Page 11 of Ice
“How about you tell me what the real story is here? I’m pretty sure I could piece together the information, but I wanted to hear it from you. Which one of you is paying off a debt or keeping a loved one safe?” Her gaze never left Gianna, knowing she was hiding something.
Gianna abruptly stood and went over to the table with the weapons. She picked them up and quickly walked back over to Sofia and Dom, damn near throwing the weapons back into their hands. “This was a waste of time. Otto is right, you need to leave.”
Sofia smirked, not surprised she hit the nail on the head. The little lamb caught in the trap was Gianna or someone close to her. It made the woman an easy target, and Sofia wasn’t above using it to her advantage.
Sofia took the weapons with a shake of her head. “Yeah, that doesn’t work for me. You just gave me a vital piece of information without even opening your mouth. We can leave and I can uncover what you’re hiding and take it from you, or you can just tell me.” Gianna tensed and Otto went for his gun.
“Don’t,” Dom growled pointing his gun at Otto.
“Yes, please don’t.” Sofia turned her gun on Gianna. “Stupid move giving us our weapons back, and don’t call the guards in here either. Your bodies will hit the floor before they even get the door open.”
She saw Otto’s hands still moving, going for his gun. Dom’s gun cocked as he took a step toward him. “You’re a little hardheaded, huh? I don’t necessarily need you alive to accomplish what I’m setting out to do,” Sofia quipped. “but Dom told me you’re just as good if not better than he is with a gun.”
She reached into her pocket, pulling her knife back out. “But I doubt you’re better than I am.” She flung the knife, knowing it wouldn’t do any real damage, but it would be enough to get her point across.
The tip of the blade clipped Otto in his upper arm, causing him to grunt. “You missed.” He grinned, still going for his gun.
“On purpose.” Sofia nodded toward the blood starting to stain his shirt. “I didn’t come here to see who’s the better killer. I know you don’t own Tres Bellas—at least not on paper. I just want to know if you have a hand in the extra activities that go on here before I tell you my proposition. Like I said, I don’t necessarily need you. I could use you though.”
They were wasting time. Sofia could see the burning desire in Otto’s eyes to shoot both her and Dom. She had no doubt he was the muscle behind Tres Bellas, and while he didn’t own the club, he was probably the owner’s go-to person instead of Gianna. Or the buffer to keep whoever Gianna needed alive and untouched.
Gianna stepped closer to her brother and put a palm on his shoulder. “What’s in this for you?” Her voice was soft. Gone was the woman taunting Sofia met mere minutes ago, and in her place stood a woman who was running on fumes. “You keep hinting at you helping us, like we’re in a situation we need rescuing from.”
Sofia nodded toward Dom, putting her gun away. Dom followed suit, and they both sat back down. ”You want to know why I came home?”
Sofia inclined her head toward Dom who took out a small envelope from his back pocket and threw it at Otto.
“How about you two have a seat and we try this meeting again? I’m a little pressed for time, and the sooner you see the bigger picture, the better everyone will be, especially whoever it is you’re protecting.”
Otto opened the envelope and did a double take. He went through the contents of the envelope and chuckled. “For the record we’re not involved with what you think we are. Who do you think keeps calling the cops on this place?”
He threw the envelope back at Dom. “You won’t be able to pull this off. There’s too much beef with the remaining territories that haven’t been brought out by Vinny or Bruno.”
Sofia felt Dom tense beside her. It was a slight twitch, but it was enough to let her know he hadn’t accounted for another buyer in the mix.
She knew who Bruno was. The man was ancient when she was a kid, but he was still a dick and had just as much power as her father did. But there was no way the guy had any juice left in him to be making a play for territory that he wouldn’t be alive long enough to enjoy.
“I wouldn’t worry about Bruno, or Vinny, for that matter. The beef won’t be an issue. I know Cree and Seven over at Wolf’s are independent, and they keep to themselves,” Sofia responded, knowing she had a plan in place for Vinny and the remaining territories. But she had to get Otto and Gianna on board first.
Nico and Bebo owned Smoke and Mirrors. They had been long time friends of Dom, already pledging their loyalty to him. They weren’t going to be an issue for her, but she knew the problem Otto and Nico had with one another. A girl got in between them, and it had been bad blood ever since.
Men, always at the mercy of a woman.
Otto scoffed. “It ain’t Wolf’s crew I’m worried about. Though I’d love to see how you’re going to go up against Vinny and Bruno’s son. Vinny’s not the type of man who’s going to give up his power, and Bruno’s son is just as hungry.”
And there it was—the doubt. Nothing made her excel more than when people didn’t think she’d be able to pull something off. She’d been like that since she was a kid, and living with her grandfather only seemed to intensify her need to prove those who doubted her wrong.
“You’re underestimating me. Good. I’ll be sure to say ‘I told you so’ when you’re sitting at the table I’m trying to build.”
Sofia knew which way this meeting was going to go. She could see Otto’s mind already working over the benefits of siding with her. Her gaze landed on Gianna, knowing the woman was what was going to cement the deal. Going by their body language, Otto was protective over her, and if Gianna was on board, Otto would reluctantly follow to keep her safe.
Sofia went to speak, and Otto cut her off. “Don’t try that divide and conquer bullshit. Your plan doesn’t guarantee our safety.”
“You in the wrong business if you’re worried about safety, Otto. In this life, you’re lucky if you grow old. You know that.” Her gaze remained on Gianna. “But I’m guessing you’re not talking about your safety. So, who has a kid, how old, and where is it stashed?”
THERE WAS A KNOCK ONVinny’s office door. He looked up, debating if he should entertain whoever was on the other side of it.
The knocking started up again, and he gritted his teeth, already knowing whoever it was wasn’t going to leave him alone until they talked. “Come in,” Vinny snapped.
