ve lost enough of my freedom because of Messina. Now you’re keeping me as a prisoner?”
“It’s just until we make sure Messina stays put in Sicily. If he comes back, it’s because he found out you’re here. And he won’t stop until he wins…or dies.” He narrows his eyes at me. “So stay the hell out of trouble. The syndicate needs Joe Salesi’s money and influence. If he finds out what you did?—"
“What I did?” I snort. “I took care of his beef with Messina. He should be grateful!”
“Nothing touches his daughter,” Sergio says. “Nothing, especially you.”
“She could do worse,” I grumble.
“Not much worse,” he quips.
I flip him off. “Thanks, I always like to know where I stand.”
“Pull that shit again, and you won’t have legs to worry about.”