Page 32 of Royally Lucky

Taysey was a vane woman. She had a standing appointment at the beauty salon every week, getting her hair and nails done and whatever else she chose, all on her father’s dime. When they’d gotten engaged, he began picking up the bill without blinking an eye. The four-figure receipt made Andre’s brows rise the first time he’d seen it, but Kendrick figured if it kept Taysey from bitching he’d pay it.

“Holy shit. She’s still wearing my engagement ring.” He sat forward. “Can you zoom in on her left hand?”

After their rehearsal dinner had been an epic fail with her being a no-show, he didn’t bother asking for the ring back, assuming she’d return it at some point. If she didn’t, again, he didn’t give a shit what she did with it. Kendrick didn’t plan to give the damn thing to another woman, nor could he imagine returning it. Anything that she’d worn felt tainted to him. Shit, the thought of Sutton being near the bitch made his skin itch.

Chapter Fifteen

“The way you’re glaring, I’d say shit didn’t end well with her.” The Sergeant at Arms Traeger spoke up from his spot near the wall.

“You could say that. Although neither of us was in love with one another, she supposedly loved Geovani Rizzo. He was the bastard who terrorized Jeter’s ole’ lady. His father wasn’t any better, giving his son an overinflated ego. Grigori Rizzo hated the Masseria family, which meant he didn’t like Vittoria since her mother had married Gino Masseria. Grigori hated Vittoria’s family. If the fuckers would’ve looked into the relationship between my brother’s wife and the Masseria’s, they’d have known the fuckers wouldn’t have lost a wink of sleep if they’d harmed her. I’m not sad to say none of them are no longer a problem for us.” He shrugged. If he’d married Taysey, his life would’ve been miserable.

“So, she dumped you for another man, who ended up dead by Jeter, and now is with a man who presumably hates you as well? How does she know all your business?” Again, Traeger asked without any trace of inflection to his voice.

Kendrick sat back and crossed his arms over his abdomen. “Frankie is a pussy who likes to play the big man. He took over when his father, Joseph, had a heart attack a couple of years back. While I admired the elder Dragna and had an understanding between our families, our businesses didn’t cross since they were what you’d call small compared to the Calderone Family. Their family has a history riddled with bad blood and arrests. Dragna’s power and influence rapidly grew and expanded under Ignacio and Gaetano. Their empireincluded various industries, including gambling, prostitution, and narcotics. In Los Angeles, they earned the nickname The Commission. Ignacia Dragna was known for his shrewd business acumen and ability to maintain a low profile, which allowed him to avoid the attention of law enforcement for many years. He was also notorious for his violent and ruthless tactics, which included ordering the murders of rival members and associates who crossed him.” Kendrick paused as Keys tapped on his computer.

“They look like gangsters from old movies. I can see Al Pacino back in the day playing him.” A wry smile crossed Keys’ face after he spoke.

“Unlike his grandfather and father, though, Frankie is a punk. Their organization took hit after hit while the elders spent decades killing or having enemies and rivals taken out. Joseph took over and kept power through cunning, ruthless, and savvy business dealings. My grandfather had dealings since our Family came from Sicily. However, bad blood soured the relationship from a murder in the fifties. If you know anything about Sicilians, we hold shit like that through generations. They lost most business dealings except maintaining majority control of sports wagering in Southern California.” Kendrick didn’t need to explain what his family controlled.

“So, let me see if I got this straight. Once the old fucks passed over the business to Frankie’s father, he kept hold of shit, but the kid isn’t as savvy or ruthless as his elders?” King asked.

Kendrick sat forward, figuring he’d give a little more explanation. “The status quo was impossible to keep after the Dragnas killed a couple of key players. Unfortunately, their home became a casualty as someone slipped past the guards and planted a bomb. Frankie’s mother, sister, and older brother were all killed. This brought a lot of attention to the organization, but it also crippled their entire family. They never arrested anyone,but everyone pointed fingers at each other. Many of whom came toward the New York and Chicago families.” Kendrick and a few others believe Guillermo Leguizamo put out the hits.

“It says here that Joseph Dragna was arrested and put on trial for conspiracy charges to commit extortion. Although they acquitted him of the charges not much later. That had to be fucking hard.” Keys eyed the screen, then Kendrick.

“Yeah, that case crippled his organization. He had to curtail their lucrative business dealings while the government deported Ignacio and Gaetano back to Sicily. They thought it was fucked up since they’d lost so many loved ones in that bombing. To add insult to injury, sending two old men back to their home country seemed like adding salt to the wounds.” Both men killed indiscriminately to get to the top of their organizations. However, their deportation caused outrage.

“And I thought our group was strange,” Traeger grumbled.

“Nah, only T-Rex and his pets are.” Keys grimaced.

Duke slapped him on the shoulder. “She only nipped your ass once a long time ago. Get over it, brother.”

“Children, please. Keys, do you have eyes on this fucker? I’d hate to call Jeter while he’s off on his honeymoon to tell him we couldn’t keep his big brother safe.” King sat at the head of the enormous table made from what looked like one giant piece of wood. Kendrick wondered who and where they’d gotten the piece from. Every piece he’d seen from the clubhouse to the house he and Sutton stayed in, had expensive decorations and furnishings.

“What do I look like, an amateur? Of course, I have eyes in the sky and streets. Taysey has been out shopping and spending a shitton of cash at some of the most exclusive shops in Los Angeles. Frankie’s been with her most of yesterday and this morning. Still, he left her with two bodyguards to return to his family's casino. From my reports, they keep the hotel's top twofloors as their residence. I don’t have to tell you that’s where your ex is also staying. I have footage of the two of them inside the casino as well. She likes to play blackjack but is shit at it and has lost over five figures in less than twelve hours. I think that’s why Frankie took her ass shopping. He didn’t look pleased as he pulled her from the table around two in the morning.”

Kendrick didn’t bother asking how the other man hacked into the casino’s security. His watch buzzed with two words from Andre telling him he was on it. Their security should be impenetrable, which Dragna probably thought the same. Hell, the GCB would freak the fuck out if they were aware an outside source could monitor what they couldn’t.

“I have men here as well,” Kendrick announced.

Silence filled the air.

“I won’t have my brothers or their ole’ ladies' lives put in danger. If you want our help and resources, I need to know who we’re working with. You know this isn’t our first rodeo dealing with shit of this caliber.” King tapped his finger on the table in front of him. His jaw clenched.

Kendrick understood and appreciated the man’s help. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, King. Hell, there’s no way we’d have Sutton back if not for you and your resources. However, there could be blowback with consequences that could affect you and your club. My people are willing to go in and do what needs doing, no questions asked, damn anyone who gets in their way because that fucker brought this to my door. You have families here. When I said a bomb blew up the Dragna home, I didn’t mention he wasn’t the first or last. Jeter’s wife’s mother is dead because of her family. Our life isn’t easy. We live by very different rules than normal society.”

King and the other men tossed their heads back and laughed. Kendrick waited for them to quiet, taking no offense from their mirth.

“Are you finished, brother?” King asked.

One brow rose at the nickname. Kendrick gave a lift of his chin in answer.

“How much has Jeter told you about what we do here? Do you think we just go on rides on nice days, fuck our ole’ ladies, and pool our money like some sort of commune?”

His eyes narrowed, not liking the mockery in King’s questions. “My brother doesn’t spill secrets to me if that’s what you’re asking. He said he found a brotherhood that reminded him of home and that he felt fit him and his needs here. I didn’t ask any prying questions, as he never appeared to be in a position where I needed to step in. If there had been any issues, things would’ve been different. Also, I know what an MC is, and I know you are not a fucking Boy Scout group who sit around a campfire and sing kumbaya and shit.”

Duke raised his hand. “We actually do sit around campfires when we go on runs and end up camping for a night or weekend. As for the singing, that only happens when we’re shitfaced, and the kumbaya is more a come all over with your ole’ lady.”

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