Chapter Five
"Boss?"
Nico looked up from his computer when Marco stuck his head in his office door.
"Carmine Vella's here."
Nico raised an eyebrow but honestly, he wasn't surprised. After all, Travis Scott was on the Vella family payroll. "Let him in."
Marco retreated then returned ten minutes later with the underboss for the Vella family in toe. Marco didn't leave but advanced farther into the room to stand at Nico's side.
Dressed in a well-tailored suit, his slicked back hair stylishly trimmed, and his jaw closely shaved, Carmine was the epitome of class and refinement. On the outside. Inside, Nico knew he was a product of his environment. Cold, calculating, and ruthless. They had a lot in common.
Nico didn't bother rising from his chair. Instead, he sat forward, folding his hands on top of his desk. "How can I help you, Carmine?"
Seeming a bit put off at not being properly greeted, Carmine took a seat across from Nico's desk. "I believe you have something of mine, and I want it back."
Nico's jaw hardened as he ground his teeth, anger coursing through his gut. He didn't care if the fucker was second-in-command of the Vella family. No one came into his home and issued him demands. Keeping the anger from his tone, he replied, "Do I?"
"Don't play stupid. We both know you have the girl."
Nico narrowed his eyes. "Careful."
Carmine's lips thinned and his right eye ticked. "What do you want in exchange?"
Nico sat back in his chair, a slight smirk playing on his lips. He knew he looked calm and relaxed. He was anything but. "No exchange. The woman is collateral."
He could see Carmine's wheels spinning, trying to understand the situation. "Explain."
"Were you aware your Mr. Scott was running a side business?" The Vella family had control of Vegas's prostitution. Nico's family was in charge of gambling. That Scott was loan sharking meant he was stepping on the Conti family's toes.
Carmine's tick grew stronger. "I wasn't, but I am now."
Nico could tell that was a lie. "Well it seems Mr. Scott's practices were not aboveboard, and as a result, a friend of mine's woman was hurt. You can have your woman back when we learn our woman is alive and healthy and that the Scott situation has been taken care of. I'll keep the girl as insurance until that happens."
Nico watched Carmine's face turn red, and his hands clenched the arms of his chair.
Marco's phone rang, interrupting the conversation. "Boss," he said, handing Nico his phone.
Nico listened then handed Marco his phone back. Concentrating on keeping his expression emotionless, Nico stood. "I'm sorry but something important has come up, and I need to cut this meeting short. I'll be in touch in a few days."
Carmine surged from his chair. "You touch one hair on her head and I'll–"
Nico cut him off. "You'll what?"
"It'll mean war."
Nico quirked his eyebrow. "Over a woman? What, does she have a golden pussy?"
Carmine stepped forward, finally showing some balls. "Make no mistake, I meant what I said. One week, that's all you've got. Then I'm coming back."
"Relax, Carmine, you'll get your girl back safe and sound as soon as I get word on my friend's."
As soon as Carmine left the office, Nico turned to Marco. "What car did she take?"
"Your Porsche."
"Track it, disable it, then bring her back."
"Got it, Boss."
"Oh, and Marco?" Nico smirked, recalling Carmine's warning. "Don't harm a hair on her head, yeah?"
Marco gave him a rare grin accompanied by a nod. "Yeah."
As soon as Marco left, Nico made a phone call. "I want info on the woman within the hour. No excuses." He hung up before his man could reply, fully expecting his order to be carried out. As of now, he had more questions than answers, but that was about to change.
An hour later, Nico made his way up the stairs. Al was positioned outside the door, and he gave him a nod before he entered the room. Olivia was sitting cross-legged on the bed. Her head snapped up when he entered, but she didn't say a word.
He looked at the damaged connecting door then back at Olivia. "Pretty impressive." He really couldn't help but applaud her ingenuity.
Still, she remained silent.
He walked over to the dresser and leaned his ass against it, crossing his legs at the ankles and arms across his chest. Nico took a moment to really look at her. Her long chestnut brown hair fell in soft curls around her face and down her back. Her skin was sun-kissed, flawless, and looked as soft as a flower petal. His fingers itched to check if that were true. Her eyes that he'd thought were gold were actually a dark honey and surrounded by incredibly long, thick, black lashes. She really was beautiful. Exquisitely so.
He'd received her file not fifteen minutes before. Her name was Olivia Miller, and she was a prostitute who worked for Scott so, in turn, worked for the Vella family.
But now she belonged to him. For a while anyway. "You damaged my Porsche."
Finally, she spoke. "Are you going to kill me?"
That spark was back in her eye and fuck if it didn't make his dick twitch. "For a scratch? No. If I planned to kill you, it would have happened already."
"Why am I here? No one will tell me anything, and I need to go home."
"You need to go home bad enough to risk my wrath by escaping?" What was so important she needed to go back to Scott and that life?
"Yes."
The word came out clear and sharp, making no mistake she'd meant what she'd said. He hadn't expected such an honest answer. He was intrigued. "Tell me why."
"If I do, will you help me?"
Nico quirked an eyebrow. "You're not exactly in a position to make requests."
"No, I'm not. But then, it doesn't hurt to ask, either."
Nico smirked. "No, I guess it doesn't. Tell me," he said, straightening from the dresser and slowly walking to the bed to lean against the bedpost, "why would Carmine Vella come to visit me, asking about you?"
Her eyes widened, but other than that, she showed no reaction. She also didn't answer.
He wanted to know why this woman was so special it had required Carmine making a trip to see him when he had hundreds of other girls at his disposal. "Answering my questions would go a long way to gaining my... favor."
She shook her head. "I don't really know. He comes to see me sometimes, but other than that..." shrugging she let her sentence trail off.
He knew she wasn't telling the truth. She was a terrible liar, her eyes not meeting his as she spoke. The question was, why lie? What was she hiding?
"Lying won't persuade me to help you, either."
Her shoulders sagged, and she looked down at her fingers as they played with the hem of her t-shirt. Finally, she looked up. "Why should I trust you?"
Nico shrugged. "You shouldn't. But I'm all you've got right now, and I am in a position to help you."
"And what do you get in return for helping me?"
Nico stood from the bedpost and took a few steps until he was at the side of the bed. She'd tilted her head back to keep him in sight. The sun, shining through the window, caressed her face and made her eyes sparkle. Her tongue darted out, wetting her lips, and he felt it in his dick.
Unable to stop himself from touching her, he picked up a lock of her shiny hair and ran the silky strands through his fingers. The contact triggered an animalistic response, unleashing the desire he felt for her and had him saying something he hadn't planned to say. "You."