23. ~Julian~
23
~Julian~
Last night had taken the four of us out.
Like, knocked us out cold.
When I’d woken up, it had been several hours later, around six in the morning.
I’d found myself still on the couch and wrapped around Cat, with one of her fluffy throws over us and actually tucking us in.
Nico had been smoking out on the balcony and having his morning espresso with his phone to his ear as he’d been conversing with his soldiers concerning Marchetti Syndicate business.
And Milo had just stepped out of the shower, all refreshed and smelling like Cat’s other smell—outside of her Chanel perfume—of citrus like she had that night after she’d come to Nocturne .
Now he was in Cat’s kitchen doing hell knew what.
We were supposed to be strategizing for what was coming, but Nico was on the phone again, dealing with a situation with the Marchetti drug operations. I didn’t know what the details were, because he hadn’t spoken to them yet, but judging from him pacing up and down while he flicked his Zippo on and off, it wasn’t good in the least.
So, while we were waiting, Cat and I were discussing the business proposal I’d made to her last night, with her currently in the process of reviewing what I’d put together. I’d sent it through to her email from my phone shortly after I’d woken up and she was sitting beside me on the couch with her laptop resting on her knees as she pored over it.
“This is solid,” she finally spoke, looking up. “The hotel will cater to a clientele that is broad enough to attract a wide base for the nightclub, something that will be key to its longevity and viability. It’s a breakaway from your Opulent Grand hotel chain, not just catering to the wealthy, nor being so exclusive. Again, it bodes well for the club itself and also opening up the entertainment aspect even beyond that. There’s space to build on once the hotel and the club become established. But not doing it all at once will leave us with a lot of useless real estate that we could make a loss on if we don’t have at least an eighty percent occupancy rate for at least three quarters of the month. It would be more beneficial and actually even less of a risk to launch it all at once. Also, with that, we’d be offering a unique destination and all-inclusive service, something that we could work wonders with marketing-wise.”
I smiled at her on-point review. “I agree on all points.”
Realization flashed in her eyes. “You didn’t just want to bring me in for my knowledge regarding Luster .”
“Exactly.”
“Nicely done.”
“I thought so.”
“What’s the verdict? Are you ready to make a decision?”
Before she could answer, Milo strode into the room carrying two coffee mugs in hand. He gave one to me. “Chocolate milk. The powdered kind you like the best.”
I eyed Caterina, and she lifted a shoulder. “I get the urge once in a while.”
“That’s why you were so understanding about my odd breakfast habits.”
“Not odd. Child-like,” Milo said.
I rolled my eyes and took a sip from the mug. “I don’t give a crap. I like what I like and I make no apologies for it. You know that, baby.”
He smiled. “I do.” Then he handed the other mug to Caterina. “Coffee, bellezza.”
She took it and had a sip. “Perfect. Thank you.”
He gave her his teddy bear eyes , as I called it, which he usually only gave to me.
It was strange seeing it being directed at somebody else.
I’d been worried about losing him lately, so I’d figured the very concept of it would have put me ill at ease or come off in a negative way. But it wasn’t doing that at all. It was actually comforting because of the way in which we’d all come together last night. It felt like we’d solidified something, that we’d kind of cemented our connection with Caterina, but also with each other, like the bond had shifted, but also strengthened in a way it hadn’t been able to do before without the addition of this little gem of a woman now brought into our fold. And it was also so rare for Milo to get this way about anyone, especially an outsider to us. It was a big deal for him.
And he was clearly feeling that this morning.
He’d been very attentive to her, doting on her.
He’d even treated and bandaged her thigh while she’d been asleep so she wouldn’t wake up uncomfortable. Hell, he’d even dressed her. When we’d passed out last night, we’d all been buck naked, but I’d woken up to find her in a pair of black satin pajama shorts and a matching tank. I was betting that the blanket had been his doing, too. Nico would have considered us wrapped tightly around her enough warmth. He didn’t really like the restriction of blankets and the times I’d been at their place in the morning, I’d found him sleeping on top of the covers most of the time.
Milo was fully dressed in his clothes from last night—his go-to tank and jeans, his jacket hanging off the coatrack by the door now. Nico was just in his dress pants, his jacket hung up, along with his shirt. And I was just chilling in my cobalt-blue boxers and my dress shirt open and hanging off my shoulders.
Milo looked out through the balcony, grimacing as he took in Nico, still on the phone and pacing. “That doesn’t bode well.”
“My thoughts exactly,” I agreed.
He sighed heavily, then gestured between us, asking, “So, how are the two of you getting on with all that?”
“I was just about to get Cat’s answer.” I eyed her pointedly as she took a sip from her coffee. “Darlin’?”
She put the mug down on the coffee table, then told me, “I really appreciate you offering me this.” She gestured at the mantlepiece opposite the wraparound couch, her award now situated on the center shelf. “And you recovering that for me was really sweet. It all means a lot.”
I liked her words, but her tone was another thing. “But?” I pressed, sensing a major one was coming.
She blew out a breath. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
I frowned. “Like what? You already have a partner you’re working with as part of your planned expansion efforts? If that’s so, you can have more than one, you know? Especially for different projects.”
“No. It’s not that.” She typed rapidly on her laptop. “I didn’t want to tell anyone this, because I was determined to blow past the competition. Especially my father, who will be all over it as soon as it’s made public knowledge and actually announced.” She smiled sadly. “But now there’s also you. And offering me what you are, I have to tell you about it.”
She handed her laptop to me and as I placed it down in front of me on the coffee table, she told me, “Have a look at this.”
I sifted through the wealth of documents she’d brought up, including an insanely in-depth cost-benefit analysis, architectural plans, drafted proposals.
It was a massive expansion plan down at Brimbank Waterfront, a neglected space in the south end of the city. There was information she’d obtained from city officials’ communications, citing the plan to develop the entire area. Something that hadn’t even been announced yet. I hadn’t even heard rumors about it, and I had my ear to the ground more than most.
“Jesus Christ,” I breathed. “This is major. It has the ability to alter the landscape of the city, the tourist trade, so much.” I eyed her. “And it will change the face of Camlann Corporation forever into a heavy-hitter if you can become a part of it and make this a reality.”
“That’s the plan.”
“You didn’t know about the proposed development down at Brimbank?” Milo asked me, obviously wondering how that could possibly be when I was so plugged in to things.
“No one does, outside of certain city officials.”
“You hacked them?” Milo asked her.
“ Hacked is such a negative term,” she answered.
“You know, with what you’ve put together here, you didn’t need to do that. You don’t need the leg-up, this plan speaks for itself. It’s incredible, Cat.”
“I couldn’t take any chances. I’ve been stampeded over before. I wasn’t going to risk that this time. I’ve made damn sure I’ll be ahead of the game once this goes public.”
“You’re talking about Santino?” Milo asked.
“And possibly the location that you wanted for Luster being given to Nocturne a few years back,” I added.
“Both,” she told us, honestly.
“You’ve had to fight harder than most just to make any progress,” Milo realized aloud.
She nodded. “And sometimes fighting fair isn’t enough. Hence me going this route with this.” She took my hand and told me earnestly, “But I’m telling you now because I trust you and also because with the partnership you’re offering, I couldn’t keep you in the dark about something this huge. It didn’t feel right.”
I gave her hand a squeeze. “I appreciate that, darlin’.” I put her laptop down on the coffee table. “You know, though, now you’ve brought this to me, we could do a lot more together partnership-wise. There’s significant capital I can bring to the table from Carver Group, and with the hotel aspect you’re looking to do, my standing where that’s concerned with Opulent Grand will add a lot of clout. You’d have a controlling stake in our proposed partnership, so you’d be able to rest assured there where the balance of power is concerned.”
She looked at me incredulously. “You’d be willing to do that?”
“It’s different for me. There’s no one out there actively trying to undercut my power. Besides, mine is more established. I’ve been more fortunate than what’s happened to you, meaning it’s not as much of a struggle for me. As such, it’s also not an issue.” At least not from a business standpoint. Power in other areas, however… yeah, that was a whole different ball game for me. “But with this expansion plan, partnering together, we’ll be able to change that for you.”
I saw her taking my words in, mulling it all over.
Then she smiled and shifted on the couch, pulling her legs up under her as she told me excitedly, “Let’s start with the hotel and nightclub partnership and we’ll go from there.”
“Sounds good to me. Any time you’re ready.”
“Now?”
I chuckled. “All right then.”
Milo rose to his feet. “I’ll whip up some sustenance while the two of you get to work on that. While we’re delayed getting to our war meet, anyway.”
“Thanks,” Cat said, beaming out at him.
“That delay is over with,” Nico’s voice suddenly sounded from behind us, and I looked over the couch to see him striding back in.
“Calls taken care of, finally?” I asked. “What the hell kept you on back-to-back ones for the last couple of hours?”
“The Benzinos finally struck back like we’d been expecting.”
Milo moved to his high-alert, rigid state. “How bad?”
“They hit the Flower Market.”
“One of your fronts for Marchetti coke operations,” Cat spoke. “That aspect is currently Giovanni’s purview, yes?”
Nico nodded and went on to explain, “A delivery of carnations came in this morning, instead of the designated roses.” He gave a roll of his eyes. “It took his guys some time to realize the difference, despite me repeatedly advising him that they need to be taught the ins and outs of the front business itself, not just what it’s concealing. It cost them a couple of hours because that wasn’t the case. A couple of hours that could have been spent tracking the missing shipment before the trail went cold. As it was, all Gio managed to show for himself was a message from Carlo Benzino taking responsibility for the confiscation of the coke and promising that this was just the beginning.” He scrubbed his hand over his face. “Last night, one of Marchetti Holdings’ ships down by the portion of the docks under Cassio’s control was damaged so severely it’s no longer operational or sea-worthy. It was slated to export a mammoth shipment to one of our business associates.”
“Shipment of what?” Cat asked. “Your street-level weaponry racket?”
“That and certain stolen goods. Electronics, jewelry, antiques.”
“Jesus, that’s a lot of coin lost, let alone in a single morning,” I uttered. “I assume Leo’s called an emergency meeting with the three Capos that you need to attend?”
“No,” Nico responded, grinding his jaw. “I spoke to him and he claimed that my attendance isn’t necessary, seeing as though my territory wasn’t hit.”
“Bullshit,” Milo said. “This impacts all three of you.”
“Of course it does. This is because he doesn’t want a dissenting voice there when he tries to push for his short-sighted-burst-of-major-violence-and-destruction approach.” He eyed Cat. “Orders are for me to focus on my fresh engagement.”
“I see. He’s sidelining you,” Cat said. “What would your approach have been?”
It was clear from her tone and the intensity coming off her that she wasn’t just curious, she also needed to ensure it was something she could accept, in case he applied what might be an unfavorable approach to her to our own coming plans.
“Intercept their take tonight from their Zenith Grand and Golden Aces casino, and hack their online gambling system, thereby transferring all funds to the Marchetti Syndicate. Both will cover what they cost us with these two attacks. Then I’d also target one of their drug labs—the central meth one—and burn the place to cinders to deliver a warning and also turn their attention to rebuilding that rather than remaining on the notion of further attacks.”
“Wow,” she breathed. “That’s effective on many fronts, focused on the money and also highlighting a shitload of control. While, I’m betting from what I know about Leo Marchetti myself, he’ll opt for wild bursts of aggression like firebombing the businesses under their protection, thinking it will undermine Benzino authority when really it will just inspire hatred from said business owners and have them pulling tighter to Carlo and his people. He'll think a show of force like that will be demonstrating Marchetti strength, when really it’ll be demonstrating a shitload of stupidity and shortsightedness. Something Carlo Benzino most definitely isn’t.”
“A wow to you as well. Fortunately, it’s highly unlikely that my father will allow Leo’s intentions to be put into practice. He’ll bide his time until the alliance with the Leones is firmly in place. Our wedding will draw the big players there together and the public nature of our union will function as confirmation and a physical representation of the solidification of that alliance. Not to mention, the Benzinos will be caught off guard if he waits, rather than responding immediately, which is what they’ll be expecting, and what they’ll be highly prepared for too.”
“Why do you think they didn’t attack your territory, just the other two Capos?” I asked him.
Milo cut in, “We were already hit when they sent those Red Vipers shits to our warehouse.”
Cat frowned in thought. “That attack barely got started. They didn’t do any damage, right? They weren’t even highly trained. Not like the Benzino soldiers.”
“You’re saying Carlo took it easy on Nico’s territory?” Milo asked.
“Perhaps.”
“For what reason?”
“That remains to be seen.”
“Or,” Milo said, eyeing Nico worriedly, “An attack could be forthcoming.”
“We’re prepared either way.” He took a seat on the couch beside Cat. “As things stand right now, me being sidelined gives us the opportunity we need to strategize.” He reached out and stroked her hair. “We’ll start with what I alluded to with our wedding day. Okay, fiancé?”
She rolled her eyes, and he chuckled. “Get to it. What did you mean about the Leone Estate not being safe so that their despicable wedding night plans for me aren’t able to go ahead?”
“Carlo’s move against our warehouse with the Red Vipers actually gave me the idea. While he won’t come at the Leone Estate directly, especially not while it’s crawling with Leone and Marchetti personnel on our wedding day, he does have allies who aren’t nearly as cautious, especially when said allies feel threatened.”
“Bold, rash, fans of shows of force and violence,” she mused. “You’re talking about the Lone Gunners Motorcycle Club?”
“That’s right.”
“No fucking way,” I burst out with, before I could stop myself. “Before they gave their allegiance to Carlo Benzino, the Marchetti Syndicate was looking to strike up an alliance, and that’s how Milo ended up getting stabbed with a fucking beer bottle. Things went to hell in their clubhouse bar, a brutal fight broke out, and that jagged scar over his ribs tells the rest. Those fuckers are dangerous beyond belief.”
“What?” Cat exclaimed. “How did it end like that?” She looked at Nico. “You’re known for your cool and calm diplomacy when it comes to those sorts of negotiations.”
“As far as the Marchetti Syndicate is aware, it was a question of money, them being greedy and also showing major disrespect. But really, the story is a little different.” He shook his head at Milo. “They were having one of their pussy parties when we arrived and while I was conversing with the President, Milo noticed three of the members trying to… force themselves on one of the attendees. It triggered him and when they wouldn’t back up, all hell broke loose.”
I stilled at the triggered him part.
His gaze collided with mine.
And right then I knew.
It had been because of me.
He’d never told me that before. I hadn’t even heard half of this story.
“You didn’t tell him?” Nico asked him, seeing the exchange between us.
“I didn’t see the need.”
“For someone who’s not fond of secrets—”
“It wasn’t a secret. It just wasn’t worth upsetting him.” He looked at me. “It was really close to what went down with your father. I wasn’t… settled with that at the time. I am now, as you saw for yourself when we walked into that Leone ranch where they were keeping those hostages for similar purposes, and I wasn’t… triggered, as Nico referred to it.”
I saw Cat looking between us, trying to figure things out.
It was the last thing I wanted to discuss, or for her to hear about. The fact she looked surprised meant I was fortunate that it was actually one of the few things she didn’t have intel on. I wanted it like that, somebody close to me not knowing about that shameful part of my life.
“Can we… let’s just move on. If you’re really intent on using these motherfuckers, let’s hear the plan,” I pushed.
“Agreed,” Cat said, rubbing my arm in a really comforting way that sent a wave of warmth through me and helped me to pull from the dark place my mind was threatening to head to.
I smiled at her, then sucked in a breath and settled in as Nico laid out his idea.
“The Red Vipers were punished for doing Carlo’s bidding, coming at us. We’re going to mind-fuck with the Lone Gunners to make them believe that the same is slated to happen to them, that a combined Marchetti-Leone attack is coming their way to wipe them off the board in order to ensure the Benzinos are down a formidable ally, to weaken them and put them in an even worse position than they already are now in with the newly reworked alliance between the two families excluding them.”
“Manipulating them to attack the wedding.”
“The reception. If the wedding doesn’t happen and is interrupted, we’ll be forced to go through it all again, something I know you don’t want.”
“It’s fucking dangerous,” I pointed out.
“Exactly what’s needed in this particular case. It will create chaos, thin the herd for us with both the Leones and the Marchetti Syndicate with everyone gathered in one place, it could even take out some of their business associates in the process, weakening their connections, and it will also eliminate many of those shithead motorcycle members. All wins for us and our goals.”
“What about the collateral damage?” Cat asked.
“I got the guest list while you were at the Business Forum last night. There will be no children or significant others. Every person there is involved in Marchetti or Leone business directly,” Nico told her. “Even the priest is a real bastard who works for your father and siphons money from a kids’ charity for him.”
“So, you’re saying every single person there deserves to take a bullet?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Don’t you agree?”
“Yes,” she hissed, that dangerous look in her eyes that was eerily similar to Nico’s flaring to life. “We need to be ruthless in order to do this. There’s no other way.”
Nico full-on grinned. “Precisely .”
“Err, you know that I’m on the guest list, right?” I pointed out. “Do I deserve to catch a bullet, too?”
“That’s different,” Nico assured me. “You’re with us on this. You’re trapped in Marchetti business.” He grimaced. “Because of me.”
“It’s not because of you. I make my own choices, N. But what if there are others there in my position?”
“There aren’t. I’ve already reviewed every one of the three hundred guests. You’re there as my best man, making you the only exception and not one of the others there who are all integral to this new two-family-only alliance.”
“Me as your best man? Why not Milo?” It was the first I was hearing of it.
“When all hell rains down from the Lone Gunners MC, Milo and I will need to look like we’re defending the families. I need you to back up Caterina, get her to safety. In the chaos, you’ll accidentally violate protocol and secure her in my mansion.”
“So there’s no way, even with the Leone Estate no longer considered safe, that they’ll try to keep her there,” I realized aloud.
“Exactly.” He told Cat, “I know you can handle yourself unbelievably well, but as you know, we can’t expose that fact. Not yet.”
“You’re our secret weapon,” Milo said.
I leaned back against the couch and mused aloud, “Mmm, I can’t wait until she gets to unleash in all her glory.” I winked at her. “You know, in a very different way than how you did last night. That was a fucking treat, by the way.”
She chuckled. “Understatement.”
“Yeah?” I pressed. None of us had even brought up what had gone down last night.
“Definitely.”
Nico shifted his weight. “All right, let’s keep that locked down for now. I need to concentrate.”
I laughed. “Never seen you so affected before by a little sex talk.”
His eyes burned into hers. “It’s different now.”
“Yeah, it is,” Milo uttered, staring at her intensely, those teddy bear eyes out in full force again.
I smiled to myself. This was definitely a positive development, but it sure was going to take some time to get used to.
“So, depending on how the wedding reception shitshow lands will determine our strategy going forward. I’ve laid out several to account for every eventuality. Suffice to say, part of it will need to be luring some of my soldiers to our side. That can’t be attempted until we’re certain their faith in the Marchetti Syndicate has waned, or it will expose what we’re doing.”
“Resulting in all of us being tortured and killed brutally,” I said.
“Sounds about right,” Milo grunted.
“What people project and what’s real are often two very different things, especially in our world,” Cat said. “I can keep watch over your soldiers, look for anything that signifies them planning to exit, to run, building up nest eggs to do so, monitor their communications, everything.”
“Perfect,” Nico said.
“Now, we can’t simply take out the Bosses—and Underbosses—and be done with it. Especially with this new close-knit alliance in effect. There are always those beneath ready to move up and take control. We need to destabilize first, then move while they’re vulnerable, to rot the families all the way down to the fucking roots.”
“The human trafficking ranch takedown combined with what’s going to happen at the wedding reception are a good step toward that destabilization,” Cat said. “What about the military-grade weapons deal that Marco Marchetti is involved in? The intel you gave me, Nico, didn’t have much on it at all. I was expecting a lot more, given the severity of what would occur if the deal went through.”
“Due to the severity, it’s been like pulling teeth to get the intel.”
My gut twisted at his response.
I’d thought he was going to tell her the truth where that was concerned, to use this strategizing discussion to actually do it.
But he’d gone a whole other way.
I looked at Milo and saw his jaw clenching, not liking it either.
The thing was, neither of us could call him on it. Nico always had his reasons. He wasn’t telling her for a specific purpose and as much as we clearly didn’t like it with us growing close to Cat now, it could be for her wellbeing, to protect her. She was already in enough danger as it was because of her father and Angelo and doing this with us. She certainly didn’t need more.
But he’d better fucking explain exactly why he’d gone this route ASAP.
“Fine,” Cat said, frustrated, but getting it and seemingly buying what he’d just told her. Hmm. “Well, we have a lot more to go on now that we’ve pooled our intel. I’ve identified several key weak spots as well as resources we can draw on as we go along. We just need to determine the optimal time to deploy said resources and coordinate a systematic and inconspicuous set of assaults.”
“We also need to tell her about Reincourt Construction,” I spoke.
Nico stilled.
Milo shook his head at my brazen way of suddenly revealing something so secretive between us.
“She gave me Brimbank Waterfront. One of her secrets,” I explained.
“Brimbank?” Nico asked, even as he glared at me.
“It’s a long story. We’ll fill you in.”
“All right,” he muttered. “Reincourt is on the table.” He smiled out at Cat. “We’ll give you the lowdown.”
“I don’t know what it is, but I’m beyond curious now.”
Nico settled in, pulling his phone out. “Then, let’s get started.”
Here goes nothing.