At first, I thought it was a setup. They were lucky they didn’t get killed.
And that was all thanks to her.
Carmina Leto.
She didn’t look like a guest.
And despite her‘fuck me’dress, she didn’t look like a prostitute or a strip dancer, either.
She might aspire to be one, but that’s a different story.
I get it that she’s desperate for money.
Who isn’t, after all?
People come here to have fun. And some hope to make a killing, while others arrive here and get killed.
She looked like she had hopped onto the wrong bus and ended up on the wrong side of town.
That’s how she looked to me.
And that made me stifle my impulse to let my men pull them into the room and make them disappear.
The man she had with her…? The jerk keeping her company?
I know his kind. The type of man exploiting his women without the slightest remorse.
He surely fitted the description.
She seemed innocent and clueless, while he appeared willing to sell her for a buck.
If that’s her ex. I don’t know what to think. For sure, things weren’t good between them.
If I had a dollar for every woman who wanted my protection, I’d have a nice stash of cash for my retirement.
“I don’t think he’s one of Joe’s men,” I say, talking about Joe ‘The Lizard.’“He might dab into some nasty shit, but he was here for her. Neither of them knew who I was, although he seemed to have suspected it toward the end. He’s not up to date on who’s running what, and he followed her from LA. Regardless of their connection, I need eyes on her.”
I look up.
They all stare at me.
“Gianni goes. I need someone smooth. I don’t want to scare her off. I just want to know what’s going on with her. He's on her tail again, and I’ll take it personally if she ends up dead or he trades her off for some cash.”
“What about me?” Vito protests.
“There’s plenty to do here. I got word we have guests tonight.”
They all peer at me, waiting.
“For real?”
“For fucking real. All men need to be on standby. Although I’m sure we’ll handle them without much fuss.”
My eyes move from one to another before my hand hits the smooth surface of my desk.
“Good,” I say, pushing out of my seat and looking at Gianni. “Make sure no one’s touching that girl. And keep me posted. She’s supposed to come back tomorrow morning for an interview. Find that manager and put him on notice. Fire the security on block A and replace them at once. I don’t have time for investigations. Oh. And that manager. He needs to give her a job. Boss him around a little,” I say, lifting my chin. And smiling. “Make sure he understands he needs to put in the work, or he needs to pack his bags. I hate owing favors. Nepotism drives me nuts.”
I yank my suit jacket from the back of my chair, slide it on, reach inside, and pull out a cigarette.