Chapter 25 Bikers
chapter Twenty-five
Bikers
Nico
Yesterday was rough. I lost nearly half of my reservations from my hotels across the world after that last fiasco.
Somehow, the Horseman hacked into our computer system and shut down our Orlando resort. Maseo and his team spent hours getting that shit back online and securing it to make sure no information was leaked. They did a good job, but the damage was already done.
When Kaz told me to run every hotel on a different network, I thought he was crazy. It was more costly and time consuming, but I obeyed. Now, I’m glad I did. If I hadn’t, the Horseman could have tapped into every single one of my hotels. This shit was getting out of hand.
I stepped away from the chaos and panic for a bit to ease my mind. That’s how I ended up at my parents’ memorial. Tiffany and Noah showing up was a surprise, but I needed it. I needed to be reminded of what I had, what I fought for, and why no matter what, the Horseman would not win.
“Morning,” Rose says as I step into the kitchen.
Already she’s up and fixing Noah’s breakfast. My son is in his highchair eating perfectly sliced fruit.
I walk over to him and drop a kiss on his forehead. He smiles up at me with his two bottom teeth showing.
“How did she like it?” Rose asks with a knowing smile.
The day we got back from our vacation, I had a custom diamond tennis bracelet made for Tiffany. I wanted something to commemorate that trip. Despite why we went on the trip in the first place, that vacation brought us closer together.
The 7-inch emerald-cut diamond tennis bracelet is set in platinum. Every third diamond is replaced with a natural blue diamond. It came in yesterday, and I was so excited I had to show it to Rose who thought it was absolutely stunning.
“She hasn’t seen it yet. She’s just now waking up.”
The glass patio door to the dining room opens, and Evelyn walks in. She smiles at me when she spots me.
“Good morning, Niccolo.”
“Morning, Evelyn.” I go over to the coffee maker. Already my cup is brewed and ready for me. The coffee maker is set through my phone. I can start a cup before I get downstairs, and it will be ready by the time I make it to the kitchen.
“I was on the phone with my friend,” Evelyn goes on to say. “I told her how well you’ve been treating me. You know, taking me to a private island and flying me around on private jets. She is absolutely jealous, but happy for me. I told her I owe it all to you.”
After adding the cream and sugar to my coffee, I turn to face her, leaning my back against the counter. Rose cuts her eyes to me before going back to cutting up my son’s French toast.
“Actually,” I say, taking a sip of my hot brew. “You owe it all to your daughter. She’s the reason you’re here.”
Evelyn’s smile lifts higher. “You’re right. Where is my daughter?”
Right on time, Tiffany’s scream can be heard all the way in the kitchen. Rose chuckles, and I grin.
My wife’s bare feet slap against the tile floors as she runs down the hall. She stops at the entrance of the kitchen. Her hair is still in her pink bonnet; there are gold eye masks under her eyes, and she’s still wearing her pink robe.
Tiffany holds up her arm, the bracelet catches the light and nearly blinds us. The excited and happy look on her face has my lungs expanding to the fullest with a deep breath and a grin covering my face.
“You like it?” I smugly ask.
She runs over to me, wrapping her arms around my neck and plants kisses all over my face.
“Babe, I love it,” she shouts.
Rose laughs. “I told you she’d love it.”
Tiffany turns her back to me and faces Rose. “You knew about this?”
Rose nods as she hands Noah another cut-up French toast. My son cares nothing about the excitement of the grown-ups. He’s too concerned about the French toast sticks the chef makes for him.
“I saw it last night. The old fella has good taste.” She winks at me.
“Well, let me see it.” Evelyn demands.
Tiffany rushes over to her mother and damn near shoves her arm in the woman’s face. Evelyn grabs Tiffany’s arm, her eyes grow wide before she fixes her features.
“This is custom-made.” Evelyn flips her daughter’s wrist over, staring at the jewelry. “Ten carats?”
“Close. Twelve,” I say before taking a sip of my coffee. “You know your diamonds, I see.”
She blushes before letting Tiffany’s arm go. “And you know good jewelry, Niccolo.”
I make my way over to my wife. Wrapping my free arm around her waist, I pull her into me and place a kiss behind her ear.
“I have good taste when it comes to all things, Evelyn.”
Tiffany giggles when I suck her earlobe into my mouth. She spins around in my arms, causing me to spill a little coffee.
“Thank you.” She places another kiss on my lips. Her minty breath hits my nose. I can tell she brushed her teeth recently.
“Anything for you.” I grip her ass and bury my face in her neck, loving her vanilla and chocolate scent.
“Alright, you two,” Ms. Rose laughs. “Y'all can tear each other’s clothes off back in your bedroom. My chunky man does not want to witness it.”
Tiffany and I both turn to Ms. Rose and laugh.
“I’m going to finish getting dressed.” Tiffany turns and walks toward the door. She stops and looks over her shoulder. “Nico, maybe you can come show me that thing you were talking about?” She bites down on her bottom lip.
I place my cup on the counter.
“Coming, dear.”
The sound of Ms. Rose’s laughter follows behind us as we both rush for our bedroom like horny teens.
Most of my day was spent on PR. Trying to re-instate the safe and luxury image of Basille Hotel and Resorts.
Maseo went through all the security systems and the hotel’s networks to make sure no other cyber-attack could occur.
I hired extra security staff for each hotel to make sure that the perimeters are safe.
Yes, it cost me a couple million dollars, but it was well worth it.
After spending much of my day as Niccolo Basille, it was time to handle some Saint business.
I have a meeting with my US runners. After glancing at my watch, I see it’s almost midnight. I’d talked to Tiffany earlier and told her I’d be late getting home. I imagine she’s asleep now.
Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I stare down at the screensaver.
It’s an image I took while on the island.
Tiffany was wearing a yellow bathing suit.
She was sitting on the beach, her legs spread with Noah sitting between them.
They were digging in the sand. Noah had on a little sun hat and no shirt.
I smile as I take in the image. Everything I love captured in one photo.
The sound of car tires rolling over gravel makes me put my phone away.
“It’s go time,” Ghost announces from the front seat of the car. He climbs out and then comes around to let me out. I step out the back seat of the SUV.
Two black chargers pull up at the same time.
I walk around to the front of my SUV, Ghost on one side of me with Roc on the other.
Two more of my men are with us, their job is to collect the money.
I had more security scattered around out of sight.
Not because I didn’t trust these guys, but because a lot of money is being handled and you can never trust anybody when this type of money is involved.
Kingston Jackson steps out of the driver’s side of the all-black Hellcat. His second in command climbs out the driver's side of a second smoke-gray Hellcat. They are followed by three of their men, all carrying black duffels.
“Saint,” Kingston says, flashing me his platinum grills. “What it do?”
He reaches out a hand, and we dap each other up with a one-arm hug.
“Kingston, not much. How’re the twins?”
He chuckles. Kingston is about 6’3” two hundred and sixty pounds. He looked like he was meant to be on somebody’s football field and not the head of one of the largest and most deadly gangs on the west coast.
“Bad as hell. They started kindergarten this fall. Already they’ve been in trouble a few times.” He shakes his head.
I love hearing the stories of his twin daughters. From day one, those girls have been giving him hell. His second in command, Bishop, daps me up in greeting.
“Sup’ Saint.”
Bishop wasn’t much smaller than Kingston. Kingston had him by maybe an inch. Where Kingston was dark-skinned with a low cut, Bishop was lighter with long locs.
“You still enjoying married life?” Bishop asks with a grin. He had a mouth full of platinum too, but his were made to look like fangs.
“Hell yeah,” I say. “Still the best decision I ever made.”
Both men chuckle. They were both at my wedding. I didn’t just consider these guys my employees; they were friends.
“How was business?” I ask getting down to the real reason we were here.
“1.3 Million,” Kingston says, pointing to the duffle bags his guys are holding. “I need to double my usual order next month. Got a group out in Texas that wants to purchase from me.”
I nod my head. This was the meat of my profit. My US and overseas runners brought in billions yearly for me. Kingston’s men head to the back of my SUV to hand off the cash to my crew.
The rumble of motorcycles catches our attention.
Two bikes and a SUV pull up and stop. The Outlaw Brotherhood is run by Roman or Rome Brixx.
Rome was one of those easy-going guys. He wasn’t flashy with his money; you would never know he was bringing in millions of dollars a year.
He was a country boy at heart but knew how to handle business.
Rome takes off his helmet and places it on his bike. He walks over to me with his little brother Axel behind him.
“How’s it going, Kingston, Bishop?” Rome greets the others before shaking my hand. “Saint,” he says by way of greeting.
“What it do, Rome,” Kingston lifts his chin in greeting. “Axel, I thought you were coming to see me last month?”
Axel shakes his head. “Shit came up. But I’ll be out your way in a few months.”
Kingston nods. I shake Axel’s hand.
Rome’s guys step forward with their duffels.