Page 20 of Reign of Commotion

Christ!What a fucking mess!

I make the call, and as soon as I mention a problem, Niccolo tells me to hold on.I can hear him stepping away and opening and shutting a door before he tells me to go on.I give him the dirty details, including where Alessio and I are for the moment and what I need.

“I’ll make the call,” he says.

“I think he wants me to do it,” I state carefully.

He sighs.“Yeah, he probably does.”Niccolo pauses.“This is part of your training, Julian.Keep calm and stay sharp.”He finishes by telling me he’ll send a text with the number and hangs up.With everything arranged and two of our men sitting in the back and two more at the front, and the restaurant firmly shut down, I go down the hall, where I hear Alessio’s voice.

I knock before entering.“It’s all arranged.I’ve got men at the front and the back.Jack is on his way back as well.”Alessio nods and jerks his head to the empty chair as he leans back in his own.

“What do you make of this?”he asks.

“It could be a couple of scenarios.One, they were fucking high and greedy assholes who were in too deep and didn’t know it,” I start.

“Or…”

“Or, they were sent on a suicide mission.It comes back to the same question.Who knew this place was on the route for today?Jack was with me when you told us to make plans to settle here for the afternoon.Who else knows?”That’s when it hits me: Alessio made plans to meet with a senator, a union representative, and one other manufacturing executive.

It wouldn’t be the corporate guy.That deal is all legal shit, and I know firsthand because Dad is involved, and I’ve heard him talk at great length about how fertile this deal will be for all involved.The senator needs us more than we need him.He’s looking for financial backing to push his campaign forward.The only benefit toIl Destinowould come if he got reelected.Alessio wants to erect a new hotel and will need a little help circumventing the bureaucratic paperwork that comes with it.

That leaves the head of the union.“Jasper Steely,” I say aloud.

“That’s my guess too.”Alessio drums his fingers on the desk.“Big Frankie confirmed that he turned the senator and Kyle Robbinson, from Meccaways, away when they called, telling them that the restaurant is having an inspection and wouldn’t be available today.Steely never called and hasn’t shown up.”

“Someone got to him,” I murmur.

“We’ll soon find out,” Alessio states, pushing the chair back from the desk.“I’m having Niccolo send out men to find Jasper.We have another matter to deal with.”I narrow my gaze, wondering what now.“Nero and Sebastian are about to land with this Barry guy.We have to collect Milana.”

* * *

Milana

Ihave decided that I’m a full supporter of elopements.This wedding planning stuff is exhausting and expensive.When I think of how many homeless we could feed with the money that we’ve spent, I feel guilty.I’m not against the big-wedding-and-puffy-dress thing if that’s what you really want, but I’m not all about that, and I know that we’re not having this wedding for Julian or me.This is about appeasing the rest of the family and, in a way, legitimizing my status.It must be done, and yet I remember how many men, women, and even kids were scrounging the back for scraps when I worked at the restaurant, and it saddens my heart.

Lilliana looks happy as a lark as she finishes her final fitting of the mother-of-the-groom dress.She looks beautiful in the jade-green suit she chose for the church.It’s elegant, just like her, and the only embellishment is buttons made of crystals.She went back and forth on several others for the reception, finally deciding on a full-length dress in navy, heavily sequined in the bodice, and falling into a simple A-line skirt.

Both Valentina and Josie picked their dresses.I urged them to find designs that suit their own style.Valentina opted for a one-shoulder, full-length dress with a slit that is both sexy and elegant.Josie looked incredible in her full-length A-line chiffon dress with delicate straps.It looks very sedate in the front, but the back dips to just above her perky ass.

An amaretto cake with white buttercream was the consensus when we finished our taste testing.And the florist was able to give us some wonderful ideas for centerpieces on the table, which made both Lilliana and me happy.All in all, it’s been a good day, ending with a lovely lunch that Josie made for us.

I knew that Julian was expected any time, since Niccolo made sure to come in and tell us.I keep replaying Julian’s words in my head.I need to get through to Barry.I’m dreading what I’ll see when he gets here.It doesn’t make me happy that Barry got caught in the crossfire because I asked him to get involved.

Alessio comes in first and makes his way directly to his wife, kissing her soundly on the mouth, then bends to kiss his son on top of his head.Alessio raises his head and says hello.

“I had the cook make veal sandwiches for you and Julian.Do you have time to sit and eat?I can have them packed up,” Josie tells him.

Alessio smiles down at her.“Always taking care of me.”

“Someone has to.”She giggles.

“I’ll eat mine in my den while I make a couple of calls,” he responds.He looks up at Julian.“Take ten.You’ve earned it.”

Julian just nods and waits for Alessio to leave the room.Josie runs to the kitchen and comes back with a plate for Julian, then disappears again into her husband’s study.Valentina excuses herself, saying she’s going to find Niccolo.Lilliana takes the hint and excuses herself from the table.

Julian sits next to me, not touching his food.“Barry will be here soon.”

“I know how important this is.I’ll do my best.”

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