Chapter 18 | Michael
Michael
Ientered the Gilded Cage, nodding to the men who were already present guarding the door. It was barely eleven a.m., but the club was half-full with nightshift workers who’d stopped by to have a few drinks and see some pretty ladies dance before heading home to sleep.
Trina was dancing on the main stage, and I gave her a wave as I walked back to the office.
She winked at me, her body gyrating against the pole, and I grinned.
She’d shown up at the club a year ago, strung out on heroine, with a baby glued to her hip.
Katia and I had helped her find an apartment and get clean.
Now, she was doing much better, and she was also a huge draw for the club.
Win-win for us both.
I entered Katia’s office and lowered into the seat in front of her desk.
“Well, hello to you too,” she said, glancing up from her laptop. “Not much of a greeting.”
“Sorry,” I said, rubbing my forehead. “My fucking head is pounding, and I just started a turf war, so I’m all out of pleasantries.”
“Eventful morning,” she muttered. She clicked the keypad, saving her progress, and closed the laptop before leaning back in her leather chair.
“I’m just finishing the profit and loss sheet for the month.
You know, we’d make a lot more profit if you didn’t insist on paying the dancers thirty dollars per hour.
Our patrons tip handsomely, and you could drop the hourly pay to minimum wage. ”
“I have enough money, and the dancers and bartenders work hard,” I said, waving a dismissive hand. “They earn it.”
“My gangster with a heart of gold,” she said, playfully biting her lip.
I scowled. “Say that again when I’m murdering Rossi loyalists.
” Sighing, I shook my head. “It’s going to be a rough few months.
I’m here to ask you to increase security at all of the clubs.
I’ll give you a list of the Rossi loyalists, and they’ll all be banned from each club.
I’m sending a message that remaining loyal to Rossi’s dirty business means becoming an outcast.”
“Okay. Do you want to vet the new security hires?”
“I’d like you to do the initial interviews and background checks, and then I’ll do a final vetting on the ones you narrow down.”
“Ten-four,” she said with a salute before her eyes narrowed. Leaning forward, she studied my left hand. “Are you...wearing a wedding ring?”
I splayed my fingers. “Yes.”
“Who the fuck did you marry?”
“Bianca Rossi.”
Katia’s eyes widened. “Holy shit. You really are starting a war.”
“Her loyalty will go a long way toward helping me absorb his empire.”
Her lips formed a sultry grin. “Yes, I’m sure it has nothing to do with the fact that you’re obsessed with her.”
I remained silent. Katia had been the only one who’d ever noticed my feelings for Bianca.
When she had accompanied me to functions where Bianca was present, Katia had always noticed how my eyes lingered a bit too long on Bianca, and the muscle that clenched in my jaw every time Victor touched her soft skin.
“Good for you,” Katia said softly. “Does she feel the same?”
“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging. “She came to me for protection, so I’ll protect her. It’s a good place to start.”
“I’m sure you gave her a big diamond. Those help too.”
My features drew together. “We just exchanged wedding rings. Shit. Should I get her an engagement ring?”
“Yes, Michael, you should get her an engagement ring. One with a big fucking diamond that says ‘I’ve been in love with you my whole damn life.’”
Laughing, I nodded. “Okay. I guess I’ll be adding a trip to the diamond district into today’s schedule.”
Katia rose and strode around the desk. Gripping my hand, she pulled me up and enveloped me in a warm hug. “I’m happy for you. Wretches like us don’t always get a happy ending. Maybe you’ll be the exception.”
Drawing back, I tucked a tendril of red hair behind her ear. “We’re not there yet. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”
“You’ll get there.”
I stared into her pale green eyes, thankful for the shared history between us. Katia was one of the only people in the world I trusted completely.
“You deserve to be happy too, Katia.”
She playfully rolled her eyes and stepped back, sliding her hands in her pockets. “Who’s going to love a washed-up stripper who works for the mafia? I’m forty, Michael. That ship has sailed.”
“You’re more gorgeous than any twenty-five-year-old I’ve ever met,” I said genuinely. “But you’d have to get out of this office and actually meet someone to have a relationship.”
“I like being a workaholic,” she said, waving her hand. “It gives me purpose. Leave me alone and let me be an old cat lady.”
Chuckling, I kissed her cheek. “You’ll never be that, darling.” Striding to the door, I pulled it open and said over my shoulder. “Can you have the new security candidates vetted and ready for me to interview on Friday?”
“Sure. I’m on it.”
“Thanks. I’ll call you this afternoon to check in. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious and report everything to me.”
I exited the club and returned to my SUV. “I need to go to the diamond district,” I said, noticing Enzo and Rocco both lift their eyebrows as they sat across from me.
“I need a ring for my wife,” I explained.
“Yes, sir,” they responded in unison.
Gazing out the window, we rode in silence to Manhattan.