Mafia Protection (Tomassi Series Book 1)

by AA Lee

  “Relax, after a couple of drinks you won’t even notice.” Lila stopped moving as a cocktail waitress held out a tray of shots in front of her. “Just what we needed.” Lila threw some bills on the tray. “I’m taking four.” She turned around, gave Ella two, and then took two off the tray for herself. “Drink up. You need it.”

  Ella did not know what were in the shots, but she did need something if she was going to stay. “You said that you were meeting your friend Brandi, didn’t you?” she asked.

  “Yes, but she gets off at nine. We passed her on the way in, but she was in the middle of a dance.”

  “You mean the girl with the tassels?” Ella looked back.

  “Yes, that was her. Let’s wait for her at the bar.”

  For a moment, Ella pondered where she was. Her father would have thrown a fit if he knew. He was always on full guard when it came to crowds. It made Ella do the same. She looked around and scanned the crowd just as her father used to do. It seemed everyone was enthralled with the dancers and their cocktails. There would probably be little to worry about other than moving out of the way for a drunken brawl.

  Ella turned back around as the bartender approached where they stood. “How’re you doing, sweetheart?” he asked Lila. “And who is your friend?”

  “Robby, this is Ella. Ella, this is my boyfriend, Robby.”

  “Hello,” greeted Ella.

  “Hey,” Robby said. “I know what Lila wants, but she will have to wait until after my shift ends. How about you?”

  Ella stared at him, at his spiked brown hair and the devious smirk on his face. He was more open than she would have liked. If she were Lila, Ella might take offense, yet Lila was all smiles as she leaned over and flashed her breasts for his gawking eyes.

  “I’ll have a glass of merlot. What do you have in your private stock?” she asked.

  Both Robby and Lila’s heads turned sideways and stared at her. Did she ask for something unusual? Ella could not figure out where their confusion stemmed. “Honey, we carry liquor and beer—no wine.” Ella frowned at his statement. Was it so odd to ask for wine? Why did they not carry wine anyway?

  “Mixed drinks,” Robby added. “You know what they are, don’t you? You take your favorite liquor or liquors and mix it with tonic or soda or something of that nature.”

  If Ella did not know better, she would think he was making fun of her by the humored tone in his voice. Should she play dumb, or should she return his subtle insult? Ella looked him straight in the eyes and gave him her sweetest smile. “Then I’ll have an embassy cocktail. It’s a complicated drink. I hope you know how to make it. If you don’t, I will gladly show you how.”

  Robby chuckled and grabbed a glass from on the bar. “Your sarcasm is noted.” He smiled. “And there will be no need to show me how.”

  “My boss is something else, isn’t she?” Lila pointed out. “You think she’s nice until you say something that gets under her skin.”

  “The drink is on me,” Robby said. “I think you will fit right in here.”

  No, probably not, Ella thought but smiled when she took the drink. There was absolutely no way she would ever fit in with this crowd if she wanted. She was surprised that one of her father’s assistants had not barged in yet to carry her off. That was what happened when she was in college, and it was still a mystery to Ella about how they knew where she was.

  “Hey, Lila.” Brandi approached. A sleek short dress replaced her red tassels. A hair tie now pulled up her long brown hair and showed off her bleached blond tips. “Hey, Robby, give me a shot of tequila. After that last table, I need it,” she said.

  “Well, what did you expect with your new outfit? Even I had to fan my face.” Robby opened his mouth and waved his hand in front.

  “Yeah, but I know that you won’t try to touch. Lila will keep you in line.”

  “Yes, I will.” Lila glared at Robby in jest. “But you did look hot out there. You can’t be all that surprised, Brandi.”

  “Yes, the new outfit was a hit, and…” Brandi felt Ella’s eyes on her and pointed. “What are you staring at?”

  Was Ella staring? She thought she was only listening to their conversation. Ella found it interesting that Lila did not seem to care if her boyfriend was looking at the dancers. Ella would not like it at all.

  “Ella,” she said and held out her hand to Brandi. “I came with Lila.”

  Brandi shook hands and then looked at Ella, scanned her white buttoned blouse, and then looked back at Lila. “I can’t believe you brought her in those clothes. She looks like a virgin preschool teacher.”

  Ella’s brows rose with contempt as she smoothed down nonexistent wrinkles on her skirt. Was that how she came across to people—a virgin? Even if she was minus the teacher part, they did not have to know it was true. She acted as though the comment did not faze her at all.

  “It will get me free drinks then.” She held out her glass and took another sip.

  Brandi’s face darted back to Ella. Her eyes lit up with the wide smirk forming on her lips. “You and I should hang out more. My favorite word is free.”

  Ella smiled. She would have laughed except Brandi’s expression showed that she was serious. Ella was not sure what to make of Brandi yet. She typically did not like people who did not intend to pay for themselves.

  “Well, I’m finished with this place tonight, Lila. Why don’t you and Ella come back to my place? I have a couple of bottles at home and I need a shower.”

  “I’m in,” said Lila. “Are you, Ella?”

  “I better not. I have to be up early,” Ella said.

  “Oh,” Lila smiled. “That’s right. Ella has a date in the morning.”

  “You have a date in the morning?” Brandi exclaimed. “What kind of loser takes you out in the morning? Where is the fun in that?”

  Ella just shook her head. “Thanks, Lila.”

  “Sorry, Ella.” Lila’s bottom lip stuck out.

  “And you are going to leave me here alone?” Robby said, making the women look back over at him.

  “I forgot that you were even there,” Brandi laughed. “You always see Lila. It’s my turn.”

  “Sorry, babe.” Lila gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “You don’t get out until closing anyway.”

  “Fine, but don’t have too much fun without me.”

  “Never, babe.” Lila blew him a kiss as he moved to help another customer.

  ***

  When the women exited the club, there was not an empty space in the parking lot. Ella had already parked away from the building, but with the spaces filled beyond where she parked, she was glad that she remembered the aisle number.

  “I parked on number eight,” she said as Brandi and Lila followed her to her car. She did not want to walk alone and a bouncer escorted the two of them.

  Ella stopped in front of her Civic and stared. Her car leaned slightly to the left. There was something not quite right in the lean, and Ella took a few steps to get a closer look.

  “Ella, you have a flat,” Lila pointed.

  Ella gazed at the left front tire. It was not only flat, but the rim touched the pavement. Ella wondered how the tire could have lost air that fast. Then she saw the left rear tire.

  “Ella, did you piss someone off?” Lila added to her aggravation.

  Ella reflected on who would have done such a thing. Her father might not approve of where she was, but he would have made her leave—not kept her from going. Whom else did she know?

  “I don’t know what to think,” Ella replied. Having one flat would be a stroke of bad luck…but two. It appeared intentional. “I will have to come back in the morning when the repair shops are open for business. I am going back inside to call a taxi.”

  “No need,” Brandi said. “How far away do you live?”

  “About twenty minutes in Key Biscayne.”

  “I’ll give you a ride then. It will be at least forty-five minutes for a taxi. Come on.”

  Ella nodd
ed while looking back. It made no sense. She never made anyone mad—not mad enough to follow her to a club and flatten her tires. Who would have sabotaged her car?

  CHAPTER 9

  Angelo pulled onto a narrow paved street and drove for about a mile from the main road. Ella’s beach house was in a private, secluded area. Her family must have liked their privacy when they vacationed in Key Biscayne. There was not another house in sight.

  The street ended with a small parking space that reached a couple of palms. The tiny house must have had one bedroom—possibly two. The wooden piers held the house up high. A concrete walkway led to the house and parted; on one end, it stretched across a short bridge to the empty beach. The other reached a long white stairway that led to Ella’s front door.

  Angelo turned off the ignition and got out of his car. He looked around at the sand dunes surrounding her house as he climbed up the sturdy white steps. It really was a private place, almost dangerous for a single woman to live in. If she had to leave in a hurry, it would take a couple of minutes to get to her car. Speaking of her car…where was it? Did she forget he was meeting her here?

  Angelo knocked on the front door and waited. The door was average size, and there were no chips in the paint. It pleased him that she kept the house up to date. The porch area was small, yet there was enough room for a swing. He pictured Ella outside and swinging, relaxing with the sound of the waves. At the same time, if someone were mad at her, she would be an easy target to track. It was part of his nature to think ahead for dangerous situations. Ella could be in no danger at all.

  “Hello, Mr. Tomassi,” she said and opened the door. “Would you like to come inside?”

  Angelo glanced at the small sofa that was big enough for only two people. If he went in, he would likely be a threat to her in the secluded space. “No.” He took a step back. “Are you ready to leave?”

  “Yes, I’m ready.” Ella ducked behind the door and grabbed the strap to her purse.

  Angelo turned to the ocean and waited for the door to click shut before he spoke again. “I noticed that your car wasn’t here. Is it being worked on?”

  “Well…” Ella started walking and reached the steps before glancing back. “I went out with Lila last night. We couldn’t have been inside for more than an hour. When I came back out, both of my left tires were flat.”

  “Both of them?” asked Angelo. “Where did you go?”

  Ella hesitated on her way down. Did she not want to tell him where she went? Wait, she did go with Lila, so the place could not have been good.

  “Well?” he repeated.

  “A club in Miami.” She tried to avoid the name.

  “Which club?” he persisted.

  Ella blew out a puff of air. “The Flaming Torch,” she mumbled.

  Yes, he knew of the place. He should. His father used to own it, and it was in no way a suitable place for Ella. “You didn’t know what kind of a club it was, did you?” Angelo looked at her and opened the passenger door of his black Mercedes.

  “No, I didn’t,” she answered. “It wasn’t that bad, though. I met a couple of Lila’s friends.”

  “Not that bad?” Angelo scoffed and shut her door, moving around the car to the driver’s side. “That club is located on one of the most dangerous streets in Miami. Do you know the type of risk you took by stepping foot through the parking lot? Lila would not have been able to protect you. You should have gotten right back inside your car when you realized what kind of club it was.”

  “Mr. Tomassi, I couldn’t just leave her there.”

  “Why not? She had gone there before. You said she had friends.”

  “Mr. Tomassi,” Ella protested.

  Angelo held up his finger to her and did not let her finish as he took out his phone. “Brett, where are you right now?” He nodded. “Good, I want you and Sammy to meet me at The Flaming Torch. I’m about twenty minutes away.”

  “Mr. Tomassi,” Ella asked, “what are you doing?”

  “Do you really think I’m going to let you go back there by yourself?”

  “It is my problem, though. I don’t have anything on me that will make me a target.”

  Angelo looked over at her as he entered the causeway. Was she really that naïve? Did she not understand the dangers of Miami? “Oh, you mean besides you, because a pretty woman in a dress who stands outside of a strip club in the middle of the day isn’t enough to stop a rapist.”

  Ella glanced at him and pressed her lips together, dissatisfied with his words. “Now you are making me feel bad. I was with Lila. It would have been rude of me to leave her by herself.”

  Angelo knew he spoke with a coldhearted tone, but he could not help it. He did not want Ella to get hurt, and he would take responsibility for fixing her car to make sure she was safe. He hated to think of the potential danger she would be in by herself.

  When he pulled into the club, a few cars speckled the lot. He noticed that they did not have flat tires so the offense probably belonged to Ella alone. Brett and Sammy were already waiting for him to arrive. As soon as he stopped in front of Ella’s car, they pulled to a stop next to him.

  “You wait in here,” he pointed at Ella. “I don’t want you to get your white dress dirty.”

  He stepped out and motioned for Brett to do the same. Brett followed him to the driver’s side of her car. “Go look at the rear tire, Brett. I’ll look at this one.” He squatted down and strummed his fingers against the outside. The tread looked brand new. There were no reflections from nails or screws, and no air leaked from the valve, yet the tire’s rims touched the ground.

  “Brett, did you find anything on that one?” Angelo asked.

  He watched Brett get low on the pavement and start feeling the back of the tire. Brett was a faithful member. He did everything that Angelo asked without question. Two years before, Brett witnessed Angelo shoot a man outside of a local convenience store. Instead of running or threatening to turn Angelo in, he banged on Angelo’s car window and asked for a job. The gun that Angelo pointed at his head did not shake him at all. No matter what slew of curses Angelo shouted, Brett just smiled with determination. Angelo either had to shoot him or hire him, so he had no choice but to let Brett in the car.

  “Boss,” Brett said. “Somebody stabbed the back of the tire.” Brett got up and went to the front of the car. It took him only a few seconds before he spoke again. “They stabbed this one too. It’s a clean cut. They knew what they were doing.”

  “All right, Brett, call Regg. Tell him the make and model and to have one of his men come fix it.” Angelo walked back to his car and opened Ella’s door. “Somebody slashed your tires. Do you have any idea about who it could be?”

  Ella slowly shook her head back and forth. “I thought about that last night, but I couldn’t come up with anyone. It didn’t make sense to me.”

  “Well, somebody is mad at you. I am certain about that. They thought you might not notice if they cut the back of your tires. Maybe they were hoping to catch you leave alone at the end of the night. Since you parked so far away from the entrance, I doubt the cameras would have picked up anything. It is all speculation until you know for sure, but you need to start being more careful with where you go. For now, I am going to need the key to your car.”

  “But, Mr. Tomassi, I can’t let you fix my car. It’s my problem.”

  “Not anymore,” he replied. “Since you are with me today, it just became mine. Brett is already on the phone with the repair shop anyway. There is no point in arguing with me. When they are finished, they will drive the car to the restaurant.”

  “Well, you certainly handle things fast. How did you know who to call?”

  “The company I work for…let’s just say we have a lot of connections.”

  “How lucky,” Ella muttered in awe.

  “Luck?” he scoffed with a wave of his hand. “Trust me; luck has nothing to do with it.”

  CHAPTER 10

  Ella admired Angelo’s face a
s he pulled next to a dock and parked in front of a series of small cruise ships. She normally would have gazed at the water, yet she found it difficult to peel her eyes away from him. The veins in his arms were not as defined. His stern expression and the creases around his mouth seemed to relax. His breathing was steady—calm. A small part of her hoped that being around her put him at ease. It must have been difficult for him to let down his guard with anyone at all. Maybe the company he worked for kept him on edge.

  “Have you ever been on a day cruise?” he asked and looked over at her.

  “No, I have never been on any kind of a ship,” she admitted. “There isn’t a lot that I have done.” She glanced out of the front window. Excitement started to creep in her chest. Going on a day cruise and having a date with Angelo made her knees start to shake. The scent of his cologne kept reminding her that she was alone with a handsome man.

  “Then you should enjoy yourself.” He stepped out and opened her door. “This boat normally fits thirty, but it’s just us this morning. It will take about an hour to finish, so make sure you have everything you need.” Ella showed him her purse and slipped it around her head, letting it fall diagonally to her side. “All right, then let’s go.”

  The chills she felt intensified when his hand touched her shoulder. He was guiding her in front of him as though protecting her from some unknown source that would come out of hiding. She did not know what concerned him. Maybe her flat tires made him unnerved. However, the warmth of his chest made her forget about everything else that had happened. His body was practically touching her.

  Angelo stepped over the water from the dock to the boat; then he held out his hand and pulled her across. With her hand still in his, Angelo led her to the back of the ship. There was a long gray cushioned bench where Angelo sat, waiting as the ship started to move. Ella did not sit but walked immediately to the metal rails instead, gazing at the wake the ship left behind.

  “I bet this ride is beautiful when the sun sets too.” Ella glanced back at him, noticing he paid little attention to the scenery passing by. Even though he seemed relaxed, Angelo showed no hint of pleasure for the sea. His hands rested nimbly on his lap; his facial features appeared clouded—almost sad. Ella stared at him closer, analyzing him and trying to read his thoughts. He knew so many people, yet the vibe she received from the blank look in his eyes was almost the same as what she felt most of the time—loneliness.