Our logo was all over the place. We suspect he orchestrated it because not only was he in the vicinity, not tryin’ to hide it, but my top security guy just notified me that someone matching his description fucked our family restaurant, Venetia, for a $1930 tab the night before, shit load of expensive wine and top shelf booze and a pile of the most expensive food on the menu. Guy matchin’ Denarda’s description walked out.
Found out he bought a first-class ticket the day before yesterday to my city, returning to Vegas this morning. He was on the flight I missed. If my wife wasn’t pukin’ her guts out when I was supposed to leave, we’d have been on that plane together. That was no coincidence. That sleazy little fucker wanted me to set eyes on his ugly mug and be stuck lookin’ at it for two hours.”
“Leo was shunned at the door of a big game I was at last week and didn’t react. Or didn’t seem to react,” John added, topping up both our glasses with Scotch. He told the server to leave the bottle.
She’d tried to give me ‘fuck me’ eyes but I’d ignored her. It wasn’t hard. Women coming onto me wasn’t new but as always, I’d never been led around by my dick. The only woman who had the capability to do that was my wife and it wasn’t her style --- probably part of why she had that ability.
John, however, had stared at that server’s ass and legs in tiny black booty shorts as she strutted away.
“We’ll talk more later,” I said, “not in front of Goldberg.” I jerked my chin toward Ben Goldberg, who was approaching our table.
Goldberg strolled up to us and sat with a sigh.
“Her seams are crooked, Benny-boy,” Johnny said, the cigar in between his teeth, gesturing to our server, who was still strutting away.
Ben looked over his shoulder and shook his head, “Standards.”
He pulled his phone out of the inside breast pocket of his suit, dialed, and then barked, “Get Lily straightened up. Her seams are a mess.” He hung up.
“Fete needs to be pristine,” Johnny said.
“Agreed,” Ben reached for the bottle, filled a glass and leaned in, “I got a scene for that. Master flogs his sub for crooked seams. After she takes her punishment, the scene ends with a flash forward to her the following day, purposely pushing those seams askew when he’s ready to inspect.”
“Niiiiice…” Johnny drawled and then looked at me, “This guy. Some got an app for that. Benny’s got a scene for that.”
Ben Goldberg was a perverted fucker, for sure. He looked as straight-laced missionary-style as they came. But he wasn’t. Not by a longshot.
“Leo Denarda called me this morning. Demanded a meeting tonight,” Ben switched gears, looking to me. “Recommended you attend.”
“Recommended?”
“He did. His words. Tell Tommy Ferrano that I recommend he show up.” Ben sipped his drink, “It’s on neutral territory, a nightclub just off the strip. I have half a dozen bouncers who can accompany us and keep the peace.”
“You go. Let me know the gist. He wants a meet with me, he can reach out directly and request that. My response to that request will be a reflection of the way his request comes across.”
It’d also happen only after I had a chance to scout the planned location, or choose it. And bring my own muscle. With a sniper planted, his weapon pointed at Denarda the entire time. Just in case.
Johnny shook his head, “He’ll see that as a sign of disrespect, Tommy. You really wanna poke him like that?”
“Ask how many fucks I give,” I clipped, “That disrespect is not unearned. That slimy little cheap-suited fuck hasn’t earned the time of day from me and if my suspicions are right and he’s fuckin’ with shit back home, he’s gonna feel the opposite of my respect. Right where it hurts.”
“Shit back home?” Ben asked.
I shook my head, “Forget about it for now. I’m still confirming. You take the meet and lemme know the gist.”
The subject got dropped and our meeting went on and we dealt with the things we needed to, final numbers and plans for the launch of Fete. There was PR happening and we’d be having adult industry big-name entertainers flown in for it.
I wasn’t planning on attending the opening night events. They were trying to talk me into it but bringing my pregnant wife into that scene? The alternative of going stag? Probably not a great idea. I told them I’d think about it.
Dare and I didn’t want to be in this business long-term because of some of the people it’d tie us to, but based on associations and the past as well as the façade we were trying to keep up, it was the only thing that made sense for now.
John needed this, he’d taken some financial hits in the past few years. I’d help get it going and then in a year, maybe two, we’d sell our shares back to John and Ben.
I got a ride back to my hotel from one of Ben’s drivers, calling Tia on the way. She answered on the third ring, her voice small.
“Hello?”
“Sleepin’ baby?”
“Mm. It’s okay. How are you?”
“I’m good. On my way back to my room, crashin’ early. Just wanted to see how you’re feeling.”
“I don’t know yet. I guess I’ll find out when I finally get my head off this pillow.”
“You been in bed all day?”
“No. I got up and got stuff done for the party tonight and then I decided to take a nap after I made all the food. Shit. I slept a long time.”
“I’ll call you later then. Sarah still there?”
“Think so. I’m gonna take a shower, girls’ll be here soon. Love you. Call me before you go to sleep?”
“Yep. Have fun. Love you, baby girl.” I entered the hotel and tucked my phone into my pocket and then stopped near a bank of elevators, leaning over to fix my shoelace. From the corner of my eye, I saw something that tweaked me. An older guy, trench coat. Comin’ up beside me. He halted when I bent and then he skirted the couple walking in front of him, quickly walking by me, disappearing around a corner in a way that felt unnatural.
It might’ve been nothing but I’d learned over the years to trust my gut. Trench coat done up like that indoors in the fuckin’ desert? I’d lay bets he was following me. And packing. But for who? Denarda? Or, I was being followed by Zack’s fed buddies?
I hit the button for the elevator. One opened immediately. I got on it and hit buttons for the second, third, fifth, and twenty eighth floors.
I let the doors open and close on the second floor and then got off on the third, crossed the long hallway to the other end and then climbed up to the fourth floor and called the elevator. Whoever was watching me wouldn’t know which floor I’d gotten off on, unless they had the elevator camera feed hacked.
As the elevator climbed to my floor, I texted Nino.
“Come to Vegas. Get on the next flight. Arrange security detail for me. Double security for Tia. Tail the goof and toss his house. Thinkin’ he might’ve put out a hit on me.”
I’d not only have Nino arrange security for me but he’d also have Leo Denarda tailed as well as search his office and his house. I entered my hotel room with my gun drawn. The room was empty. But I wasn’t taking any chances. I packed up my shit, changed into jeans and a hoodie with dark glasses and sneakers, and then I switched hotels and checked in under a fake name.
***
It was the next day. I was in another meeting with John, Ben and the other investors for Fete. Ben said Denarda had cancelled their meeting after the start-time. So, my guess? He saw I wasn’t there and that’s why he cancelled.
As we were wrapping up our meeting, I got a call.
Nino and a few other of our guys were checking out Denarda’s place and his office and had nearly gotten caught by Denarda’s security. Nino found a fucking Ferrano inner circle flowchart on the fucker’s home office wall. Tessa’s picture was circled.
He’d called her immediately to tell her to stay put so he could get additional security for her but she hadn’t answered so he called me to tell me he’d have her tracked down. I called her cell. The phone went straight to voicemail. I called Sarah’s cell. Voicemail again.
I phoned the house,
“Hello?”
That was Lisa. Shit.
Lisa and I hadn’t talked much since her meltdown. She hadn’t been back from her retreat for long and had revealed her secrets of her origins to the girls.
Tia had been there and filled me in on how it all went down, how Tessa and Luciana left without letting Lisa off the hook. My sisters were in shock and Dare and I had talked it over. We knew that given time, they’d welcome her back into the fold. Hopefully Lisa knew that, too.
Dare’d told me he’d talked to Lisa and said she was doin’ okay, despite the shock from the chat with the girls. Tia and Angel were being a good support to her, as was Sarah. Though Sarah was pretty fuckin’ angry lately, knowing the truth about all that her girls had been through. She treated all of them like daughters and took it as a personal affront that anyone would hurt those girls.
“Hey. It’s Tommy. You good?” I half prayed she wouldn’t answer that question with more than a yes.
“Hi. Uh. Yeah, Tommy, I’m good. Um… you?”
“Not so good. Listen, Tessa there?”
“Oh, I’m not sure. I think Sarah has the boys.” The volume of her voice got lower and I heard the click of heels on floor and then outside noises, “Wait, she’s got Luc’s girls in the backyard. They’re playing in the snow. Tessa’s boys must be at daycare. I don’t know where Luc and the baby are.”
“Snow?” I asked.
“We got some overnight. You out of town?”
“Yeah. Business. But things need to go on lockdown. Need to find Tess immediately.”
“Oh, uh, you texted her?”
“I called. No answer. Luc isn’t there in another part of the house or something?” Fuck. Both my sisters unguarded.
“I’m not sure but I don’t think so. I’ll ask Sarah.”
“I need to talk to Sarah,” I started and then changed my mind. If Lisa was gonna continue to a be a member of this family, we had to get over this awkward dance and she needed to be able to act quickly in a crisis, “Scratch that. I need you to keep things calm at the house and keep Sarah and the kids there. Find out where Luciana is and text me. Anyone else there?”
“Dex is around somewhere, I think. Unless he is over at your house. He’s been back and forth today. Tessa might be at the restaurant. She’s been helping Eddy with prep a few days a week.”
“Right. No panic, all right, but stay there until you hear from me or unless I give Dex a change in orders. Yeah?”
“Okay,” she answered softly.
“I’ll get word to you guys when things are cool. Ask Sarah about Luc and text me. I need you to be cool and collected, Lisa.”
“Got it,” she replied and her voice sounded sure.
Me? I wasn’t sure about her yet but Dex was on her heels and reporting to me and Dare that she seemed adjusted since returning from her retreat. I wasn’t fully convinced but she was getting some leeway from me.
I’d had a brief text discussion with Tia last night and first thing this morning to check in. I called Tino, who was overseeing security for the house, and told him what was up as well as to make sure he got someone to catch up with Luciana pronto to make sure she was okay. He called back to confirm all was still well.
I got a text from Lisa, saying Luc had the baby at the doctor’s for a check-up and Dex told me he was having security meet up with her. Tino said that at my house, Tia and her friends were eating breakfast. I told him to subtly get rid of them and hustle Tia over to Pop’s house. I scrolled to my brother’s contact details and called him.
Dare answered. He and Angel were in Italy and they were at a restaurant for dinner. They’d spent the day at the hospice with Dare’s mother Annette, seeing Dare’s stepfather. Some girls would’ve complained about going to see her new husband’s dying step-father on their honeymoon but not my brother’s girl.
Like me, he had lucked out in the wife department. Not that it was easy; seemed like real love never fucking was easy. And also not that either of us were worthy of everything we got from our women. I know I certainly wasn’t.
I cut my brother off when he was clearly not picking up on my vibe and kept talking about whatever, like we were just shooting the breeze. I told Dare the gist of what was up but we figured there was no point in him cutting his honeymoon short until we knew exactly what was what. I told him there was bullshit with Leo, told him about the chart, and said Tessa was off radar and that we were on it. I let him go, saying I’d keep him posted.
I got a text from Tino,
“Your girl needs to cut the sass.”
Shit.
I called Tia,
“Baby. End the party. You’re needed with the girls. Now.”
“Tino’s trying to drive the girls home already. We just got up and-we’re only half way through--”
“Tia. You’re all going on lock down. Get off my fuckin’ phone and listen to Tino,” I snapped.
She usually respected Nino, knew he didn’t fuck around, so her attitude with Nino’s twin was surprising since Tino wasn’t nearly as friendly as Nino.
“Oh,” her voice went small, “What’s wrong?”
“Do it now, Athena. Gotta go.”
“Kay,” her voice went smaller, “Love you.”
She hung up before I could reply.