Page 23 of Punish Me

The part that I couldn’t get past was seeing Alessandro and Marco DeLuca at the table. There can never be anything good accomplished when you come to the table with two notorious crime bosses. Yes, they’re fine as fuck and good-looking as hell, but Mama always said if you lie down with dogs, you’ll get up with fleas.

The DeLucas should not be screwed with because everyone knows they’re dangerous. People came up missing when it was time to testify against members of the DeLuca family.

I just can’t imagine why they traveled from Atlanta to Ocean Falls to do business with our company. The last time I heard about Alessandro DeLuca, he was living back in Italy.

What’s worse is that I wasn’t in that meeting nor were any of our executive-level staff. Just the company’s Chief Legal Officer and Ambrose’s brother, Austin. Ambrose knew that he screwed up not inviting me or anyone else to the meeting, so he tried to make up for it.

The business meeting extended to dinner which I was invited to. Part of me wanted to tell him hell no because I don’t want to be involved in any nefarious dealings that he has going on.On the other hand, I want to believe all that he told me in the conference room.

I need to believe that he is doing all this to build the company, the local commerce, and most importantly, save the staff.

Greyson Black’s wife, interior designer Nicole Black, is also with us at dinner.

“Brynlee, would you like to see the designs I’ve planned so far?”

“Absolutely,” I say as she removes her iPad from her large bag.

“We’re supposed to be relaxing, enjoying ourselves, honey,” Greyson says, nuzzling her neck.

She slants a mischievous glance at him. “And we will. First things first.”

She slides the iPad across the table to me.

“Based on what I learned in the meeting, this will be a lucrative business venture. Having TT’s name associated with BHG will leverage our company’s reputation to another level.”

“We’re sparing no expense on construction or design,” Alessandro DeLuca says.

“I’m sure it will bring much business to Ocean Falls. Have you all met with the city council yet?” I ask.

“We have. They were initially reluctant because they didn’t want to lose the city's charm to tourism,” Mitch says.

“Ocean Falls is the perfect place for this project. Right here on the coast, it’s not a small town that has the risk of losing its small-town charm, but it’s not a major metropolis either that will become further cluttered with just one more business,” Alessandro injects.

“Right. It will bring the business dollars that the town needs and be the perfect addition to putting Ocean Falls on the map,” Greyson adds.

“And the council?” I ask, reminding them of my concern.

“They’ve been persuaded to see things from our vantage point,” Marco DeLuca says, pulling a snifter of brandy to his lips and eyeing me over the rim.

A shudder of fear runs through me at his gaze, even if he is sexy. Maybe that’s the attraction of the man. He’s sexy and gorgeous but has the right element of danger. Both he and his brother are true bad boys in the flesh and have women drooling over them.

Yet, they both proudly display wedding bands.

Making a note to discuss all of this with Ambrose later, I drop the matter. Top Tier doesn’t need to look like we’re not a united front.

I scan through Nicole’s online sketches, oohing and ahhing over black and red leather and velvet casino designs, grey wallpaper with diamond patterns, and hand-knotted carpet in grey, black, and tan hues. From my three-dimensional tour, I can see an exquisite teardrop crystal chandelier.

“Casino, gentlemen’s club, tattoo parlor, spa...where’s the entertainment for women?” I ask.

Smirking at her husband and then winking at me, Nicole reaches over the table and opens a new tab that shows another club in hues of greys, pinks, and sand tones. She says, “This is for the ladies.”

“We didn’t agree on that,” Greyson says, scowling at his wife.

Chuckles from Mitch and Alessandro earn them a glare from Greyson. Marco merely lifts an eyebrow and says, “Happy wife, happy life.”

Greyson turns to Ambrose and asks, “What’s your opinion?”

Shrugging, Ambrose says, “Give the lady what she wants. After all, she’s coming home to you.”

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