Page 14 of Depths of Obsession
Renzo? Nico?I reach out to my brothers, opening a telepathic channel.
Nico’s voice echoes around my skull.What do you need, brother?
Renzo?I reach out again.
He’s probably busy,Nico snickers.He’s married, after all.
What do you want?Renzo demands.
Not the most auspicious beginning, but I forge ahead.I’m having an issue at my clubs, I start. Renzo doesn’t love me owning and running this chain of nightclubs. He thinks they draw too much attention. Up until now I’ve managed to keep a low profile but with these overdoses, and Black Heart being in demand, my low profile days seem to be coming to an abrupt end.
Hold on, Renzo says, and then he disappears.
Nico sighs.What shall we talk about as we wait for his majesty? I heard about the Pippa problem. That’s just ugly. I knew we should’ve gotten rid of Gazzago when we cleaned house.
Agreed. Renzo says it’s too late now. He’s involved in some deal that he needs Gazzago to broker, but I just want to kill the guy.In the most painful way possible.
I don’t add those words. I don’t need any reminders that my fascination with Pippa is not helpful. She’s the closest thing to a sister Mia has, which means, even if the tarot reader hadn’t already warned me, she is off limits to me regardless. Mia and Renzo both are against Pippa or Luna, Mia’s other best friend, finding out that we’re vampires and that Mia is well…something magickal now. The less time spent around Pippa the better. Until now.
Fucking hell, Renzo growls as he rejoins the conversation.Mia just got off the phone with Pippa’s mother. Gazzago is demanding the wedding take place as soon as possible. The bastard has heard about the auction and realizes there’s no way he’s ever going to get the necklace, so he’s trying to save face, and he wants to do it quickly. Connie is pissed but her hands are tied. Danillo is just as anxious as Gazzago to get the deal done. He wants his piece of the pie back. He doesn’t like being retired.
No, I snarl.Pippa is not marrying that old, fat fuck.My mind flicks to another woman, girl really that was forced into a bad marriage long ago. I didn’t save Vittoria then. I would not let the same thing happen to Pippa.
I agree with Luca. It’s just not acceptable, Nico adds.Let us just kill Gazzago, and then the whole problem goes away.
We can’t take him out yet. I have a business deal I need him to facilitate.
Renzo’s anger and frustration slam into me. But he’s not the only one pissed off.That’s why he’s pushing this. He knows he has you over a barrel on this deal, so this is his moment to push. How important is this deal? Worth Pippa’s life?
It’s important. More so than I would like. It could make a big difference in a lot of ways.
It’s always business with Renzo. My anger hits against my brother in waves. I know he feels it. He damn well should.
You know,Nico starts, once the deal is finished, Gazzago’s gotta know we’ll just kill him which is why he wants to marry Pippa so much.He’s smarter than he looks. He knows that if he’s married to her, it’s much harder for us to take him out.
Harder? Why the fuck would it be harder?I demand. It would take me no more than a couple minutes to drain the old man’s blood, and I would enjoy feeling the life ebb out of him very much.
Nico sighs, and now I can feel his frustration, too.Because killing him is disrespecting the old guard. Danillo is still one of Mia’s father’s right-hand men. Renzo may be the head of the family, but he still has to appear respectful of the old guard; otherwise, he’ll always be the usurper who took over, and we don’t want a mutiny on our hands. Besides, if Danillo goes to work for Gazzago then killing the boss will start a shit storm within the family.
I growlI’m not letting Gazzago get his hands on Pippa. No fucking way. I’m squeezing the edge of my desk, and the wood starts to splinter. I pry my fingers off and try to relax.
As much as I hate the idea, and I don’t want to deal with Mia over it, I don’t see that we have a choice. The only other play is to get the necklace. Fifty million is a hefty price for something to give to Gazzago, and that’s only if we win the auction. It could go for double that, and we don’t even have an invite to attend.
I grind my teeth.Calaba will invite us if we say we want to go.
Nico chimes in,Luca’s right. Attending isn’t the problem, and neither is the price tag. Calaba is the problem. I don’t trust him one bit. There’s something hinky with this auction. Calaba wouldn’t bother with it unless it’s going to bring him something he wants”
“More money?”I suggest trying to keep my temper in check.
Nah. He’s got enough of that already.
Agreed, Renzo states.We can’t trust Calaba.Luca, you will have to take Pippa to the auction whenever Calaba holds it. She is the only one among us who knows about the necklace so she’s going to have to be there so we know he’s not trying to pull a deep fake or some other gambit. In the meantime, I’m waiting to hear back from Ria Tailor. I’m sure she can get us into the auction and give me details on it. I’ll also work on figuring out another way out of this.
Wait, before you go—Luca, you said there was a problem at the club?Nico says.
I quickly decide now isn’t the time.It’ll keep.
Great.Renzo is gone in a flash.
