Chapter 2 #2
“Don Calo and us talked, and we think it’s time you boys take a more active role in the business.
You boys each have your little area, but if you guys are to take over, you wouldn’t know what to do.
The Don has Lucca, but you’re like a second son to him.
You and Lucca get along; you could be his right hand when he takes over. ”
Dante took a deep breath and bit his tongue before he spoke.
He had told his dad in what had to be a billion different ways that he didn’t want to take over or move up into any more of a leadership role.
It wasn’t what he wanted for himself. Especially with the job offer at the brokerage firm on the table.
His dad would without a doubt have a fit if he knew he had plans to leave the family. It was rare for someone to leave on their own.
“Dad, I don’t want to be Lucca’s right-hand man. I want—”
“That’s my boy.” He slapped his hand down on his thigh. “You want to be the top. I knew you had it in you. I was worried when we sent you boys to college that you would all get soft.”
College hadn’t made them soft. But it had shown them a different world. And for Dante, it was a world he was more interested in being in. There he had been seen as a whole person. Not just as the numbers guy. His teachers pushed him hard and encouraged him to continue to learn.
It had been a struggle to get his dad to let him go to get his master’s in business and finance. But his uncle, Don Calo, had prevailed because it helped them to grow their real estate businesses as well as their other holdings.
He had already been cleaning up his businesses within the family and had branched out to doing other people’s books. He also worked on others’ investment portfolios. He was a businessman at heart. He loved to invest and increase his and his client’s portfolios.
“Dad, college can’t make you soft. Look at all the improvements we’ve made so far and that have increased the family bottom line.”
“True, but you think we don’t know that you shun our ways. The protection money side is steady. I’ve checked the books.”
“You fucking checked up on me?” It just slipped out. The forbidden word. His father had cut out the tongues of men who had disrespected him with “that street language.” He wasn’t immune to punishment.
“Watch your mouth. I won’t hesitate to correct disrespect.”
Dante nodded his head. “Sorry.”
“Have you been in the field?”
“I have been. I checked on some of our other properties.”
“Good boy.” His dad slapped his thigh, and placed both feet on the floor. “Have you acquired any new money-laundering clients.”
“No, but I have feelers out.”
“Well, work on it. The amount of money being washed has decreased. If I didn’t know any better, I would think you were trying to clean up the business and get rid of the family way.”
Dante knew not to look guilty or to divert eye contact. He kept his back straight and his face relaxed. He didn’t flinch at the penetrating stare his father was giving him.
Then there was that call he had gotten. He needed to do something with the information.
“Dad, I can’t talk right now. I’m expecting a dancer to come up that I need to talk to.”
His dad took the hint. He couldn’t outright tell his dad to leave, but this was the next best way.
****
Dante listened to footsteps approach before his door opened. He watched as Madison walked in. She had changed back into what she had on at the bar. He allowed his eyes to roam over her body again. Her skin flushed at his look. He leaned back in his chair.
“Take a seat.” He inclined his head at the chair closest to his desk.
“I’d rather not.” She stood rooted by the doorway.
He studied her face. “Then I guess it is good that I don’t care what you want. Take a seat.”
Her jaw clenched before she released a huff and sat down.
She was pretty, not as leggy as he liked them but her golden-brown skin, so different from his own, drew him to her.
An inner light and glow that he had first believed had been the stage lights, but it was her own natural glow.
An innocence that was strange to find in a strip club, let alone in a stripper.
“See that wasn’t that hard, was it?” He leaned back in his chair and angled it towards her.
“They said you wanted me downstairs.”
“I told you I wanted you, but you said you don’t serve. I think you might be confused how things work around here.” He leaned forward over his desk. “I didn’t even audition you.” Her breath hitched when he got in her space, and he could see her nostrils flare.
“I don’t work here. I’m a sub for Sabrina. I spoke with Enzo, and he told me it was fine, and I didn’t need to follow certain rules.”
“Well, I’m back and things have changed.” He sat back and picked up a pen that he rolled between his fingers.
“Fine.” She stood up. “I won’t be back then.”
“You won’t get paid for tonight either.” He placed the pen down and rested his back against the chair. He wanted to know what she would do next.
She whirled around and the fire blazed in her deep brown eyes flecked with hints of gold. He liked that. There was passion under her cold controlled exterior.
“What?”
“You heard me.”
She stalked over to his desk. “You can’t do that.
I earned that money.” He liked her angry.
Would that passion translate to the bedroom?
She had either forgotten who he was or didn’t know he was a Bianchi.
Most people wouldn’t dare talk to him like that for fear of what he’d do, but she seemed unbothered by the fact that she stood in front of a mobster. Maybe he had been away too long.
He stood up and moved towards her. He was surprised when she didn’t back up. “I can do whatever I want. You didn’t earn that money. You were working here illegally if you don’t follow our rules. I do know of a way that you can get that money and maybe more.”
“I bet. I’m not interested. You can tell Enzo I won’t be back.”
She reached for the door and pulled it open. He didn’t believe she would leave. He was intrigued when she walked out and didn’t bother to close the door behind her. Did she not know who he was?
He went back to his chair and waited until Enzo walked in like he owned the place, which was part true. All of the cousins were partners in the various businesses, but one was always in charge and this was Dante’s. His cousin seemed to have made himself real comfortable while Dante had been away.
“Why are you sitting here? Aren’t you downstairs at this time?” Enzo pulled out a chair to take a seat. And adjusted his suit sleeves.
“I came up to speak with one of the dancers. She was supposed to come back up. She told me to tell you she wouldn’t be coming back.”
“Which one?”
“Madison.”
Enzo shot forward in his chair. “Dammit, Dante. Didn’t she tell you not to touch her? Everyone knows she’s off limits. I can’t believe no one told you…I guess you just decided to ignore it. What did you do to her?”
Dante didn’t care for the aggressive move or the fact that Enzo had questioned him.
Especially when it had to do with a business he had majority in.
“Why can’t anyone touch her?” Dante leaned over his desk.
“Is she yours?” His hand gripped the edge of his desk.
The little he had learned from Madison told him she would have said if she belonged to Enzo.
He had never fought with his cousins over a woman, but he wanted Madison and he didn’t want to share. He would explore the reasons why later.
“You didn’t seem to care before. What did you do to her?” Enzo stood up and paced around the room.
“I didn’t do anything to her. I made her an offer. She didn’t accept it and she left.”
“You know I’m going to talk to her.”
“Fine. I didn’t pay her.”
Enzo whipped around and stomped back over to the desk. “Dante, what the… You know how much she brings in when she spotlights for us? We just lost that. You better hope I can get her back.”
Enzo stormed out of the office and slammed the door behind him. Dante didn’t like it. While he had been away to check on other business holdings, he had lost touch with il Signore, which was his pet project.
He should know what the deal Madison appeared to have made with Enzo and why. It was only if they were serious with a girl that they didn’t make her follow certain rules if she worked for them. But he hadn’t known that Enzo was serious with anyone.
Maybe he had stayed away too long. He had seen the other patron approach her when she had come in.
She had caught his eye from the moment she walked in.
The way her body moved. Fluid and like sex in motion, but what intrigued him the most was that she didn’t seem to be doing it on purpose.
She didn’t notice how eyes and bodies turned to follow her movements.
She was confident in her body, and it showed.