17. Queen of New York
17
QUEEN OF NEW YORK
GIOVANNA
When we arrived at the airport, I expected to board Ian’s private plane. However, to my surprise, it was my father’s plane that was waiting for us. His former pilot and two bodyguards, Flash and Frost, were standing at the bottom of the exterior steps. They greeted me with a bit more formality than before, perhaps out of respect for my recent loss. I was still grieving in my own way.
Settling into a seat across from Luke, I placed my hands neatly on my lap. He had his elbow resting on the arm of the seat, with his hand covering his mouth as he stared out the window in silence.
“Why won’t you tell me why you guys were being weird at the warehouse?” I asked him, breaking the silence.
“I told you to please stop asking,” he replied, still maintaining his focus outside of the plane.
“And why couldn’t Ian and Ty come?” I pressed further.
Lowering his arm, he tilted his head at me. “They’re coming tonight.”
“Tonight?” I darted my eyes back and forth. “Um, we’re staying overnight?”
He nodded once, then returned his attention outside.
Leaning forward over the table between us, I hissed, “Luke, I know you’re my boss and everything, but please. For fuck’s sake, what’s going on?”
Jaw clenched, he bent toward me with wide eyes. “Gia, please. It isn’t my place to talk to you about it.”
I leaned back and tapped my fingernails impatiently on the table before giving up. He wasn’t budging, and my frustration was rising. Finally, he relaxed his posture and looked at me again. With hope in my eyes, I waited for him to elaborate on the sudden trip with the men who used to protect my father until they couldn’t.
Squinting, I glanced over my shoulder at them before standing and moving to sit next to Luke. “Can I ask a question?” I whispered.
“What’s up?”
“Where were my dad’s security the night he was killed?”
“They were outside the club, waiting for him in the car.”
“Oh.” I nervously chewed on my bottom lip and turned toward him, bringing my knee up onto the cream-colored leather seat. “Are you upset with me?”
His face twisted. “What? No.”
“Then something happened, and you don’t want to tell me.”
“To be honest,” he finally admitted, “I’m not entirely sure what we’re walking into. All I know is that they,” he motioned to the front of the plane, “showed up in Boston demanding that you come to New York with them. Ian stood his ground until they told him what was going on, and then he agreed to let you leave as long as I came with you. Tyler, Declan, and him are coming tonight because, with everything happening, we want to make sure you stay safe. Especially now.”
“What do you mean by, especially now?”
“Do you have any concealer with you?” His forehead creased ever so slightly.
“Yeah, why?”
“I suggest covering up those marks your boyfriend left on your neck before we arrive.”
I ran my fingertips over the hickeys.
An hour and twenty minutes passed before we landed in New York City. Flash and Frost remained quiet for the most part as we made our way to my childhood house in Old Brookville. But house was really an inadequate term for what it truly was: a grand masterpiece. My grandfather had a love for Versailles, so he hired a specialized contractor to construct a limestone mansion in the style of French Baroque architecture. The enormous estate spanned over twenty-two thousand square feet and sat on eight acres of lush land. It was surrounded by a towering twenty-foot brick wall equipped with security cameras and patrolling armed guards. At the front entrance, there was even a guard house with a thorough check-in process.
Growing up, sleepovers and birthday parties were a challenge for my brothers and me. Our father was very protective of our family’s privacy and didn’t like it when other parents snooped around. But despite that, I have fond memories of swimming in the pool and racing around on go-karts with my brothers on our property.
As our car approached the gate, one of the guards, who had known me since I was eight, stepped out of the small guardhouse and waved us through. The windows were tinted too dark for him to see inside, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was watching us intently as we passed by.
The driveway, made of white stone, wound its way through trees and shrubs for a quarter mile until it opened up into a clearing, revealing the main grounds and house. There were several vehicles parked along the driveway, some familiar to me while others I didn’t recognize. I glanced over at Luke, who was running a finger back and forth over his lips as he watched out the window.
He must’ve sensed me staring or saw my reflection in the glass because he turned to me. “It’s okay,” he muttered, “I got your back.”
“Why would you need to have my back at my own family’s house?” I hissed.
The car came to a gradual stop. The butler, Horace, stood with his hands clasped behind his back near the grand Roman fountain. My father’s Consigliere, Angelo “Alchemy” Bravetti, stood next to him. A surge of unease washed over me as I realized something was terribly wrong. I wasn’t panicking, but I was now fully alert and ready for any threat.
My first thought was of my mother. Then, my mind filled with worry for Carmine, Enzo, or Luca. Something must have happened to one of them. Horace opened the door and extended his hand, but I brushed past him and stepped out of the car.
“Good afternoon, Miss Aggio,” Horace greeted me as Luke emerged from the car and positioned himself closely at my side.
Angelo bowed his head. “Thank you for coming on such short notice.”
“I wasn’t given much of a choice,” I snorted but he didn’t find my humor to be funny whatsoever.
Luke placed his hands on his hips. “Damn, Gia, I didn’t pay enough attention to the news to know this place was this big. Your father left you some serious money, didn’t he?”
The thought hadn’t occurred to me in a while. It was my house, not my father’s any longer. I just hadn’t taken the time to sell any of the assets left to me. I’d mentioned selling the mansion briefly right after it happened. “Fuck,” I exhaled, “of course, that’s why they wanted me here. I told them I was going to sell this place.”
“Gia, there’s something I need—” Luke murmured, but was quickly interrupted by Angelo.
“We’ll speak more in private,” he stated assertively as he led us through one of the side doors, through the home, into my father’s office.
I hadn’t been in the room since before he passed. It was overwhelming, to say the least. And heartbreaking. A rush of emotions threatened to overwhelm me, but I refused to let a single tear fall. It was the life he’d chosen, it was the life I’d been raised in, and would eventually die in as well.
Frankie “Stabby Sam” Carbone, my father’s Underboss, also bowed his head when he greeted me, “Ciao, I hope your trip went well?”
Luke stepped to the side, posting himself in the sitting area, as I came to a stop in front of Frankie. “It did.”
“Good,” he replied as Angelo positioned himself at his side. “Why don’t you sit?” He stretched his arm out, gesturing to my father’s sizable, executive black desk. No one ever sat at his desk but him.
“Sure,” I remained agreeable as I rounded the desk, taking a seat, and rolling the chair underneath.
“How does it feel?” Frankie asked.
“Weird,” I half-smiled. “Empty, maybe? Makes me miss him.”
The two men in the room exchanged glances as a third one walked in, clutching a folder tightly under his arm. He cleared his throat and bowed respectfully before addressing me. “Miss Aggio, ma’am.” His eyes darted toward Angelo and Frankie. “Do I kiss her hand? Her cheeks?”
Angelo’s voice growled warningly, “Not if you want to leave here unharmed.”
“Uh,” I waved a hand. “Hello? What the fu..heck is going on?”
Taking a deep breath, the man blinked rapidly. “My name is Bryce Lloyd. Six weeks after you appeared before the lawyers after Mr. Aggio… uh your father’s passing, there was something Angelo found in the bedroom, tucked away in the armoire.” He glimpsed them again and Angelo nodded his head. “Miss Aggio, you haven’t just inherited the estate.”
My face screwed, my nose wrinkling. “Okay?” Craning my neck, I peered at Luke, who was watching me protectively, but his expression told me he knew what was coming. Bringing my gaze back to the strange man, I asked, “What do you mean?”
“Mr. Aggio left strict orders for you to take over the family business, stating that,” he fumbled, opening the folder as my mouth fell agape in disbelief, “there is no one else who’s capable to run the empire. My only daughter is young, but she’s levelheaded. She knows the business inside and out because she used to spy on me and my men when she was little. She watched things no child should have to see. She’s fully capable of running the family. She’s strong and powerful.”
No no no no , I repeated in my brain. FUCK NO! “You got this all wrong somehow.”
With his glasses on the tip of his nose, he cleared his throat again, continuing, “With the help of my most trusted men, Angelo and Frankie, I have no doubt in my mind she’ll run a smooth business. I think it’s time for a change. Prepare the proper ceremony. If she doesn’t want to take over the Aggio Family, she may pass it on to someone she trusts who isn’t one of my sons. If my sons ask why I haven’t chosen them? Carmine will die in prison because he got caught. Lorenzo, or Enzo, as he likes to be called, is a loser who only cares about traveling the world and partying. He’ll throw it all away. Luca is too full of himself and a pop star. He only does small jobs, so he can continue to work for Giovanna should he choose. She’s the only person I feel is capable of carrying on my legacy with respect and poise.” He pointed to the paper, lifting his eyes back to mine. “Then he makes a note right here to delete the insults of his sons on the final draft.”
“WHAT?!” I leapt to my feet as the news finally sank in. “I’m not a fucking gangster! Fuck that! I’m a dancer!”
“Miss Aggio,” Bryce said calmly as he closed the folder and tucked it under his arm. “The job is now yours. What you choose to do with it is your decision.”
Mindlessly, I drew the gun from the front of my bra holster within a split second, aiming it at him and repeating, “I’m not a fucking gangster!”
“Sure look like one to me,” Angelo chuckled.
“Shit,” I whispered, laying the weapon down in front of me, then gestured to the desk. “Leave that stupid folder and get out of my house!” I shouted, and Luke marched over, placing himself at my side.
Bryce fumbled again but obeyed, some of the papers slipping out between the sleeves, and scurried out of the room. Frankie followed him to the doors, shutting them, then returned to where he’d been standing. I stared at the men in silence. Both were tall and muscular, with black hair and beards trimmed against their jaws. They reminded me so much of older versions of Ian, it was crazy. Plopping back down in the chair, I laid my face on the desk, banging it lightly several times and groaning.
“It’s your own fault,” Frankie chuckled, and I looked up at him with my brow arched. “On your sixteenth birthday, when your father asked what you wished for, you told him you wished to take over the family business one day.”
“I was sixteen!” I snapped, throwing out my arm to the side. “I also thought I was going to marry Harry Styles!”
“Well, we’re here to help you,” Angelo added. “Whatever you need.”
“So just like that?” I asked. “You’re not going to defy him and try to take the business from me?”
They glimpsed one another before Frankie spoke. “This isn’t a movie. We’ve been with your family since you were young. We’d rather you run it than one of your brothers.”
“I just need to process this.” I shot Luke a glare. “Did you and Ian know about this?”
“It’s why he insisted on the trip.”
“Women aren’t Mafia bosses!” I snapped.
“On the contrary,” Angelo flashed a perfect, white, dangerous grin. “There’ve been several female Italian Mafia bosses in Italy and there’re several others around the world. Look them all up online; take some time to yourself. You know your way around your own home.” He twisted to Luke. “What time are the others arriving, so I can have Horace prepare the rooms and food?”
Luke glanced down at his watch. “Just about four hours.”
“Perfect,” Frankie said, then turned to me. “It’s clear the shock needs to wear off, so we’ll give you space until tomorrow. There are guards posted in the usual places, and you have our numbers, so call us if you need us.”
I stayed silent. The shock had hit me again, and I felt suffocated. They could tell I wasn’t ready to talk about it yet and thankfully, they knew when to give me space. As soon as they left the room, Luke let out a sigh of relief and slumped into one of the chairs in front of me.
With my elbows propped up on the desk, I buried my face in my hands. “Please tell me this is all a joke.”
“I had a feeling you weren’t going to like what you heard, which is why I came with you. Tyler wanted to, but Ian needed him to hang back and handle something with legal.”
“Oh damnit,” I gasped, “how’s he going to handle this? He’s going to hate me.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “I think it’ll be just fine. He’s obsessed with you.”
“I’m a Mafia Boss! Boss a ? Boss ess ? What am I even called?”
Luke laughed and my eyes widened in a glare. “I’m sorry,” he said, “I know it’s not funny but you’re sitting there with pink hair and you’re clueless and?—”
“Luke!”
As his laughter died down, he fanned his hand. “Ty will be okay. He’s aware of the situation, and he was upset that he couldn’t be here with you earlier. And as for you, Mafia Queen, don’t worry about a thing. We’re all here to help, if you’ll have us. You’re not going to turn on us, are you?”
Picking up a pen, I playfully threw it at him and rolled my eyes.
His expression turned serious as he leaned closer to me. “There is one thing I need to tell you,” he said.
“What?” I asked, curious and a little nervous.
“You’re fired,” he said bluntly.
“What?!”
He tried to hide a smile by pressing his lips together. “I can’t have a Mafia Boss as my assistant, and Ian probably won’t let you dance or fight anymore after this. It’s just too strange.”
“You can’t take away the things that make me happy,” I groaned. “I’ll just give the business away and keep doing my own thing. Don’t fire me yet.”
After a moment of contemplation, he sighed and dropped his hand from his face. “You can no longer be my assistant,” he admitted. “Ironically, you now outrank me. But if you truly want to continue dancing and fighting, we’ll have to find a way to keep it all secret from anyone who could cause trouble until we find a replacement for you.”
A mischievous grin spread across my face. “Do you want to take my place?” I asked teasingly, wiggling my eyebrows.
“Absolutely not,” he snorted.
TYLER
“She hasn’t left the office.” Luke greeted us inside the main foyer of the Aggio mansion. “I got her to eat but it’s like her dad died all over again. Nico and Ice Man, Horace will take you guys to the kitchen to get drinks.”
They followed the butler. Normally, I would have been captivated by every detail of such an extravagant house, but my main concern was ensuring that Giovanna was okay. When Ian revealed the news in his office at the warehouse, I knew it would hit her hard. And I was right. She contacted me while I was on the plane, expressing her upset and questioning our next steps.
Luke escorted Declan, Ian, and I through the house to a set of double doors and pushed them open. The moment he stepped to the side, I pushed by everyone. Giovanna set her mug on the coaster on the black coffee table and stood.
I strode to her, pulling her against me, pressing my lips to her in a passionate kiss. While I didn’t know exactly what to say, I hoped the gesture would convey my thoughts. I didn’t want her to think I’d ever walk away over her new role. Instead, it only made me want her more. It confirmed that she understood my family more than anyone, and she was meant for me. Whatever the future held for us, I’d be fighting by her side, until she didn’t want me anymore.
I couldn’t save her from Ekaterina taking away her ability to have kids. Had I been with her, it never would’ve happened. I should’ve risked my life and fought everyone that night to rescue her, even if I died trying.
Ian cleared his throat to remind us that we weren’t alone. Keeping my arm around her as we reluctantly broke the kiss, I held her snugly at my side.
“I know it’s a stupid question,” Ian said, “but how are you?”
“I don’t even know,” she replied. “It’s so much to take in. I can figure it all out, I guess but I don’t even know how to tell men what to do.”
“Bullshit,” Declan laughed. “You tell men what to do and not to do all the time.” He glanced at me with a smug grin. “Outside the bedroom, of course. Don’t want to hurt your ego there, Belt Choker.”
I had a snide remark ready to fire back but Giovanna wasn’t in a joking mood, and I didn’t want to make her feel like we weren’t taking it seriously. Instead, I cocked a brow, warning him, “I wouldn’t fuck with her right now. It’s not a laughing matter.”
She placed a hand on my chest. “It’s okay. I need a distraction tonight, and I just want to go to my room.”
“Can we do anything for you tonight?” Ian asked.
She shook her head. “Thanks, but I need to process it all for now. I know it’ll be fine, but I need to figure out how to do it.”
“I know,” Ian nodded. “Trust me. It’s not easy at first, but as soon as you find what works for you, you got this. I’ll help you through it if you need me to. I know you have the family here in New York, but I got your back any time in Boston. You need to do what’s best for you and those who work for you now.”
Here. Fuck. She has to move back to New York. It’s not going to work between us.