Chapter Two
“I don’t know who the hell is putting the pressure on with these businesses, but these fines are ridiculous. We’ll never be able to purchase that block with all this red tape bullshit,” Roman said to Cobra, Collin, and Fedarro.
“It doesn’t make sense, which leads me to believe that someone is forcing a hand. They don’t want the group of us buying that block. It’s bullshit considering we run other things there. This process is supposed to be handled by the owner’s estate now that he is deceased. What happened to a one, two, three process?” Fedarro stated.
“I’m thinking that there’s a definite connection to the incident last night and finding these logs. It confirms that Alvarez is doing business in our territory. Why not deal directly with him and bring this crap to a halt. I’m up for it,” Cobra said and pointed to the logs on the desk.
“We keep saying someone is trying to get in our way of this investment. Alvarez Colon made the call for the hits and has been picking up some of the business in that neighborhood. That can’t be allowed. He has to be dealt with, especially now that we caught this guy, Roland, red handed and he turned on Alvarez,” Roman said.
“No, it cannot. So, might I suggest the four of you make a visit to Alvarez and straighten him out personally? That way we can get our lawyers on top of purchasing the block from the owner’s estate,” Collin stated.
“Hold that thought,” Fedarro said, and they all looked at Fedarro, who was reading something on his cell phone.
“What is it?” Collin asked and Roman looked at Cobra, then back to Fedarro.
“More red tape. They’re looking for loopholes in the will and some unpaid taxes or some shit. A waste of time and a way to buy them more time, whoever wants that property. This is insane,” Fedarro stated.
“Why not just contact the estate and the lawyers for this guy, and work out a deal? The family obviously just wants the money,” Roman said.
“We tried that, and so did whoever wants the property on the block, too, because there was a call from a lawyer, someone saying there are things to work out, and our lawyers say it’s a bunch of red tape bullshit to destroy our interest. The lawyers feel that whoever the other buyer is, they may have an inside to this whole thing,” Fedarro told them.
“Son of a bitch. We’ve followed everything legally with this purchase. How can these individuals get away with doing illegal shit to interfere? We’re ready to pay the asking price, even pay back taxes. I don’t get it. It’s like this person is doing this on purpose,” Roman stated.
“I’m thinking the same thing. Unfortunately, we can’t attack this legally, our lawyers have that job to do. However, we can make Alvarez aware of our determination to get that block. Put the pressure on him. See what info you can get out of him. I’ll talk to the attorneys and see what the next steps are. It would be a hell of a lot easier if I knew who we were up against,” Fedarro said.
“We haven’t really pushed for that information. I’m sure we could get if we really wanted it,” Collin stated.
“Maybe we should. Negotiations might need to be done old school,” Fedarro said to his brother. Collin nodded.
Roman left the room and walked down the hallway from the office. As he passed, he overheard Gisella say Alessa’s name. He paused to listen.
“So I was thinking that maybe if you could handle it, that you could provide the dessert for this private party? It will be for twenty-four people. You can use the kitchen here. I checked with Bronx and he will allow it since it’s you. I didn’t realize you had such a reputation in the industry already.”
Roman didn’t know what Gisella was talking about. What reputation in what industry? He walked into the room and Gisella looked up and gave a wave as she wrote things down on paper.
“Okay, and don’t worry, it will be worth it. They’re going to pay big bucks. I’ll see you Thursday around noontime then? Excellent. Thank you, Alessa,” Gisella said, and ended the call. Roman stood in the doorway.
“Hey Roman, do Fedarro and Collin need me?” she asked.
“No, they’re still going over some things. What was that about Alessa and making dessert?” he asked, walking into the room.
“Oh, yes, Alessa is awesome and is going to help me out in a jam for the party Fedarro’s friend’s sister is having here at Club Empire on Thursday. A total life saver. I’m thrilled to actually see her. It’s been two months since she even hung out or anything.”
“I know. Is she feeling okay?” he asked. She stared at him and then nibbled her bottom lip as if hesitant to reply. His concern for Alessa went up a notch and he didn’t have that right.
“Why don’t you call her and ask.”
“Texted several times over the last few weeks and didn’t get any response. We assumed she was fine.”
“Hmmm. I don’t know if she is or isn’t. She always has some excuse as to why she can’t hang out. I do know she works a lot.”
“Where does she work?”
“At Marchianno’s restaurant. She’s the top pastry chef there.”
“What? I didn’t know that. She bakes and stuff?”
Gisella chuckled. “Beyond baking. You’ve never heard the reviews about the pastries there?”
“I have, but I’m not big on dainty pastries. When I want dessert, it’s all out brownie sundae.”
Gisella chuckled. “That’s Alessa, too. One of her favorite desserts, but she makes this amazing chocolate brownie that alone is to die for. Anyway, she’s helping me out with this party.”
“Good, then maybe I’ll see for myself that she’s okay.”
Gisella stared at him, and an awkward silence fell between them.
“Uhm, she isn’t seeing anyone. If you were wondering. She doesn’t date. In fact, I’m pretty sure she took on a second job months ago. I don’t even think she has a day off anymore.”
“Why does she work so much?” he asked, avoiding the first statement about Alessa not dating anyone. Roman had gotten close to Gisella as did the others. He didn’t mind talking to her.
“I’m not sure, and I feel really bad about that. I haven’t been a good friend. Life has been so crazy, especially after all that crap we went through.”
“Hey, things happen. All of you ladies are very close. I don’t think a matter of some down time not talking would change that. Maybe see if she wants to meet and talk some more Thursday when she’s here? Then you can catch up.”
She smiled. “Thanks, Roman. I think I will.”
“Will what?” Collin asked, smiling and entering the room. He walked right over to Gisella and pulled her into his arms.
“Talk to Alessa Thursday. She’s going to help out and do the desserts for the party.”
“Excellent,” Collin said and kissed Gisella.
“Later,” Roman said and closed the door and left the room. He couldn’t help the feelings he had lately. Thoughts of Alessa, holding her, kissing her, acting on the attraction they all felt. Yet he knew it wouldn’t work and obviously Alessa wasn’t interested. She was avoiding them and even her friends, and he couldn’t help but feel it was because of him, his brother Cobra, and their cousins, Lenox and Ziek. Maybe Gisella wasn’t the only one who should ask Alessa for some alone time with Alessa to talk?
* * * *
Alessa finished shopping for the supplies she would need for the event on Thursday before heading to work. She packed up what she could so it would be easier Thursday morning. She planned on taking a taxi, but then Gisella told her she would send over Gordon and Prince, men who worked as security for Collin and Fedarro, with the SUV so Alessa would have more room. She was relieved it wouldn’t be Lenox, Roman, Cobra, or Ziek. Who was she kidding anyway? They wouldn’t want to see her. They pretty much looked at her like she was too sweet and pure to be involved with men like them, never mind multiple men.
Grabbing her things, she headed out of her apartment then down the stairs. She exited the front door just as another tenant was coming in, and she said hello before walking toward the sidewalk and the bus stop. She didn’t know why she looked back over her shoulder, but when she did and she saw some guy standing there looking right at her. Alessa felt tense and her gut clenched. She continued to walk, wondering if she was imagining things and when she went to look back, he was no longer there.
She shook her head and tried to relax, hoping that uneasy feeling would leave her gut, but the entire way to work, even getting off at one stop then taking the next bus to the subway, she kept looking around for that man she saw. But then she saw a different man watching her, and then another by the time she was walking down the sidewalk to the restaurant. Was she losing her mind? Maybe imagining things? She wasn’t sure, but soon it didn’t matter because the restaurant was jammed packed and there were pre-orders for her specialty desserts, including a homemade lava cake and raspberry, pomegranate torte. One of Alda’s favorites.
In no time, she was working frantically to keep up, and before long, the end of the night approached and she was exhausted. In fact, she kind of cringed knowing she had the special party at Club Empire to get to by noon tomorrow. It didn’t give her much recovery time, or opportunity to go to the gym.
“Alessa, you’ll be at the show Saturday night at Oliva’s, right?” Romando asked her again.
She sighed. “I’m not sure. I mean I won’t get out of here until nine or ten, and then I would have to go home, change, then venture through mass transit,” she complained.
“Nothing starts happening until at least eleven anyway. We go on at ten. Come on, please,” he begged.
“You have to go. A bunch of us are going,” one of the other waiters said.
“Okay. I’ll be there, but I can’t stay long. I have to be at my other job early.”
“Other job? Since when and why?” Peter asked her.
“For a while now.”
“Things that bad?” he asked.
She swallowed hard and looked away. “No, not bad, just stuck in a rut.”
“If you need anything you let me know,” Peter told her.
“Thanks, Peter.”
As she headed home she thought about the pastries she would make for the event tomorrow. She had all her supplies. She would have to pack her clothes for work and would need to head straight back to Marchianno’s directly from Club Empire. Maybe she could ask Gisella if she could store her supplies at the club just until Friday morning and then Alessa would stop in, grab her things, and then drop them at home?
As she planned out the schedule, she felt a headache begin to form. She was leaning her head on her hand and against the glass on the subway when she looked around her and noticed the guy watching her. As soon as her eyes landed on him, as he held his cell phone and appeared like he may be taking a picture of her, she sat up straight, forced herself to look refreshed and ready in case he was some creep looking to mug her. She was completely on guard, her heart racing, her stomach aching as her stop came up and she grabbed her things and hurried off. She looked over her shoulder several times in worry, and the guy was nowhere to be seen.
Was she losing her damn mind?
She was two blocks away from her apartment building, the streets were still busy with people walking. When she got closer, she noticed a man standing by a car having a cigarette. That was the same man she saw outside of her apartment this morning. As their gazes locked, he nodded and she squinted. She had trained herself to be aware living in the city. She didn’t want to ever become a victim, and despite all that training, she forgot the simple rule of watching her drink and keeping it close to her. It could have cost her too much to even think about. She got pissed, and there were a few people around so she felt confident that nothing bad would happen.
“Hey, why are you standing around here? I saw you this morning by the building as I left and you don’t live here,” she questioned him.
He eyed her over. “A friend of mine does,” he said.
“Who?” she asked.
“Johnny.”
“Johnny who?” she asked.
“Vlasko, who lives on the sixth floor. I’m taking him out tonight.” He eyed her over. “Want to join us for a drink?” he flirted, and she realized she was being paranoid.
“No, thank you. Just making sure you have a right to be here, or I would call the cops,” she said, and then walked away from him and hurried to get inside. She still felt uneasy. Before she got into the elevator she saw him pull out his cell phone and it looked like he was chuckling. Her head was pounding.
“God, I’m making myself nuts. I don’t need the extra aggravation. No one is following me. That guy is not following me. Jesus, I’m losing it.”
* * * *
“Back off then if she identified you. You got an idea of her schedule. You can head back,” Roberto told one of his men who was tracking Alessa.
He leaned back in his chair and thought about her. She worked a lot and hadn’t lied about being too busy to get involved with anyone. The poor woman really seemed like a gem. She wasn’t after money, or didn’t seem to be. He didn’t know why he couldn’t stop thinking about her. He even called and spoke with Michelangelo about Alessa and found out she may or may not be going to Club Olivia to listen to a jazz band one of the waiters was in. When he found out which waiter, he felt jealous and annoyed. The guy wanted Alessa. Was checking out her ass and made a comment. The woman was attractive even with no makeup, her hair pulled up in a bun and wearing regular clothing.
Michelangelo told him a little bit about her and her shyness. When he informed Roberto that she had been drugged one night and nearly was abducted and raped, he saw red. It angered him and made him sick to think of the possibility. It also resolved his curiosity about why she asked for a new glass of wine and watched the bartender pour it. Even though it seemed the bartender knew what happened to her, too. Perhaps that was also why she declined giving Roberto her number. She was fearful.
The thought made him feel protective in a way, which was insane. He never dated, he screwed. Plain and simple, women wanted money. His money, but he wasn’t stupid. When one bitch tried to claim she was pregnant, he took care of it and got rid of her. It was a lie but he didn’t need the accusations or the aggravation that came along with such slander. He was too busy with real business, real life. Roberto liked that Alessa was smart, too. A law degree, yet she chose to follow her passion for making exquisite pastries. Stupid, or inspirational? He didn’t really overthink that. He just liked that she was smart, creative, beautiful, and naturally submissive. She had the makings for a regular lay, or perhaps something a little more.
His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. He answered the call.
“The Fiorre family is trying to find out who is the other buyer. It won’t be long before your name is revealed,” Parker told him.
“I’m fine with that.”
“There’s something else.”
“What?”
“Alessa is friends with the Fiorres’s girlfriend. She’s helping her out tomorrow at Club Empire before she heads to work at the restaurant.”
He swallowed hard.
“Seriously?”
“Yes.”
“Interesting. This isn’t coincidence. Me meeting her, and feeling this attraction.”
“Maybe not, but it could cause more trouble.”
“Not necessarily. Especially if I win her over. Do me a favor and make reservations for us for Saturday night at Oliva.”
“The Coglonie brothers own that place.”
“It’s a public place. Besides, the only ones that will respond to my presence would be Fiorres or Lenox, Roman, Cobra, and Ziek. I need to make contact with Alessa again and make plans.”
“Okay, I’ll take care of it.”
He ended the call and then leaned back and thought about Alessa knowing his enemies. Maybe it wasn’t smart, or maybe it was fate and could bring him more satisfaction. He didn’t know, but the attraction was real, and definitely worth pursuing, especially if it led to a few nights of sex.