“They’re scaling up around here,” one of them says as he walks by me. He appears to be the youngest of the bunch and has slicked-back black hair.
His leer leaves me feeling like Donny’s did earlier, like I got sprayed with gutter slime, but my smile never wavers.
Four men file into the conclave—two important guests and a pair who are obviously bodyguards. Once they’re out of sight, I hurry to Stefano and the bar that now feels like safety, regardless of the fact that I met the man only a few hours ago. His tall, broad-shouldered form is nearly as big as Grice’s, but instead of being bald like the younger security guard, his snow-white hair is styled in a spiky fashion. He wears black slacks, a white shirt, and a black vest and tie, which is the masculine version of what I wear.
“Why am I getting the impression that Cannon told me not to talk to them for my safety and not because he was worried about me embarrassing him and the club?” I whisper.
Stefano pauses polishing an already spotless glass behind the bar. “Because he did. You don’t want the Rossettis to remember you.”
Oh my God.That’s who they are.
The Rossettis.The Cassos’ number-one rival crime family in the city. I know the name, but since I’ve spent almost all my time digging exclusively into the Cassos, I don’t know as many details as I’d like.
“The Rossettis?” I hook my thumbs in the pockets of my vest as I try to casually pump Stefano for more information while pretending I’ve never heard of them. Meanwhile, my brain is going crazy.
Holy shit. This meeting is a huge fucking deal.My research showed that these two families have been mortal enemies for decades. Many suspected but unconfirmed incidents, both offensive and retaliatory, have been linked to both families.
Stefano’s brows go up. “Giancarlo and his son, GTR? You’ve never heard of them?”
I shake my head, playing dumb.
His shocked expression tells me I’m doing a bang-up job. “It’s probably good you haven’t, especially GTR. But if you ever see him coming, you cross the street.”
I open my mouth, planning to ask follow-up questions, but before I can gather my thoughts, Grice opens the door and four more men file in, led by Dominic Casso himself.
A whirlpool of unease threatens to sweep me under as I track his movements. Cannon meets his father in the middle of the club and speaks loudly enough for me to overhear from the bar.
“They’re here.”
Dom’s bodyguards, the same ones from the sidewalk, stop behind him as he speaks to the son he’s never publicly acknowledged, according to the insight I gleaned from Randi and my own research.
“Of course they are. You think I’d show up before them?” Dom shoves a hand in his suit pants and jangles some change.
“I’m surprised they showed at all.”
“Even Giancarlo Rossetti wouldn’t dare snub me by refusing an invite to meet.”
But why are they meeting now?I desperately want to know the answer to that question, but of course, Dom doesn’t cover that topic. He’d probably need to be in a room swept for bugs and barricaded with steel doors and an escape route from the Feds before spilling secrets like that.
Stefano clinks two glasses together as he replaces the spotless one on the rack, and Dom, his bodyguards, and Cannon all look our way.
A flash of recognition sweeps across Dom’s face as he sees me standing at the bar.
“Drew.” His tone softens when he says my name, carrying none of the harshness he used when speaking to his son. “What are the odds? You still laughing, pretty girl?”
Cannon’s attention cuts between me and his father as a wave of fire washes up my face.
I have to be bright red. Not wanting to disobey Cannon’s orders ofdon’t speak, I paste a bright smile on my face that is as fake as my name. I just hope nobody else can tell how edgy Dom’s presence makes me.
Thankfully, Dom doesn’t need an answer from me, and he looks to his son. “You didn’t tell me you hired a new waitress.”
Cannon’s posture turns rigid. “Unless you have an issue with how I run this club, you don’t need to know the details. We should go. They’re waiting.” He takes a step toward the conclave, but Dom doesn’t move.
“They can wait. I want to know how Drew is doing.” Dom glances at Cannon. “Did you know she and I met the other day?” The older man’s steel-colored eyebrow rises as he smiles and walks toward me. “I wondered how I’d find you again, and here you are. Just as pretty as ever.”
My spine couldn’t be any straighter if someone had strapped titanium rods to my back. My tongue is stuck to the roof of my mouth, because Dom’s interest is apparent for all to see.
Now this is awkward as hell. I came with the plan to possibly seduce the son, not get hit on by the father.Even though I know, realistically, getting close to Dominic Casso could get me my answers quicker, I can’t do it.