Page 2 of The Beast

“You know my price.”

“It’s why I’m here.” I regard him coolly and he nods, apparently satisfied.

“Your first plan has changed, I understand.”

“He declined your invitation.”

My grandfather sighs heavily.

“An unfortunate response because now we must play Plan B, as they say.”

“Which is?”

I’m guessing he has one because he hinted at that and he nods, slowly blowing out the smoke as if he hasn’t a care in the world.

I envy him that.

“A good friend of mine has offered to assist with our problem.”

“Do I know him?” I’m intrigued, as my grandfather laughs softly.

“Her, Alessandro. Portia Symmons is her name. She runs a modeling agency in Los Angeles close to Massimo’s home, well one of them, anyway.”

I lean forward as he takes a swig of his drink and sighs happily.

“She was the woman who introduced Massimo to Imogen, his first wife. She modeled for Portia and was the most beautiful woman in LA for many years. She was in great demand, but Massimo fell hard and soon they were married, and she worked no more.”

He shakes his head. “The life of a mafia wife is not a free one, and she spent her days closely protected from his many enemies. Sadly, it was Mother Nature who claimed her life, and that is a force Massimo has no control over, no matter how hard he tries.”

“So how can she help us?” I’m mystified and my grandfather arches his brow and looks disappointed. “Open your eyes, Alessandro, and look for the opportunity. It helps to understand everything possible about your enemy and I have investigated yours so hard I even discovered how much he weighed when he was born.”

I feel foolish because my grandfather is a master of this, and I must remember that, and he will have everything worked out down to the finest detail.

“They meet once a month at Scarpetta in Beverly Hills. Massimo has a great interest in fashion and adores his monthly conversations with somebody who shares his hobby. Portia is the best at what she does and has several high-profile celebrities among her many clients. Massimo loves to wallow in the shine that glamor provides, and Portia indulges him because he is her biggest benefactor.”

He leans forward and I see the evil glint in his eyes as he says softly, “Portia has become increasingly worried about Massimo’s state of mind. She senses he’s sliding into madness at a breakneck speed. She is no longer comfortable around him and has offered to help us remove him from life.”

“Why would she do that? She could be working for him and can’t be trusted.”

My grandfather merely laughs before taking another lungful of cigar smoke.

“Did I mention she is my mistress?”

For a moment I just stare at him in awe because for fuck’s sake, my grandfather must be approaching seventy years old.

He merely winks and clips the cigar and places it back in the box and lifting his glass, he drains it in one huge gulp. I watch the excitement blaze from his eyes as he says with a chuckle, “Just don’t tell Nonna, otherwise she’ll insist on accompanying me on my next trip there.”

I’m not sure how I feel about this because I always thought my grandfather adored his wife, and they were happily married.

He must sense my disapproval because he shrugs. “It’s nothing. Just something to make a business trip more pleasurable. Portia knows the score and believe it or not, so does Nonna.”

“She knows!”

“Not the details, but she resigned herself to my wandering eye years ago. When you are in my position, you are faced with a great deal of temptation. It’s so easy to have what you want, and it takes a strong man to resist that. Portia is a fine-looking woman who knows how to please a man, and Nonna can’t be bothered anymore.”

Now I feel nauseous and leaning back in my chair, say with a sigh. “Finish your story.”

He laughs at my obvious discomfort and says quickly, “Portia will ask Massimo to bring his wife to the next meeting. She will say she’s curious to meet her. We will book every seat in the restaurant and fill them with our men, and one very special diner will arrive with her new husband.”

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