Caspari chuckled. “I’m going to enjoy getting to know you.”

Before Meka could say more, Caspari faced Monique. Monique tried to hide her smile. She’d wanted to hear more banter between Caspari and Meka. The tension between those two was undeniable.

But Meka would never go for a guy like Caspari. Especially not after the things Monique had told her about Orazio. Even now, Meka looked ready to kill.

“Ms. Monique,” Caspari said. “My brother asked me to escort you to our Ruby room. I understand your friends wish to talk to him. You’ll have privacy there.”

“Why not do this out in the open?” Meka asked. “Or, does he plan to kidnap us also?”

With his back to Meka, her friend couldn’t see the smile on Caspari’s face. But Monique saw it. She also didn’t miss the way his eyes widened when Meka mentioned kidnapping. He looked as if he thought that was a good idea.No way!She pushed the feeling aside. He wouldn’t do anything crazy. Orazio wouldn’t let him. Right?

“Lead the way, Mr. Cattaneo,” Monique told him, wanting to put some distance between him and Meka.

It was now her turn to be the overprotective friend. She followed him as he led them down the hall. It was a short walk to the Ruby room. He pulled the door open and held it open for them to enter.

Monique went in first, staring around her at the elegant sitting area that was decorated with red leather chairs and blacktables and shelves. Toya entered behind her. Her friend was enamored by the room, also. Toya’s gaze landed on the back bar.

“I need this room in my house,” Toya whispered.

“I know, right,” Monique agreed.

Both friends looked back when they heard Meka yell.

“Hey, let me go. I’m going inside,” Meka shouted.

They turned in time to see Caspari closing the door. But Meka hadn’t entered the room yet.

Before the door closed, the younger Cattaneo said, “I’ll return your friend shortly. Maybe.”

With a wink, he shut the door. Toya and Monique stood staring at the closed door. Wait a minute. Did Orazio’s brother just kidnap their friend? Did this kidnapping shit run in their family? Damn it!

***

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ORAZIO

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Orazio was the last person left in the meeting room. The others had filed out of the room the moment the meeting was over. The meeting had gone well. New security measures had been put into place.

He would be able to rest a little easier with these new precautions. Now that the meeting was over, he was free to talk with Monique’s friends. Orazio smiled as he unlocked his phone to stare at his screensaver.

He’d changed it to a picture of her that he’d taken when she’d been asleep. She’d probably think it was creepy if she knew he’d taken the picture. He didn’t have time to admire her beauty because almost a dozen texts were waiting for him.

Ten, to be exact. Six from his Rose and four from Cas. What the hell was going on? Orazio read Monique’s texts first.

My Rose:Orazio, please tell me this is a joke.

Orazio frowned. What joke? Was she angry because his meeting had run a little longer than expected?

My Rose:My friends came here to talk to you. Not be kidnapped.

What? Which motherfucker in his casino had the damn nerve to kidnap her friends? When he found this bastard, he would kill him. Orazio stormed from the meeting room. In the hall, a security guard greeted him. It was Leo.

“What the hell is going on, Leo?” Raz asked as he read Monique’s next text message.

My Rose:Toya is threatening to burn the casino down.