by Soraya Naomi
Fallon releases a heavy breath, and it instantly becomes chaotic with two people on two phones while I try to follow the GPS directions.
I honk when another car drives too slowly in the left lane. “Move, asshole!”
“Cam, the soldier can get her.” Adriano’s voice is uncompromising.
“Then James will know what happened within seconds and he’ll overreact.”
Next to me, Fallon’s talking heatedly to Luca, “I’ll be fine. Wade’s here as well.”
“They involved me without my consent,” Wade pipes in, loud enough for Luca to hear.
“Okay, everyone shut up!” I yell, racing past cars. “Adriano, put me on speaker. Fallon, hang up.”
“Luca, listen in with Adriano,” Fallon says and disconnects her phone.
“Cam, answer me; where is she exactly?” Adriano repeats icily.
“The Ukrainian sex club,” I confess.
“What?!” I hear both Luca and Adriano roar.
“Fallon, you stay in that car or so help me god...” Luca manages to grind out.
Fallon and I glance at each other, and she answers, “Fine.”
“Adriano, Luca, we’re just going inside, getting her, and then we’ll be out.” The black car is still driving behind me, so I ask, “Is there a soldier tailing me, Adriano?”
“Of course,” he replies unapologetically. “They’ve been ordered not to lose you for a second or else I’ll shoot them.”
“Jesus Christ, Adriano! How many men are constantly watching me?”
Suddenly, it’s silent. I store this for later because I promised to call Rosalia back.
“Never mind. I’m going, and you can’t stop me,” I state.
“Camilla, don’t you dare go in there alone,” Adriano orders in a dictatorial tone he’s never used with me before.
“I’m not alone,” I defend. “Wade and the soldier that’s tailing me are here too. I have to call Rosalia now.”
“Don’t fucking hang up on me,” he warns.
“I’ll call you back as soon as I’ve found her and we’re back in the car. Or the soldier behind me will beat me to it. I love you. Don’t be mad.” The words tumble out in a rush, and I seize the phone from Fallon’s hand and end the call.
“Well, I wouldn’t want to be you now,” Wade comments.
“It’s not easy living with our men,” I mumble, and Fallon leans her head back against the headrest.
Within ten minutes, I’m passing what seems like the tenth church or cathedral in West Town while I try to find our destination.
“Take a left here, Cam,” Wade directs when I almost take a wrong turn.
“Call Rosalia,” I tell Fallon, and she presses on speaker again.
“Cam?” Rosalia asks hopefully.
“I’m almost there. Can you go to the front entrance?”
She slurs, and I can’t decipher her words, so I cut the engine in the first vacant spot I see and we all jump out in front of a mundane looking bar.
“Follow me.” Wade leads the way inside.
People stare at us as we pass them. We do make an odd threesome. Wade in his neatly pressed navy slacks and dress shirt and Fallon and I in plain jeans and casual tops because we came straight from the gym.
At the far end of the bar is another door that’s guarded by a buff man. Wade says something to him, and he allows us entry.
Then we emerge into another world. A Slavic melody is playing in this lavish room that’s decorated in bold shades of yellow and blue. I see the Ukrainian flag with those bright colors that clash beautifully in this erotically charged atmosphere, and around us, people are dancing, kissing, and grinding.
“She’s not answering her phone anymore.” Fallon comes up next to me, her eyes darting around as well.
Wade flanks my other side. “Where was she earlier?”
“In the ladies room. We should split up,” I suggest.
“Are you kidding me?” Wade counters. “I don’t want to be on Adriano and Luca’s death list. We remain together. Stay with me.”
I catch the attention of a tall blond man with grey eyes that pierce through me, but I pay him no heed. We shadow Wade while inspecting the room.
“This place is mesmerizing,” Fallon mutters.
“I know. How the hell did Rosalia get in here?” I wonder out loud.
“I guess she has some bad friends,” Fallon replies while surveying the dance floor.
As we careen through the crowd, I take her hand in mine so we don’t lose each other.
“She just texted that she’s still in the ladies room,” Fallon informs us and starts to search for it, but I’m taller and can see a bit over the throng of people.
I halt Wade by his arm, and he turns his head to me, so I beckon toward the back. “Bathroom.”
Passing a booth area with sapphire draperies, we finally reach the ladies room. Unceremoniously, Wade pushes down the lever and ducks inside. “Rosalia!” he shouts.
“Hey, this is the ladies room!” a slender brunette protests.
“I apologize, ladies.” He smiles, and they practically melt. “But I’m looking for my friend who’s not feeling well.”
“Oh, there’s a girl puking in the last stall,” she says before she saunters out.
Wade bangs open the white door, and we find Rosalia sitting in the floor with her head resting back against the wall.
“Oh god, Rosalia!” I hunch down, combing back her sleek, long black hair from her face.
Her unfocused eyes open sluggishly. “Cam.”
“How are you feeling?”
She leans in close and whispers loudly, “Better, after I threw up.”
Wade, who’s in a hurry like I am, states, “Come on. Get up.”
Affronted, Rosalia points her thumb at him. “Who the hell is he?”
“He is here to save your ass.” Wade bends down to seize her by her upper arm and hauls her up as if she weighs nothing.
“Hey, careful! Oh, I do know you,” she chatters with a smile. “You’re Fallon’s hot friend.”
Wade groans while I attempt to hide a grin, and he ignores her. “Cam, you leave with Fallon first, and I’ll walk out with Rosalia.”
Rosalia is gawking at Wade, grinding her teeth.
“She’s high on ecstasy,” Fallon points out. “I’ve been drugged before, and teeth grinding is one of the side effects.”
“Probably so.” Wade steadies Rosalia and pulls her into his side. “Try to walk like a normal person.”
“Yes, Grinch,” Rosalia says seriously, making me chuckle.
Wade shoots me a glare. “Camilla, we’re on Ukrainian mafia territory, and we need to get out without being spotted. If anyone recognizes you as the Capo crimine’s girl, we’ll have a big problem.”
Fallon’s eyes widen. “Oh, shit. We’re on mafia territory?”
“We’ll be fine,” I insist. “Let’s go. Stay with Wade, Rosalia.”
As we walk out, I sense someone’s watching me, but I don’t see anyone paying me any attention. We hurry out of there without stumbling upon any trouble.
“Give me the keys,” Wade demands at the car and dumps Rosalia into my arms.
After I throw him the device, he clicks the car open, and I deposit Rosalia in the back seat and join her. Wade returns us to the Loop while Rosalia just prattles on and on.
Fallon angles her body to face us. “How did you get into that place, Rosalia?”
“Mykhail’s father is the owner. He goes to my college. He’s an asshole because he ditched me for a blonde.”
“Did he drug you?” I ask.
“Probably.”
“You need new friends,” Wade tells her.
“Says the Grinch who hangs out with two women on Saturday night,” Rosalia throws back.
Wade simply snorts in return. “Is that supposed to be a jibe, because it isn’t. It’s actually a nice compliment.”
Rosalia wants to retort, but I interrupt their banter. “I�
�ll take care of your friend. Don’t meet him again.”
“I wasn’t planning to. And thanks for helping me.” She hugs me tightly, and her mood shifts to uplifted within a second, maybe another side effect of the drugs. “Now, since I’m high and not feeling nauseous anymore, what are we going to do?”
Wade and Fallon’s gazes clash. Fallon and I are on edge because we know we’ll encounter trouble at home. Wade’s visibly annoyed by Rosalia’s constant blabbering.
“Where should we go?” Wade addresses me.
“We can’t drop her off at her house in that condition,” Fallon says but states it more as a question.
“No. We can take her to Club 7,” I offer. “We’ll let her sober up and make sure the guards see her there so that they can verify her alibi with James.”
Again, like a switch, Rosalia’s mood changes, but this time, she turns serious. “Wait, will Adriano be there? Does he know you had to bail me out?”
“Yes,” I reply. “Why? He won’t say a word.”
Rosalia makes a scoffing sound. “Only if you’re intact. Everyone knows he’ll go ballistic if anything happens to you. You’re like his kryptonite. No, his reverse kryptonite. You make him strong. And kryptonite makes Superman weak. So yes, you’re his reverse kryptonite.”
“Strangely,” Fallon cuts in with a half-smile, “I do understand what she means.”
“Are you still talking?” Wade mumbles to Rosalia.
She rolls her eyes and rears back against the seat while I watch the clouds drift by, assembling my plan.
“Adriano’s going to be furious,” Fallon states to me.
“I’ll handle him.”
***
As soon as we’re inside Club 7, which has just opened its doors for the night, a guard escorts us up the back staircase toward Adriano’s office.
Rosalia’s surprisingly quiet, and I realize she’s just as on edge as the rest of us. She knows how this world works and is also bracing herself for Adriano’s wrath.
As we move past seating areas on the carpeted second floor, the dancing crowd is visible below. We head to our destination, and the door is pulled open by a seething Luca before I’ve even knocked.
Adriano’s office has a contemporary look with a midnight black floor and walls painted an immaculate white. The window is covered by black floor-to-ceiling curtains that are always drawn shut, and the only light comes from the giant chrome standing floor lamps in two opposite corners. The furniture consists of a large Italian black glass desk that sits in front of the window with leather padded chairs surrounding it.
Adriano’s behind his desk, with an equally thunderous expression settled on me as he takes a drag of his smoke.
I implore Fallon with my eyes to play it cool, and she lets me take the lead.
“Well, nice of you to come to us,” Luca snarls but closes the door calmly as we stand there in line with Wade.
It would be comical if the two bosses weren’t glowering at us.
“How is she?” Adriano crushes his cigarette in the glass ashtray, and then he reclines back.
“She just needs to sober up. Her friend gave her ecstasy or something,” I answer.
The most pressing silence I’ve ever known settles over us while Adriano’s attention is fixated on me. “What’s the name of your friend, Rosalia?”
“Mykhail. Why?”
“We’re going to have a talk with him,” Adriano informs her, holding my gaze captive.
This means that Mykhail will be in pain soon; I can guarantee that.
Adriano carries on, “James isn’t home, so you need to go there and sleep this off. One of my guards will take you. Can I trust you to go to sleep quietly?”
“Yes, I promise I’ll go to sleep. You won’t tell my father?” Her tone is hopeful.
“We won’t. But one more incident and I will inform James, Rosalia. You not only put yourself in danger but also Luca’s wife, Cam, and Wade. I will not tolerate this again.”
“I understand. I’m sorry. Please don’t be mad at Cam and Fallon.”
“What about me?” Wade asks, acting as if he’s offended.
Rosalia rolls her eyes at him. “You can be mad at him.”
Fallon and I smile, but neither man is amused.
“Now, Cam.” Adriano comes up to me, looking feral in his black dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows as he gives me a once-over. “Where’s your gun?”
“I couldn’t hide it anywhere.”
Veins bulge on his forehead. “You went in there without any weapons?”
I stand tall because I’m a Capo. “I was careful.”
His contained fury is absolutely palpable; however, I had to help my sister.
“I couldn’t leave her—”
“You should’ve let the soldier take care of this.” His face reddens when I don’t stand down. “I’m so fucking mad!”
Everyone else is quiet as Adriano impales me with an icy stare.
“Don’t ever hang up on me again. I’m your Capo crimine.” It’s a direct order like he’s never given me before.
He sifts both hands in his hair as he takes in my features. This position of boss is slowly altering Adriano. I can tell from the way he’s trying to control me more and more. While he was wild and untamed before, now, with more power, he’s becoming stricter. I’m afraid that all the obedient men around him make him worry more about my disobedient behavior. He’s not used to people going against him anymore. But I’ve learned from him how to choose my battles and be persuasive. This situation isn’t worth the fight; I need to soothe him.
“I’m sorry. I won’t do it again,” I offer because witnessing his agony hurts my heart.
“No, you won’t,” he retorts, but I rest my palm on his heart in reconciliation.
He grips my hand and lets out a deep sigh, visibly calming down.
Fallon goes to Luca as he and Wade sneer at each other, and she touches his cheek. “Nothing happened, and we didn’t plan this. Without Wade, we wouldn’t have gotten in.”
That’s not true, but I keep my mouth shut. Fallon and I would’ve gotten in somehow. I would’ve never left Rosalia there.
Luca softens and pulls her to him. “I don’t want you getting involved in incidents like this. Cam is a Capo, but you’re untrained, Fallon.”
“But we’re fine.” She looks at Wade pleadingly, silently urging him to help her.
“Well,” Wade remarks, “she’s right. I wouldn’t have taken them in if I didn’t think I could handle the situation in there.”
“Next time, wait for our men,” Adriano orders, and to my surprise, Wade concedes.
A knock on the door announces that the guard’s ready to take Rosalia home.
“I’m leaving too,” Wade says.
“So are we,” Adriano comments to me in a less fuming tone than a minute ago.
Then Luca and Fallon say they’re going home as well, and we all disband. But on our way out, Luca and Adriano are called back into Adriano’s office to sign some papers, so I wait at the bar after getting a bottle of water, and Fallon continues to Luca’s car.
Gulping it down, I notice two blond men in wrinkled suits that are perusing the room – since it’s not busy yet, they stand out. One of them nods once, and I follow his line of sight to another man who then disappears into the hallway that leads to the back entrance.
Warning signs go off in my head, and I stop a guard by his arm as he passes me. “Watch those two men. I think we have unwelcome intruders.” I jerk my chin to them. “I’m going after the third man they just signaled into the hallway.”
I slip to the hall and see the man going toward the elevator that will take him down to the sex club.
CHAPTER 4
Adriano
I hike up the flight of stairs two at a time toward my office where the sex club manager, Tez, is waiting for us to finalize some legal documents.
Little by little, I find some serenity now that Cam is with me agai
n. She’s mine to protect, always. And the sinner that I am finds it challenging to restrain her reckless behavior. It’s impossible to control her, and I adore her for that. But it also concerns me more now that I’m boss.
Right after Luca’s scribbled down his signature, I hand the documents over to Tez and then the telephone on the desk rings, so I press the speaker button. “Yes.”
“We have trouble. Ukrainians are walking around on the first floor,” the guard announces.
I’m on alert instantly, as is Luca, who calls Fallon and commands into the phone, “Drive away right now. Go home. I’ll explain later.” He ends the call with Fallon and inquires, “Where’s Cam exactly, Adriano?”
“At the bar, I think,” I answer him and bark into the speaker, “Find Cam and take her to safety. That’s your only priority.”
Quickly, I try to contact Cam but no answer.
The guard calls back. “She’s not at the bar, Adriano.”
“Motherfucker!”
That same sense of dread that overcame me when Cam went to Ukrainian Village returns with a vengeance. I detest that she’s inside the club while there’s trouble, and it weakens me greatly. They say true love makes a person strong, but true love in the mafia impairs you. Annoyance that she’s in danger for the second time today creeps along my skin.
“This is why I didn’t want them going into Ukrainian territory,” I grind out. “Well, find her!”
I barge out of my office but stop dead in my tracks when I come across three men who are waiting for me.
“Mr. Montesi, I’d like to talk. I have something of interest to you,” a blond of height equal to mine states.
“I doubt that.” Perhaps he’s a distraction while Ukrainians invade my club.
“It regards business. I’m here on behalf of Yakiv Medlov. I’m his underboss, Peter. And you’re the new owner of the sex club on the underground floor. To our surprise, Club 7 doesn’t buy women from us anymore since the club came under new ownership.”
I stay quiet as I advance back inside my office and look at my ankle for a second for Luca to see. I’m suspecting that they’re armed, because Peter’s too composed while being on my territory and that’s a complete breach of security. My handgun is stashed in my ankle holster along with my knife, and I know that most often Luca carries his piece in the back waistband of his pants, hidden underneath his suit jacket.
