It has been a week since that night that I saw her at the restaurant for the first time, now I can't seem to escape from her existence. My god she is everywhere. On billboards, on the sides of buses. She has even gone as far as invading my dreams and thoughts. What the hell is it with this woman, that she consumes all of me.
Standing in my office, staring endlessly out the window at nothing of interest when I should be concentrating on my next endevour, Marco sticks his head into my office.
"Boss man, we have a problem! " he exclaimed walking in and closing the door behind him. He looks very uneasy. I shudder at those four words every time they are spoken because nothing good follows them once they are uttered.
"Solo uno fottuto giorno" I run my hands over my tired face wishing for just one fucking day. One fucking day of peace and quiet. Running this city is a never ending nightmare. Not that I am complaining by any means.
"Whats the problem now?" I ask loosening my jackets buttons before sitting down.
Marco sits opposite me and starts talking.
"Our stash was snatched last night, boss man"
"Who's stash and where did this happen?" I ask running my hand through my already messy hair.
"Angelo was jumped last night and his stash taken. He is at Melita's place now, getting patched and cleaned up as he was beaten up pretty bad"
Angelo is but a lowly soldier. Their are plenty more like him. When one falls there are plenty more to take his place. But Angelo is a star an up and comer. He is the best seller we have and I have noticed how well he has been doing. His name showing up everywhere where money is incoming. But this is his third strike. He has been robbed twice before and lost us millions.
"How much did he loose this time?"
"Luckily not all of it, but he still lost a substantial amount"
"Do we know who did and why?"
"Nothing concrete just yet but Joey is looking into it as we speak checking camera's and speaking to informants. Believe me boss man our ears are to the ground on this one."
Joey is our go to tech guy. He does all of our tech work and makes sure that nothing leads back to the Gudice Cartel. From buying and paying off licenses to our buildings, cars and properties to fake identities if and when we need it. Our fingerprints are practically on everything in Sacramento but thus far nothing can be pointed back to us.
"Where's Paulie. I mean he is the captain of this division, why hasn't he come forward to inform us yet that he has a problem?" I ask looking at Marco with concern. I get up from my seat and start pacing.
"This isn't Paulie's first indiscretion, this seems to be happening far too often on his watch. His department is loosing traction and far too much money" Marco responded looking as concerned about this turn of events as I am.
"Well look into it because if Paulie is making a play, then we need to be on top of it. I need to know everything before the end of day today. Get some of the soldiers out there gathering intel" Marco got up from his seat, nodded and left without another word.
For Paulie's sake I hope he isn't making a move against me or the family because that would be a bad moveon his part. I thought to myself, shaking the thoughts from my mind as my phone rings.
"Gudice" I answered. You could hear the ice and irritation in my stern voice.
"Mr Gudice, it's Melita speaking. Mr deOliviera, sorry Angelo is awake and is asking if he could please have a meeting with you at your earliest convenience. He has information that you may find interesting"
"Thank you Melita we will be there in plus minus thirty minutes. With no further time spent on pleasantries I got back on the phone with Marco making sure our security detail i ready as we will be leaving soon.
Melitta is our go to surgeon and Doctor. She ran into some issues some years back and I pulled her from her life and put her through medical school and now she runs a place of safety for abused and dessolate women who need a fresh start.
Thirty five minutes later:
Walking into Malita's place of safety, I was surprised to find her already waiting for us in the lobby. After short pleasantries and Malita's eyes raking over my body making me uncomfortable and a flush appearing on her cheeks as she caught my glare pointed directly at her we moved towards Angelo's room.
"Thank-you Melita" I say as Marco and I walk into Angelo's room, paying her no further attention. The security detail at the ready and at their posts, while we here what Angelo has to say.
Angelo is lying on the bed all battered and bruised. His eyes almost swollen shut, his lip swollen and split. His cheeks have big gashes over them and his torso is all bandaged up.
"Sir" he says his voice all hoarse. His eyes downcast not looking in my direction. His sign of respect for my position and rank and as being the boss. I loosen my jacket buttons and take a seat next to his bed.
"What can I do for you Angelo?" I ask wanting to take pity at the sight that befalls me, but I need to remain stoic until I hear what he has to say.
"It's Paulie. Can I speak frankly please sir?"
"Yes Angelo, go ahead" I respond already knowing where this conversation is going to lead.
"Paulie has been skimming product, upping prices to us and pocketing product and profits, I overheard him talking to ....." loud shouts are heard from outside the door before gunshots are heard.
Sal who is right outside the door comes barging in guns at the ready pointed towards the door.
"It's Paulie's men boss, think they came to finish him off" he says looking at Angelo over his shoulder before looking back at the door again.
I pull my glock and point it towards the door, daring any fucker to walk through the door.
"Get Angelo to stafety" I say to Marco who is covering Angelo's body with his own. My heart rate is elevated yet I remain level headed. I didn't get to be the boss by being scared and acting impulsively.
Just then silence prevails then all hell broke loose. The door comes flying off the hinges and bullets go flying through the air keeping the brave but stupid mother fucker straggling backwards on his feet, as I empty my clip into his body. He looks like a strainer, full of fucking holes.
When Sal, Angelo, Marco and myself walk out the room there are bodies littered everywhere on the floor. Chaos resumed as women were still screaming and crying. We needed to leave and fast, don't need to please and explain when the cops arrive.
************************************
Arinna.
It has been one hell of a long, busy week and tonight I am just looking forward to watching movies and enjoying a bottle of red wine. I have been poked and prodded, pulled, make-uped, dressed up, dressed down and had a camera shoved in my face from all directions today. So all I wanted was some peace and quiet and to relax.
"Oh come on Erinna, it's just one night at Euphoria" Ella says pouting.
"Mei's boyfriend got us free tickets for the VIP section and its only for tonight. Come on it's Friday and you don't have another shoot till Monday"
"Besides we are tired of seeing you mope around since you broke it off with that hunky piece of meat Lance"
"Okay, okay" I respond. The joy and excitement radiating off Mei and Ella as they both jump around.
Now here we stand at Euphoria's drinking and partying up a storm. Music blaring and heat radiating off all the bodies around me on the dance floor. Too be honest I really didn't feel like being here so I walked off the dance floor trying to escape the hustle and bussle of the club. I needed to catch a breather and cool down.
I took one too many corners and found myself in a corridor with beautiful art work on the walls between doorways and very seductive lighting. I know I shouldn't be here but for some reason I am being drawn further in. Maybe I was just being..... I don't know...curious. I am pulled from my reverie when I hear voices coming from the direction I have just come from. I quickky start scanning for an escape route but I am left with only door ways on either side of me.
In a fit of panic I feel the door handle and it opens, quickly I duck behind the door closing it as quietly as I can. Not wanting to be noticed.
With my heart beating like a drum in my chest I silently rest my forehead on the door and exhale the breath I was holding greatfullness and relief flooding my system at not being caught.
A voice clears from behind me and I jump with fright, startled I quickly turn around and come face to face with two gentlemen standing not far from me. I am met with those eyes. Those eyes that have been haunting me all week long. Those eyes that feel as though they are searching my soul.
"There's just no escaping you, is there?" He asks a smile playing on those plump, gorgous lips of his. What the hell did he mean by that. Fear starts pulsating through my veins as he starts taking slow unthreatening steps towards me but my fear has me rooted to the very spot. Not fear of Giovanni Gudice but fear of who and what he is.
I know all about this man, fuck you must live under a rock to not know who he is, and what he does for a living. I should be trembling in my boots at the close proximity that he is to me now. Strangely my trembling and erratic heart rate is for a different reason altogether.
This man with his short black hair and short stubbled beard is completely and utterly godlike in person.
"Leave us" he bellows. I wanted to run a mile but, I stumble backwards at the harshness of his tone but to my surprise the other gentleman made his move to leave instead. I am filled with confusion because what the hell could he want with me.
The way he was looking down at me, had me clenching my thighs tightly together. This man is proving to be all consuming. His smell of whiskey and cigars engulfing my senses and I can't, no, I don't want to move away from him.
Where the strength came from is beyond me but I finally got my foot lifted and took a step back from him and ended up roght against the wall. He must've seen the uneasiness in my eyes. I mean who wouldn't be scared being alone in a room with the King of the underworld because he stopped dead in his tracks.
"I won't hurt you. You don't need to fear me" he says taking another step forward, closing the distance between us. As he touched his fingers to my cheek my breathe hitches as sparks erupt from where he is touching me.
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Thanks so much guys.
LYF.
xxxx.