“Fucking Marco,” Devil hissed. “Lying piece of shit.”
Angelo laid a hand on his shoulder. “If he’s been playing us after all, he’s dead. We all know that. He may have gotten word about our plan for Sandrini somehow or followed one of our men.”
Sandrini and his family had gone to ground before our attack on them, indicating Marco wasn’t our leak, but Angelo was right, he could have gotten the information another way. “We knew that one test wasn’t going to be enough,” I said. “Go on, Peter.”
“Last night, Jimmy went to my uncle, begging for money. My uncle stayed at his bar after closing, and Jimmy came back and tried to rob the place. My uncle ran him off, but he dropped a piece of paper. It had one word written on it and a time. DiGiulio’s. Eight o’clock.”
“Fuck,” was Devil’s only response.
“Where is your cousin now?” I asked.
Peter shook his head. “I don’t know. He ran, and Uncle Mac told him not to come back.”
“Why didn’t you say something when you first saw him?” Angelo asked.
“I didn’t know if it was relevant.”
“Were you hoping to protect him?”
Peter shook his head. “He’s my cousin, but he doesn’t care about me or my uncle, only about himself. And I—”
“Who are you loyal to?”
“My uncle.” He looked at me. “And Lucien.”
“That’s enough.” I brought my hand down on the table beside me, startling everyone. “Peter gave us the information. Now we need to figure out what to do with it.”
“We change nothing,” Devil said. “We do the launch as planned and double our security. No matter who the Riccis have been talking to, they don’t have the network we do. They won’t get through our people, but we’ll get to see who’s willing to move against us.”
“I am changing one thing. I’m not bringing Peter.”
Peter laid a hand on my thigh. “If they know about me, won’t that tip them off?”
“It could,” Angelo said. “We know he’s on their radar already. If we’re going to continue like nothing’s happening, you need to bring him. You’d never attend a function like this without a pretty boy on your arm.”
I knew they were right, but the thought of putting Peter in danger soured my stomach. I’d sworn to protect him, and I could be putting a target on him instead.
“We’ll use our best people. I can even call Giorgio.”
“I’m not sure that’s necessary.” Giorgio was the best sniper in the business. He scared even me.
“And if they do make a move, the publicity will work in our favor,” Angelo said.
I glared at him. “If people get shot while they’re eating dinner, that will not bring us a rush of customers.”
Devil shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. But that’s also not going to happen.”
Angelo nodded. “Finding out someone tried to make a move on elusive bad boy Lucien Marchesi but he foiled their attempt will absolutely bring customers in.”
I looked at Peter. His eyes were wide, and he looked ready to bolt. He’d put his trust in me. He’d chosen to stay, chosen loyalty to me over his cousin—not that his cousin deserved a damn thing from him—and now I was putting him in danger.
Sabrina was right. He wasn’t just a man I was fucking. He wasn’t just something beautiful that I longed to possess. I’d never felt this protective of any of the men I’d been with. Feeling the way I did about him made me vulnerable, and that made him a liability. If I had more self-discipline, I’d send him to a safehouse to protect us both. But I knew I wasn’t going to do that. I needed him now more than ever. There were days when I thought he might be the only thing keeping me sane as I dealt with the pressure of fending off our enemies, securing the loyalty of our allies, and making it all look effortless.
17
Peter
The day of DiGiulio’s opening, Sabrina asked me to have a cup of tea with her. We sat in a room at the back of the house where Lucien had put in a picture window that let the afternoon sun pour in. The rich red walls added to the warm, cozy feel, but despite that, I was on edge, wondering what Sabrina wanted to say to me.
“Is something wrong? I know Angelo doesn’t trust me, but—”
“I trust you, Peter. In fact, I wanted to tell you I think you’re good for Lucien.”
“Really? You think that?”
“Yes. I know he’s not always easy to live with.”
Was I supposed to disagree? “Um… He’s—”
“No need to try to defend him, but I want you to know that he needs your support tonight.”
“He’ll have it, but why?”
“Did he tell you that DiGiulio was his mother’s maiden name?”
I shook my head.
“He named the restaurant in honor of her, and it’s his pet project, the first thing he’s done all on his own. If things go badly, he’s going to take it personally.”
I was sure he would, but how could I help? “Won’t that mean he’ll just want to focus more on revenge?”
“Yes, but he’s a lot more vulnerable than he seems.”
I wanted to ask her what she meant by that, but her phone rang. It was Lucien’s father wanting to check up on everyone.
That evening, I was so nervous Lucien had to help me get ready. He buttoned my shirt for me, knotted my tie, fixed my cufflinks, and threaded my belt through its loops.
“I’ve tripled my security force and brought in some of the best men in the country,” Lucien said as he hugged me from behind, surveying us both in the mirror. “I’m going to keep you safe tonight.”
“What about you? Will you be safe?”
“No one who does what I do is ever completely safe.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Lucien brushed my hair back from my face. “Angelo and Devil will see that you’re taken care of if anything happens to me.”
“That’s… I didn’t mean…”
He laid a finger over my lips. “It’s time to go. Don’t worry about anything. Just smile and be pretty. That’s all you need to do tonight.”
“Should I be insulted by that?”
Lucien’s smile made me feel warm all over despite my concern. “Absolutely not. I don’t take just anybody with me to special events.”
“Is that all I am, though? An accessory?” I immediately regretted the words. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answer, and now was absolutely not the time to be asking. Lucien might appear calm and controlled, but I knew he was worried about what would happen tonight.
He studied me, his gaze sweeping me from head to toe. “You’re mine. That’s what you are.”
What did that mean to him exactly? I couldn’t help thinking about what Sabrina had said, that he was a lot more vulnerable than he seemed. I knew he was concerned for my safety and the safety of his restaurant patrons, but I couldn’t imagine him ever feeling like I did most of the time: wary, ready for something or someone to jump out at me the way my parents’ murderer had burst right through our door. At any moment, fear might send me running to curl up in a ball under the covers and refuse to come out.
“Ready?” Lucien asked.
I nodded, not sure I could keep my voice steady.
He kissed the side of my head, then laced our fingers together. “Everything will be fine.”
I hoped he was right.
We said little on the ride to the restaurant. There were reporters and photographers standing outside when we arrived. Lucien smiled and wrapped his arm around me as we posed for several pictures. He repeated the same things about how excited he was to be opening this restaurant, how much everyone was going to love the food, and how much care had been taken on the design. He was at his most charming, and I was completely overwhelmed. There I was, on the arm of a man these people considered a celebrity—a dangerous one with no morals—but that only made him more fascinating.
DiGiulio’s interior was stunning. Lucien had
given me a tour the day before, but now that it was filled with people, it seemed even more impressive. The decor was sleek and modern, but the warm lighting kept it from feeling cold. The kitchen was open, and I saw the chef and his assistants bustling around. The bar was packed, and the whole room was filled with bright, happy noise. I didn’t normally like crowds, but I felt comfortable there. There was a second floor with a metal and glass stairway leading up to it and tables on both levels. Lucien escorted me up the stairs to a table that allowed us to see most of the lower floor as well as the tables on our level.
As soon as we were seated, the restaurant’s wine steward offered a bottle for Lucien to approve. Once he’d tasted it, she filled my glass and then his. “Let me know if you need anything else, sir.”
“I will. Thank you.”
When she left us, Lucien said, “We’re having the chef’s tasting menu tonight. It will include a selection of other wines, but I wanted to start with this and the calamari. The chef makes the best I’ve ever tasted. If there’s anything additional you would enjoy, all you have to do is ask.”
“Calamari sounds amazing. I just want to try everything.”
He smiled, seeming more relaxed than he had as we’d made our way through the crowd. “I like that about you, your desire to try new things.”
Heat rose in my face. I’d tried a lot of new things with Lucien, and I’d loved every one of them.
The dinner was incredible. Several people, including an actor and a model I recognized, stopped by our table to speak to Lucien. He continued to be at his most charming, though as the evening wore on, his tension grew. Several times he seemed distracted, and I assumed his security team was talking to him through the earpiece he wore.
Just as we were finishing dessert, I heard shouts from the floor below. “Sir? Sir! We are full tonight. You can’t go in. Sir!”
A large, bearded man in a dark suit rushed toward the stairs. Lucien rose from his seat, and his hand went to his side where I knew he had a gun concealed under his dinner jacket.
Before he resorted to pulling out his weapon, a few men from his security team tackled the man and dragged him from the room.
I started to ask Lucien if he needed to find out what had happened when he held up his hand. It was clear someone was talking to him through his earpiece. I saw him tap the device to unmute it. “Yes. Follow the plan we arranged. I’ll meet you there when I’ve finished my dinner and things have calmed down here. No need to make him comfortable, but I will handle this.”
I shivered as I imagined Lucien’s way of handling the man who’d dared to interrupt his evening.
The restaurant was quieter than it had been. It was clear many of the diners were uneasy. I saw several people rise from their tables as though they intended to leave, despite clearly being only partway through their meals. “Everything’s okay, but I need to say a few things,” Lucien told me before walking to the railing and looking out over the lower floor.
“Good evening, everyone.” He had no trouble projecting his voice so the entire place could hear him. All chatter immediately ceased. “I’m Lucien Marchesi, owner of DiGiulio’s, and I apologize for that disturbance. I want to assure you everything is under control. My security team is on alert, and we will have no more interruptions. I would like for you all to stay and enjoy your dinner. Everyone will receive a complimentary drink of your choice, and I hope you will return to dine with us again. Thank you for supporting my new venture.”
There was a round of applause and more than a few whistles. Lucien bowed to those below, then turned and did the same to the people dining on our level. When he returned to our table, Bianca, the manager I’d met the day before, approached our table. They discussed the logistics of offering complimentary drinks and talked through a few other issues that had arisen.
“Can you tell me more about what happened?” I asked when Bianca had departed.
Lucien frowned. “All you need to know is that the attack we were expecting occurred. It seems everyone but the man you saw was stopped before they reached the restaurant.”
His voice was strained, and I could tell, despite the calm he’d shown when speaking to the restaurant patrons, he was tense. “Are you sure there’s no one else? Nothing else planned?”
“As sure as I can be about anything. Everyone is still on high alert, so stop worrying and enjoy your dessert.”
I could tell he wasn’t going to answer any more questions, and it would be a crime to ignore the rest of my orgasmically good tiramisu or to let Lucien ignore his when I knew dessert was his favorite part of any meal. The sweet cream combined with the bitterness of espresso was like Lucien’s touch turned into a food. They’d paired it with a sweet white wine that wasn’t like anything I’d ever tasted, but I was very eager to have more.
I knew absolutely nothing about wine before coming to live with Lucien, but at his house, every dinner was accompanied by a few bottles of wine that likely cost more than I’d spent on groceries in a week when I’d been on my own. But even after getting used to having wine every night, the numerous glasses I’d had over the course of our dinner had given me a warm buzz, which made it easier for me to ignore the danger we were in.
Lucien smiled at me, and I saw warmth in his eyes, not just desire but something more. Or was that just the wine making me see exactly what I longed for?
18
Lucien
When we’d finished our dessert, I asked Peter if he needed anything else before we left.
He gave me a soft smile. “I don’t think I could eat another bite, and I’m sure I don’t need more to drink. Thank you for tonight. I’ve never had a dinner like this.”
“You deserve to eat this well every night.” I reached for his hand and ran my thumb over the back of it. “I like when you’re a little tipsy. You smile more easily, and the flush on your cheeks reminds me of—”
“Sir, your car has been brought around.” I wanted to snarl at the young man for the interruption, but he was simply doing his job.
“Are you ready to go?” I asked Peter.
“Yes,” he rose to his feet, looking slightly unsteady. I offered my arm. He took it and leaned heavily against me. I liked the feel of him there, pressed against my side. I greeted a few people as we headed downstairs. Angelo was waiting for me by the employee entrance.
“I need to finish up some business here,” I said as I squeezed Peter’s hand. “Angelo will escort you home, and I’ll join you as soon as I can.”
Angelo frowned, and I could tell something was wrong. “There’s been another development.”
I gestured for him to follow us back inside. When the three of us were in the manager’s office, I said, “Tell me.”
“Men were sent to infiltrate our house. I think they were hoping to find Sabrina or Devil there.”
“Did they?”
He grinned. “Yes, but you can imagine how that went for them.”
I could. Devil lived by the motto of shoot first and also shoot later, and Sabrina was just as good a shot as he was, not to mention her knife throwing skills.
“Devil is meeting us at the warehouse, and Sabrina has been taken to a safehouse, though she’s mad as fuck about it.”
I dreaded listening to her tirade, but I couldn’t worry about that right now. What mattered was that she was safe. “As far as we know, the house is secure now,” Angelo said. “But—”
“I can’t risk it. Take Peter to the car and wait for me. He’ll have to come to the warehouse with us.”
Angelo looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.” I would rather not have Peter at the warehouse. He would see shit that would disturb him, but I wasn’t letting him out of my sight. Unlike my family, he wasn’t prepared to defend himself if attacked, and I wasn’t going to let anyone so much as give him a paper cut. I didn’t want to think more about what the intensity of my feelings for him meant, but I couldn’t deny them.
Peter
had lost most of the color in his face, and I could tell he wanted to ask questions. “It will be okay. I promise.”
I finished up at the restaurant and decided, despite the attempts by the fucking Riccis, opening night had been a huge success. Our take for the evening was more than I’d anticipated, even considering the drinks we’d comped. The tables in the main dining rooms had all been reserved, but there had also been a continuous line of people waiting to be seated at the bar or one of the surrounding hightops. It felt even better than I’d expected to have such a great start to what was—at least for now—a completely legitimate business.
The night was about to turn unpleasant, though. I was going to have to deal with the men who’d tried to ruin my opening as well as the ones who’d dared to attack my home. Violating my property like that could not be handled lightly. If I was going to hold my position and keep control of my family’s territory, I had to deal with the leaders of these men swiftly and without mercy, then send the rest back to their boss with a message from me that any further interference in my business or my family’s personal lives would not be tolerated.
Less than half an hour later, my driver pulled up in front of a warehouse my family owned. We used it for storage but also as a meeting place when we needed to make a deal with someone we didn’t want to bring into our offices. Occasionally, we also used the space as a holding spot for men we needed to interrogate or get rid of.
Angelo jumped out of the car almost before we came to a stop. I was as eager as he was to get this over with. Peter was already shaken, and I wanted to get him home where I could care for him and help him forget this unpleasant part of our evening. Ricci would pay for scaring him like this and ruining what could’ve been a beautiful evening for the two of us. I’d originally planned to take Peter dancing after the opening and then home where I would strip him out of the fine clothes I’d chosen for him, lay him out on my bed, and feast on him.
I exited the car and held my hand out for Peter. He reached for me, slid across the seat, and rose from the car. “What’s going to happen now?”
Lucien Page 11
