Chapter 31 #2
“That entirely depends on how this shit show goes,” I say, pointing a painted fingernail at him. “Don’t be trying to take my wine from me if I need it to drown my sorrows.”
“Don’t be so foolish to think I’m going to let you drink enough to drown your sorrows.”
“Ha. You know me so well. Let’s just get this over with,” I say as I see the sign come into view.
He just shakes his head at me, bemused, before hopping out and offering me his hand so I can exit on the same side and not into oncoming traffic.
Honestly, given all that’s happened in the last hour, it would be preferable.
I follow him inside, and he directs me off to the side towards a dark corridor leading us away from the main bar, down some sort of service entry.
“Where are we going?”
“The secret members-only room. That’s where AJ will be.”
“Oh. Can I still get my wine delivered down there?”
“I’m sure it can be arranged,” he quips as we turn down another corridor, then a set of stairs until we’re in front of a black door. He buzzes the button with the bell icon on the intercom.
“Speak,” comes a voice. “Name and who you’re here to see.”
I jump in before Avery can, needing to channel my nervous energy.
“Tell my cousin dearest his worst nightmare has arrived.”
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” comes AJ’s voice through the intercom.
Then the door buzzes and we’re let into a spacious room, dimly lit with lamps dotted along the walls—sconces.
There are plush, red velvet lounges along the back wall, and after a day on my feet, they’re calling my name, but instead I head towards where my cousin is sitting at the head of a long, black marble dining table with gold accents.
“Well, isn’t this fit for a Godfather,” I mock.
He glares at me in exasperation, then gestures for me to sit.
“That big velvet lounge looks far more my style,” I say, thumbing towards it.
“Sit,” AJ demands. “We don’t have much time before our guest arrives.”
I’m on high alert after what happened with Alessandro just now. Anxiety creeps up my throat as a new thought occurs.
“Is this a trap? Are you going to force me back to Italy with that scumbag? Or maybe let him kidnap me?” I start backing away towards the door.
“Chiara, please just fucking sit down and I will explain everything. No one is here to force you to do anything or kidnap you,” he says, exasperated. “How do you come up with this shit?”
“Please don’t pretend there is nothing plausible about that suggestion, because we both know it could happen at any time.”
“I don’t have time for this shit. Listen, in five minutes Julian Rizzo is going to walk through that door.”
“Does Marco know about this?” questions Avery.
“You know, I thought my cousin might be on a leave of absence, seeing as he just got shot.”
“Yes, but we need to be looped in on matters like this. Chiara’s safety is our priority.”
“Appreciate the lesson in safety protocol, Avery, but this is family business.”
I swing my eyes to Avery. His jaw is tense, and the blue of his eyes has darkened to a stormy gray.
“And we all know how quickly the family business can go south,” Avery retorts. “So keep talking so I am somewhat prepared if that happens.”
“Despite what you might think, I would not put my cousin’s life in danger. In fact, I’m trying to do everything I can to ensure it’s not. So please let me fucking speak.”
I wring my hands but sit as instructed. Avery follows suit.
“Now that we know Marco is blood, he’s protected by the family code. If we’ve been double-crossed, it’s an eye for an eye,” explains AJ. “My father has told the Rizzos that until we find out who shot Marco, any further deals between our families are off the table, including…the wedding,” he adds.
“Oh! How fucking thoughtful of him. Dangling my betrothal like a carrot to secure another deal. I am definitely going to need a bottle of wine for this.” I click my fingers around.
“Can someone please get me a bottle of Chianti?” I call out into the cavernous space.
No one appears, and AJ just glares at me.
“AJ, the least you can do if I have to listen to this madness is get me a bottle of fucking wine.” Then I pin him with a knowing glare and add lowly, “Need I remind you, there’s a lot at stake here.”
“I fucking know,” he hisses, genuine panic flaring in his emerald irises.
“I’m on your side, Chi. You just need to fucking listen and work with me here.
Xander!” he shouts to his second in charge, who appears from the shadows.
He’s never far, but it doesn’t mean there are some things he isn’t in the dark about.
“Hey, Chi Chi,” Xander says, the lilt of his slight Irish twang hanging to the nickname.
“Hey, Xander. How’s your sister?” I say, tossing a quick arch of my eyebrow in AJ’s direction. He doesn’t flinch, but I don’t miss the way he white knuckles the edge of the table.
“Can you please bring out a bottle of the ’95 Chianti from the cellar and three wine glasses,” AJ shouts.
“Got it.”
When Xander is out of earshot, AJ pins me with a stare. “Please, Chiara,” he growls. “Do not fucking goad me; just work with me, yeah?”
I nod and wave my hand at him in frustration, indicating for him to go on. “Work it, baby.”
“You really are a pain in my ass, you know that,” he huffs.
“Apparently, Julian Rizzo said they have intel about who the shooter might be and who may have ordered the hit on Marco. The Rizzos once boasted about their connection to Arty Bartholomew Jones and the lucrative business they had with him, but we know that Arty is on the outs with them right now, so if he’s got anything to do with the shooting at the Law Gala, they’ll give him up.
Obviously, we want—no, need—this information.
Except he said he’ll only part with it if he gets proof of… ” He hesitates. “His promised one.”
“I am not fucking anything to him, let alone his promised one,” I spit. “Besides, doesn’t the world believe I’ve shacked up with Law Daddy?”
“Yes, but we’ve told the Rizzos it’s just for show, to get intel inside the law world.”
“Right, so I am just your regular Mafia double agent moonlighting as a photographer?”
Xander appears then, wine in hand, glasses in the other.
“Perfect timing,” I quip as I take the glass he offers me and hold it out to let him fill it. “Don’t stop there, sweetheart. This shit about to go down right here requires a glass and a half.”
“No one’s gonna tame your wild, are they, girlie?” he says with a snicker as he keeps pouring until I’m fully topped up. “Not even you, brother,” he says as he hands the other glass to AJ.
“Please don’t encourage her, Xand.”
I can feel both Avery and AJ boring a hole into either side of my head as I take a big gulp of wine. The intercom chimes, and a male voice reverberates through the intercom. Julian Rizzo.
I call after the hulk of a man returning to the shadows, “I hope there’s plenty more where that came from, ’cause it seems the party is just about to get started.”