22
Destiny
By the time the staff of La Casa d’Italia arrived at Sky it was already past midnight.
Jerome was sitting in his office with Paul.
They were going over the latest information his head of security had managed to gather from his various sources regarding their continuing problem of drug runners dealing in the club.
“It seems the runners we threw out last week are part of large network, the head being a rather unsavoury but highly elusive character who calls himself Angel.”
Jerome huffed, “Angel?”
“Yeah, a charming alias. He probably has some fascination with death or the afterlife… whatever, he seems like a dangerous, delusional fucker. That aside though, his set up is extremely organised. My friends down at the drug squad are finding it hard to track him down. They’re not even sure what he looks like or where he operates from.
” Paul opened up a file he was carrying.
“The only pictures I have are of a few chief dealers and some of their runners.” He pulled out a wad of around eight photographs.
“I’ve made copies and all the security are on alert for any of these.
Of course there may be more, in fact I imagine there are a hell of a lot more but this is all I could get.
If his lieutenants are clean skins it’s hard to track them. ”
“Lieutenants? Clean Skins?”
“Lieutenants are the next in command. Clean skins are people with no police records or convictions,” explained Paul.
Jerome nodded thankful of Paul’s continuing ties to the law enforcement operatives around the country.
He tended to slip into his police trained terminology when he was discussing security of the club.
Paul continued, “Apparently there’s a huge undercover operation trying to track him down, so my friends down in the drug squad were a little evasive.”
Jerome looked at each photo carefully and was surprised to see that most of them didn’t look like your run of the mill dealer. There were a couple of women too and all of them were well dressed. They looked professional and could easily be accountants, insurance broker’s, bankers even.
Jerome scowled and leaned back in his chair. “Understandable I suppose, but it makes it harder for us. Is this Angel mixed up in any other kind of business?”
Paul knew exactly what Jerome was worried about. He had a family and a restaurant where his mother lived. He knew Ferretti House was safe but his home and the restaurant could be targeted.
Paul nodded. “The usual businesses that seem to go hand in hand with these kinds of characters.”
“Like?”
Paul shifted on his feet. “A bit of arms dealing and illegal gambling.”
Jerome let out a deep breath and pulled at his lower lip. He had a feeling Paul was being guarded about the information. He was going to have to up his security. If they rubbed this Angel up the wrong way he’d come after them one way or another.
“I’ll up the security at La Casa and your house.”
Jerome nodded. After working together with Paul for the past four years he was thankful he didn’t need to explain himself.
“I don’t want to antagonise anyone Paul but I won’t have drugs in the club. Politely get them out without fuss, and no violence.”
“Sure, boss.”
Jerome stood up from his chair and picked up the photos, then turned around and attached each one onto his notice board behind his desk.
“DANI YOU REALLY HAVE some amazing outfits!” Carmen stood back a little to appraise her. Dani along with Rosa, Kuch and Nicole had just joined the rest of the staff at their usual table at Sky.
“Thanks. Eighty percent of my wardrobe is only nightclub appropriate.” Dani shrugged and dropped her eyes to her purple silk jumpsuit. She’d paired it with pewter pumps and her hair was put in a messy up do.
“You’re lucky, mine are all kitchen appropriate!” she snorted.
By one thirty Dani was ready to cool off on the veranda. She joined Franco, Rico, Augustino and Richard while they smoked by one of the heaters.
“So glad we’ve got tomorrow off,” said Rico, stubbing out his cigarette.
“What do you do on your days off?” asked Dani addressing all of them.
They all answered in unison, “Sleep!”
Dani chuckled. “Isn’t that a bit of a waste?”
“That depends on who you’re sleeping with,” Franco answered, lifting his eyebrows lewdly, causing Rico to laugh loudly.
“You’re terrible.” Dani shook her head.
Their attention was drawn to the sudden rise in the volume of music, caused by the door opening next to them. Jerome strode through.
“Hey boss!” Rico called him over. Jerome stepped to where they were all standing and shook everyone’s hand.
Dani watched closely at their interaction.
It was clear that they genuinely liked Jerome.
Dani noted that all the staff did. He had their total respect but still managed to have a high degree of familiarity with them.
Granted they were related in some way or another but at La Casa, while everyone worked, they were always professional.
Jerome finally turned towards Dani and smiled softly at her, offering his hand for her to shake. “I hope these lot here aren’t leading you astray.” His blue eyes narrowed at her.
“Astray?” Dani questioned confused by his comment and giddy from his firm grip on her hand.
“Smoking?” he cocked his head to the side, his warm hand still holding hers. Dani reluctantly pulled hers away and grinned.
“I’m not that easily lead.”
“No?” Jerome allowed his lips to curl at her comment.
Dani shook her head slightly. “When I set my mind to something I always follow through.”
“So you possess a certain amount of… willpower, self-control?” his hand circled in the air in front of him as he thought of the correct words, the gesture betraying his ingrained Mediterranean traits.
Dani swallowed all the while he continued to focus on her.
Willpower? Her? Self-control? She almost snorted out loud.
He was lucky he was married and that they were surrounded by people.
He looked good enough to eat, standing two feet away from her in a dark blue pinstriped suit.
The open necked shirt he’d paired it with in the same tone, stretched over his broad hard chest. His unruly hair immaculately tamed and the trimmed stubble he wore so well, gave him a rougher edge over his chiselled jaw line.
Dani continued to gape at him, elated that she’d not only seen him but that he had taken time out to talk to her.
Jerome pulled out his cigarette packet from the inside pocket of his jacket and flicked open the lid.
The rest of the party were talking amongst themselves oblivious of the sudden highly charged atmosphere between the two of them.
Dani felt once again their conversation was about something entirely different.
“Yes, I think so,” Dani answered, trying hard not to let her voice sound too breathy.
Jerome pulled out a cigarette, tapped it twice on the packet and put it to his lips, then after a beat lit it.
He took a deep drag, then blew out a steady stream of smoke.
His lips twitched stifling his smile and he continued to regard her.
Dani seeing his amusement continued, determined to keep their conversation less intense.
“However, you have seen me stuffing my face with desserts, so maybe I’ve just substituted one bad habit with another.
” She shrugged and looked at him through her lashes.
Shit, what was she doing? She was flirting with him…
again. Jeez, she really needed to stop. What did he say about self-control? He was married for Christ’s sake.
“Ah yes.” He nodded and a smile curved smoothly over his sculptured mouth.
“You certainly enjoy the sweeter things in life. I’d hate to come between you and those.
” He arched his eyebrow. “Maybe you need to substitute your sweet cravings with something else? Or do you think you’re able to assert some level of self-control there too?
“ his eyes darkened as he continued to look at her.
Dani’s eyes widened at his comment. Knowing she’d pushed the boundaries and he was following her lead. She straightened, suddenly needing to steer the conversation into a less volatile path, and answered, “Like I said, I’m quite determined when I need to be.”
“That’s good to know.” His tongue darted over his top lip and he nodded slowly. His eyes narrowed a little from the quick straight answer, grounding him in an instant.
“Well, I’d better get back inside. I think I’ve cooled down enough.” Who was she kidding? She was on fire! Her body temperature had gone through the roof, regardless of the frosty December air. Dani stepped to the side so she could catch Franco’s eye and indicated she was going back in.
Jerome furrowed his brow, then turned his attention back to the four men behind him.
He’d crossed that line again, that dangerous line that kept him just far enough away but at the same time was intoxicating, addictive even, pulling him towards it.
This time it had been Dani that had backed off.
It worried him that he’d jeopardised the level of familiarity they’d reached last night by his careless flirting.
“So what are you all up to tomorrow?” he asked the four men and was instantly rewarded with the same answer Dani had gotten, followed by laughter.
Dani opened up the door leading into the club and turned around to look at the five of them joking around. Jerome lifted his eyes and his intense gaze caught Dani’s, causing her to falter before she stepped into the heat of the club.