Chapter 6
chapter Six
Catch Up
Nico
It only took Tiff and I four days to come up with a good list of candidates for a nanny.
Honestly, I already knew who I was hiring.
The woman came with a long list of qualifications, and she was recommended by a good friend of mine.
But I was willing to entertain Tiffany with this whole search.
She wanted to feel like she had an input.
And since I was still in the doghouse, I had to pick my battles.
I’ve been bending a lot for her lately. I’m man enough to admit I have some groveling to do to get back in my wife’s good graces. However, there is only so much bending I’m willing to do.
“Are you listening?” Mason’s deep voice pulls me out of my thoughts.
We were having a meeting at one of Salv’s restaurants. We’re in a private dining room. Only the four of us, along with Ghost and Grant, are here.
“Of course. And as I told you, the guns haven’t been located. I’ve already spoken to my logistics coordinator overseas. He has video proof of the shipping container being loaded onto the cargo ship. They didn’t go missing on his end.”
Although we all independently run our own side of the Brotherhood Familia, Mason would be considered the Boss or the Don.
Many people would look at what my brothers and I do and consider the Brotherhood Familia a mob or gang.
And I wouldn’t exactly dispute that claim.
However, we wouldn’t consider ourselves either.
We are just a group of guys joined by something thicker and stronger than blood.
We are who we are because we needed to survive.
Yes, we do illegal things, and all of us have a substantial number of bodies under our belts, but I don’t think that makes us a gang.
Working underneath us is a network of thousands of men and women.
We have our hands in the pockets of police, politicians, celebrities, and most importantly, the Royal Crown.
None of that makes us a mafia. I like to think of us as very dedicated entrepreneurs.
“Have Maseo check that footage, see if he can track the cargo.”
I lift my whiskey to my lips. “Already on it. I should hear back from him later today.”
“Do you have enough inventory for the seven families?” Kaz asks.
One of my jobs as the arms dealer of the Familia was supplying guns to our many allies. I have runners that handle most of my work, but I usually deal in person with the seven mafia families in the US.
“I have enough supplies to tide them over. It won’t be their usual amount.”
Working with the mafia families was always a hassle. Most of them couldn’t stand my ass, and the feeling was fucking mutual.
Mase nods. “They’ll still bitch about it, but it’s all you can do. Everything still on course with the North River opening?”
A smile spreads over my face. Admittedly, when I fired my last designer so that I could get in close with Tiffany, I thought it was crazy. Even I know when I’m doing something extreme. But damn was it not a brilliant plan.
My baby truly is an incredible designer.
The way she designed Basille North River is better than I could’ve imagined.
In my opinion, it is one of the better hotels I own.
She did so well, I nominated her for a prestigious local design award.
I haven’t told her yet that she is now one of the finalists.
“Yes, we will have our grand opening in two weeks.”
“How soon do you think we can start funneling money through it?” Salv asks.
“Once we get it up and running, I’ll start cleaning some of the money through there in about a month. It will take about a year to be fully up and functioning like the others.”
Mason takes a sip of his scotch. “Speaking of hotels, Robert Hart reached out to me a few days ago. He was hoping I could talk you into reconsidering his offer on the resorts.”
“The Hart Golf Resorts?” Salv turns to me. “Shouldn’t you be on that?”
Shaking my head, I place my glass back down on the table. “He doesn’t want to compromise. Plus, William Ingrams says he’s closing on that deal.”
Mason leans forward. “When the hell did William Ingram get the type of money Hart wants?”
I asked myself the same question.
“Says its good investments and savings.”
“Sounds to me like he finally got in bed with the right person,” Kazimir says.
There is always money to be made out here.
You just have to find the right source. Sometimes that money comes with high stakes.
We got most of our wealth dealing with those high stakes.
And sometimes, to get the type of money you want, you have to offer your soul.
As of right now, my soul is still intact.
I shrug. “He can have it. I still don’t think the properties are worth the amount, not without Hart’s name attached to them.”
Although we all have our hands in multiple businesses, the hospitality business is my specialty. I knew my brothers trusted me enough to take my word on this.
Salv places his arm over the back of his chair. “Just a heads up, I may have to travel to Chechnya soon.”
“Right now?” I ask, not liking the idea of him being out of the country with the Horseman on the loose.
He shrugs. “My last conversation with Igor was a little off. I feel like he’s moving differently. I’m going to fly out there and put my eyes on things. The Shelkovskoy Bratva is one of my biggest allies. I need to make sure shit is running smoothly.”
Salvito had one of the hardest jobs in the brotherhood.
Not only was he over the drug trade we profited from, but he was the liaison between all the different groups we dealt with.
The Bratva, the Mob, the Cartel, the triads, Yakuza’s, along with some of the most notorious motorcycle and street gangs.
He dealt with hotheaded, powerful men regularly.
Don’t get me wrong, while we all dealt with representatives from the aforementioned groups, Salv handled most of the hands-on business with our allies.
“Off how?” Mason asks, placing the foot that was once across his knee on the floor.
“Off like he’s questioning my motives.”
Mason stares blankly at Salv for a moment before speaking. “You have the head of one of the most violent Bratvas in Russia questioning your motives, and I’m just now hearing about this?”
This was about to go left. We loved Mase and respected him as the head of this Familia, but at times he’d forget that we are all grown adults. He still saw us as the little boys who looked to him for guidance. We didn’t need him to hold our hands anymore.
“I’m telling you now out of respect. But I can take care of this, Mase.”
I glance at Kaz, who is staring between the brothers. Finally, Mase nods, sitting back in his chair again. “I’m sending you with more security. And before you say anything, it’s not an option. Kaz can’t watch your back and his.”
Salv nods and tosses his hands up. We all know that when Mason gets like this, it’s best not to argue.
“What about you?” Mason turns his attention to Kazimir. “Have you heard from Savannah?”
Kaz swallows, causing his Adam’s apple to bob. “No. But I talked to her roommate. Savannah has a new boyfriend. Some rich asshole who’s buying her shit and taking her on trips. I’m flying out there tomorrow.”
“Wait.” Salv sits forward with a grin on his face. “You didn’t tell me you communicated with the roommate. I might need to clear my schedule and go with you. I could use some of that thickness in my life.”
“You’re staying your ass here,” Kaz snaps.
Mason and I look at each other before turning back to an angry Kazimir. It takes a lot to get a reaction out of Kaz, especially one directed at his best friend. This tells me something is going on. And if I’m reading the laugh on Salv’s face correctly, I know exactly what it is.
I smirk as I take a sip of my whiskey. “Is the roommate hot?”
Kaz swings those pale eyes over to me, and the frown on his face deepens. Clearly, he has a thing for the roommate.
“Hell yeah.” Salv gains Kaz’s wrath again. “About five foot five. Maybe 200 pounds, thick ass thighs, an ass like a work of art and titties that would smother you. Skin the color of coffee with cream and golden eyes.”
“Damn,” I say jokingly. “She sounds like a stunner. Is she single?”
Again, Kaz turns his attention to me. He knows damn well I’m not interested. Although the woman sounds absolutely gorgeous, I’m head over heels for the hellion I married. But I wasn’t asking for myself, I’m asking to fuck with Kaz.
“Yep,” Salv chuckles. “I think she has a crush on this dorky-ass tall guy, but he’s too pussy to make a move.”
We could damn near hear Kaz’s teeth grinding from across the table.
Although before I got married, none of us really had relationships.
Sure, we had plenty of women in our beds, but none of us were ever in serious relationships.
Kaz’s love life was even sparser than ours.
If it weren’t for his many nights spent in brothels paying for pussy, I’d think he was gay.
“Sounds like she won’t be single for long.” Mason hides his smirk behind his glass.
Kazimir grits his teeth as he glares between the three of us.
Salv grins. “Don’t worry, I’m going to put her out of her misery.”
“You will not fucking touch her,” Kaz snarls, slamming his hand down on the table, causing our dishes to rattle.
There is a pause of silence at the table. Then, like a domino effect, Salv, Mase, and I laugh. Despite being grown men with careers and empires under us, when we’re together, we can’t help but to act like those dumbass boys that were forced to room together.
“Stop being a bitch and make your move, Kaz,” Mason says. “Before someone comes in and takes your opportunity.”
Kaz shakes his head. “She doesn’t need someone like me.”
Salv places his hand on Kaz’s shoulder, but he shrugs it off.
“If you need help to get your girl, just let me know. You know how good I am with the ladies.”