Fifty Three |

                                    

                                          



Fifty Three |
Looks had been passed to me the entire time. Ever since Gabriele thundered "speak English" and had the whole room jolting. I tried to look cool and badass but judging from the dirty looks I was very sure it wasn't working.  
After I got out of the shower this morning, Gabriele was getting dressed in a very sexy Armoni suit. As I openly drooled he had said, come with me to my meeting. I had mindlessly agreed thinking more about how we could fuck in his office after than about the actual meeting. Which apparently was a mistake. I had been thinking more about sex than about this mystery meeting. I even dressed for sex—in a long sleeve red sequin dress that had a v dip that dropped to show the inside curves of my breasts all the way to the bottoms. Thank fully, it hid most of my bruises and my smoky eyes and foundation hid the ones on my face, and the thigh high leather stilettos hid the ones on my legs.  
The meeting was at Sole. It was strange to see the club closed and without music. Gabriele told me it'd been like that for the past two weeks. We moved upstairs to where a large table had been set up in the room—gone were the couches. I recognized the face of Lorenzo, Tommaso, Alatis and Fario but there were many I didn't—overall I counted eleven men and three women—each had a different assortment of alcohol in front of them which made me wonder how the fuck they got any work done if they were drinking at seven in the morning.  
The woman were all beautiful—dressed in expensive dresses and one in a suit and the men were what I'd expect. I looked at Alatis who offered me a small smile but aside from that didn't speak. He was dressed in a more professional way as well. Lorenzo kept a grin on his face, and Tommaso looked at me curiously. I smiled at him, nervousness filling me. It was strange to see Mia's dad here but it made sense.  
Gabriele and I sat at one of the short sides of the table—across the way Lorenzo sat with an older man who looked very much like him. I remembered him saying his father was the underboss and I realized he must be Gabriele's right-hand man.   
"Markov has asked the shipment of his niece," one of the woman said.  
I looked at Gabriele for assistance—as they've been discussing Eva's situation, he's been filling me in which was extremely sweet and very helpful.  
"That is Lilianna Aiello, she is a detective for the Los Palma police." 
My eyes widened, "So she keeps you out of trouble?" 
He chuckled, "Of sorts, yes. Do you remember the strange plates?" 
Of his car? I nodded.  
"When scanned, they lead to Lillianna who has them marked as part of her undercover units whom have infiltrated my mafia. She is a triple agent, of sorts." 
I studied her closely.     
She had a thick Italian accent and wore a white suit jacket with large white slacks. Her hair was glossy and pinned back and she wore no makeup aside from red lipstick. She was beautiful and I felt jealousy fill me. I must had been glaring because Gabriele placed his hand on my knee which didn't go unnoticed.  
"He can come," Lorenzo's dad replied coolly, "If he wants her."  
"And then what?" another man snapped, "He picks up where Alexsei left off?"  
"Franco Accardi," Gabriele said in a low, warning tone that made the man flinch, "You've gotten quite comfortable being Contessa's bitch. Should you be put down like one? I hadn't realized capos had become so daring."  
The man's face went red, "Le mie parole significavano—"  
Gabriele warned, "English." 
"I-I just meant," the man, Franco stuttered, "that inviting him to the city may give him the notion to stay. We should—"  
When the gun went off I let out a sharp inhale and flinched into Gabriele who squeezed my leg in a comforting manor. When I peaked through my lashes, I'd seen one of the woman—one with darker olive skin, short black hair and dressed in a man's suit held a gun aimed towards the man. The man let out a cry, holding onto his arm in clear distress. She'd shot him, I realized with horror. Tommaso coughed with discomfort.  
"Forgive me Boss. It seems he wasn't trained enough," she said coldly.  
"A little over the top, don't you think Contessa?" Alatis yawned, as two men entered the room to drag poor little Franco away, "Overcompensation much?" 
Tommaso left with them and my heart sank slightly. I had wanted to talk to him after the meeting but it seemed that wouldn't be possible. It seemed a lot of things had changed now. Including my relationship with the Ricci family.   
"Overcompensating for what?" she demanded.   
Alatis grinned like a fox, "Being a woman—"  
"Enough," Andrea snapped, slamming his hand onto the table, "You dare argue in front of your leader? You both should be ashamed. Alatis, Contessa is more of a man than you'll ever be. I saw you flinch you little bitch." 
Atlas frowned but said nothing.  
"The problem remains," Lorenzo sighed, "Among others." 
"I agree," Gabriele replied looking to the third woman, "What of the woman?" 
The third was dressed in a thick fur jacket and a black miniskirt. She looked older than the others and while she had her dyed red hair curled very femininely the cigar hanging from her long red nails suggest the woman had a sharpness to her. She hummed, placing the cigar between her bright pink lips and took a long drag.  
"Giulia," Andrea sighed, "Do not keep him waiting." 
"Shut up," she replied blowing her smoke towards him, "I go on my own time. Do not forget you all fuck my women on my dime. Behind every man is a manipulative woman who sucks your cocks—isn't that right Tesoro?"  
My eyes widened when I realized she was speaking to me, "I-I—yes?" 
She chuckled, glancing at Gabriele, "Will you be introducing your little pet to us or will you continue to keep us wondering? I assume you plan on marrying her if she sits in front of us."