AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m listening.”
“That Italian guy.”
“Who?” My mind raced with who the hell that could be. The only Italian that came to mind was my friend Elio Capri, but I knew it wouldn’t be him.
“You know, Rosa Coppola’s right-hand man, Tieri.” Rosa Coppola was one of the last remaining heirs to the Rome syndicate, and Tieri was someone who had a lot of information about Elio. He was a threat not easily dismissed.
I blinked a few times while I absorbed the information. Rosa Coppola… The last I heard of her guy Tieri, he was in Canada.
“What proof do you have?” I felt my phone vibrate and pulled it away to see Jerry had texted me. A bunch of photos popped up. I clicked on the first one and saw Tieri having dinner with a man I knew all too well. I swiped through the others. All were of Tieri with family members of those we’d killed when we took out Martin Castillo’s empire several months ago.
“Shit.”
“So, you can imagine my concern when I recently got these photos, then add in that my business partner up and left for America without so much as a warning. I’m not a happy man.”
“You know why I left. I won’t explain a second time, Jerry.” I tried to curb my temper. I’d been honest with him about my father once I found out he was sick.
“I’m sympathetic as to why you left, Grim. I am. You know me, I appreciate the importance of family. Where my concern lies is in how hard it’s been to reach you.”
“I have a lot going on here.”
“As do I here, and I try not to point out that we still have eight months left on our contract. Your role was important here, Grim. We were building an invisible empire right under his nose. We waited until the time was right, we made our move, then you left. Now things are falling apart, and I need you. No one can see things the way you can.”
I rubbed my face. I certainly didn’t need this right now, but I had to admit he was right in everything he said. “I’ve been knee deep in shit here. Our contract was to move the drugs from you to Vegas. You make top dollar on all our deals. Yes, it benefits us both, but I stepped in and helped you out when you needed it, and also dealt with Castillo as a favor to your family. But let me remind you, I don’t work for you. My business is here.”
“You left us vulnerable, Grim. I thought you’d see this all the way through until we were on top.”
“And I had every intention of doing that, but my family takes precedence over everything. That being said, I know Elio Capri will be very interested to hear Tieri is back. Let me make some calls and see what I can do.”
“I’d appreciate that,” he huffed.
“Leo will be there soon. He’ll fill in for me.”
“Right.” Sarcasm dripped from his voice, but I chose to ignore his rudeness.
I knew what they’d sacrificed in order to make their plan happen, but it wasn’t on me to fix. It was their show, and I’d helped in whatever way I could. I also knew I needed their drugs to keep my clients happy.
“I’ll be in touch.” I hung up and thumbed over to Elio’s name.
The foreman knocked on my door, and I held up a hand for him to hold on. He stepped back, but I could see his shadow under the door. It must be important.
“And to what do I owe the pleasure of hearing from you, Mr. Gates?” Elio’s thick accent purred over the phone.
“I’m going to jump right into this, Elio. Are you still in Los Angeles?”
“I am.” His voice sharpened as he took in my tone.
“Call your pilot, because Tieri’s in Rosarito, and he looks to be planning some kind of retaliation for what we did.”
Silence.
“Send me what you have.”
“Already have. Keep me in the know. Jerry’s losing it over there.”
“Grazie. I’ll look into it.” He hung up.
“Jesse, I need to get back to Indulge.” I grabbed my things and called for the dogs to follow us to the elevator. The foreman seemed to have disappeared. Once we were on the lobby floor and the doors parted, I was faced with the last fucking person I wanted to see in my new hotel or anywhere else.
