Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97371 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 389(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
I reach for her hand and lace our fingers together as I lead her out to the kitchen. This feels so right, like this is how things should be. I double down on my determination to figure out how to keep both of my worlds and make sure she’s always safe.
“What are you thinking?” she asks nervously.
I lift our joined hands to kiss her fingers. “I still have to go to Italy in two months. I can’t change that, but I want to spend every moment I can with you before I go.”
“You still don’t know how long you’ll be there?”
I frown and shake my head. “No.”
“What are you going for?”
My entire body stiffens. This is why I should have kept my distance. I don’t want to lie to her, but I can’t be completely honest either.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked.”
I stop and spin her into me, pinching her chin between my fingertips. I look into her eyes and see the love I have for her reflected. I’ll always protect her from my world. We’ve been smart in business. As long as I continue to be smart, I can do this.
“My grandfather needs me to be with him for a while,” I reply and kiss her with a promise I can’t make out loud. Instead, I think the words as I pour them into her lips.
I’ll always keep you safe. I love you.
Chapter 9
Brotherly Meeting
Dario
I take a sip of the brandy Dante hands me. My mind has been on Carleen since I had to slip out of the restaurant to come for this after-hours meeting with Gio and Dante. I wouldn’t normally sit in on a two-hour Capo meeting, but I want to have my ear in on everything before I leave for Italy.
Gio keeps things running smoothly, but I don’t want to come off as incompetent. I need to have a finger on the pulse of the operation. This is my responsibility.
“The union workers in New York are starting to complain about a few of the restaurants over there cutting hours to prevent having to pay the proper wages,” Jace says as we sit in Dante’s office.
“Yeah, I’m hearing the same thing from Mitch about a few of the Jersey restaurants. It’s bullshit. Those guys can afford the wages. It’s all those cheap bastards with the gaudy front of house and A-list clientele but shittily-run kitchens,” Dante mutters as he sips at his own drink.
“Exactly, I know some of the chefs. Those guys bust their asses for the owners to shit on their best workers and fuck up the flow of the kitchens,” I say.
“We’ll fuck with their pockets then,” Gio says. “Do we control any of their suppliers?”
Jace nods. “We do.”
“Good, I’m sure I can redirect some of their patrons for a while. Dante, you have the inspectors start paying random visits. That should get the point across.”
“No problem,” Dante says to Gio. “But I wanted to ask you something. This Jacob guy from earlier, what exactly was the problem between him and Bethany?”
Gio lifts his tie as if examining some nonexistent stain, then smooths it back down against his chest. “Your wife had one of her tantrums and cost the guy his job. I already had an eye on him. She actually opened the door for me,” Gio says nonchalantly. “Anyway. The senator wants you guys to cater his holiday party, Dario.”
I narrow my eyes. I know right away Gio is hiding something. I don’t call him on it because I don’t know if it has anything to do with the Bethany situation on the whole. I’ll get to meet this Jacob guy soon enough. I meet and train all the New Jersey and New York chefs, something I’ve been thinking of handing over to Carleen in my absence.
“Carleen told me. She turned him down already about a week ago.”
“Her beef with her uncle is her own. These are friends of ours. I need you to cater the party.”
I snort. “You know, I’m not going to be taking shit from you once I’m boss,” I say with a teasing smile.
“Nothing around here will change, little brother. I always have what’s best in mind at all times.”
“I hear you. Her beef isn’t with the senator. It’s with her dad who will be attending the event. She’s still avoiding him.”
Gio waves me off. “I’ll let him know you will be catering.”
I sigh. In Gio fashion, this means the end of the conversation. I still wonder why Nonno hasn’t chosen him to be Don. If I didn’t need answers, I’d push the issue.
“Anything else for me?” I ask, ready to head out to get back to the restaurant before Carleen closes. I want to see her home.
“Silvio is late with his payments again,” Jace says.
“What’s going on over there? We know it’s not out of disrespect. He’s a friend of ours. How can we help?”