Page 9 of Saving Mr. Norcross
Justin leaned back in his chair. “Never expected your brother to get married. Always knew he’d keep one foot in the game. It’s no surprise that Norcross Security is a success.” He stroked hisbearded chin. “Never in a million years expected he’d marry a cop.”
“She keeps him on his toes.” Rhys smiled. “She’s just what he needed.”
“And I’m guessing you aren’t helping Alessandra at her florist shop,” Vander said.
His friend laughed. “No. I freelance. Nothing as big or fancy as your business. I do a few odd jobs for local businessmen and women. The mafia still try to flex their muscle once in a while, and I help some locals flex back.”
Vander frowned. “The mafia still have a strong presence here?”
“They aren’t what they once were, but the Cosa Nostra have a long history here. Most of their activity is around Palermo. They try to avoid the authorities and keep their heads down these days. There are still a few players not to be messed with. Luciano Navarro. He’s top of the pack. Old and mean. He has a villa and compound outside of Taormina, and a small army patrolling it. Stay out of his way while you’re here. He’s old school, and into respect and revenge. He can be ruthless.”
Vander knew the name, but had never crossed paths with the man.
“Vander had a small run-in with the mafia before we left home,” Rhys said, finishing off his coffee.
Vander took another sip of his. “Not sure the mafia would claim him. Messina is a young, self-entitled, spoiled dickhead. His father was mafia, and his kid has delusions of grandeur, even though he was born and bred in San Francisco.”
Rhys nodded. “Messina senior spoiled the kid rotten, and now Tommy wouldn’t know good business if it smacked him in the face.” Rhys grimaced. “The little punk tried to run drugs in San Francisco…using kids.”
“I disabused him of that notion.” Vander did his bit to keep the San Francisco streets clean. There was no way he’d have drugs in the hands of kids. Not if he could do something about it.
Rhys nodded. “Vander dismantled Tommy Messina’s op in three days, and humiliated him. No one will take the guy seriously. His father called Vander to apologize.”
Justin laughed. “Is poor Tommy crying in prison?”
Vander shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. We didn’t have enough evidence to make any charges stick. I took care of things myself.”
“Last I heard,” Rhys added, “ol’ Tommy was on vacation in Mexico, licking his wounds.”
“Still got that scary touch, Norcross.” Justin cocked his head. “Which is good, because now you can help me with a little job. In return, I’ll buy you lunch. Best ravioli on the island.”
“What’s the job?” Vander asked.
“My client has a sister. She’s being harassed by her ex, and the guy’s been escalating. Kicked her door down recently. His name’s Aldo Poletti. My client wants Poletti rattled, so he stays away from her.”
Rhys grinned. “Sounds fun.”
Vander sighed. “Plan?”
“The asshole always goes for coffee at the same time, same place, every morning. We’re going to abduct him, and I’m going to have a little chat with him.”
“A chat, huh?” Vander said.
“I’m a persuasive guy.” Justin looked at his watch. “He’s due to be walking down this very street in ten minutes. If we go a bit higher up the hill, we won’t have any witnesses.”
In Vander’s opinion, there was nothing worse than people who preyed on anyone weaker and more vulnerable than them. Especially a man preying on a woman he’d professed to oncecare about and love. Vander had no time for a man who thought he owned a woman, especially one who’d told him no.
Maybe doing something physical would help him purge this tension inside him.
He rose. “Let’s do it. This ravioli better be good, Clarke.”
CHAPTER THREE
“You sure this guy always comes this way?”
“One hundred percent,” Justin said. “He never deviates from his routine. Guy is as boring as fuck.”
Justin and Vander were walking down the street, staying relaxed. Just two guys catching up. Rhys had gone to get Justin’s van.
