“How’s Amelia?” Ava sits up taking the sheet with her as I discard the condom.
“She’s learning her place here.” I won’t go into detail with her about what that entails. I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t want to know that either.
“Why did you tell me that your father and Gambino are plotting against me?” Stalking back towards the bed, I grab my pants and pull them on. Sitting on the edge, I watch her, waiting for an answer.
“You want honesty?” Isn’t that what I always want?
“Of course.”
“There’s a part of me that loves you, Cord.” She can’t. That isn’t possible. I start to open my mouth to protest but she stops me.
“Don’t say anything. Just listen.” With a slight nod, I let her continue.
“I’ve never known anyone like you. I have seen you raw and in the flesh. I understand that you are closed off and that’s how you want to be. I also see something else in you. I can’t explain it. I know I’m not the only woman that you’re with but there is something about you that pulls me back every time. I don’t see you and I feel lost. I know you can’t say it back to me, but I feel it.” I can’t say it back. No matter what my heart wants to feel, I can’t allow it.
“You’re letting yourself be held back by something I can’t repay, Ava. Whatever you think you see in me is a mirage, it doesn’t exist,” I remind her. Her hand comes to rest on my arm before I look up into those devastatingly blue eyes.
“I’m not holding back. I know what I want. Whether you believe it or not, I do see something in you. You can’t see it, but I can.” Her words are like a slap to the face. How can she even say that? What the hell would she see in me? Sighing, I lay back on the bed as Ava runs her fingers through my hair.
“For the record, I haven’t been with anyone else.”
Why I felt compelled to say that, I don’t know. Ava doesn’t make a big scene of it and for that, I’m grateful.
Chapter 21
Long days turn into longer nights. My mind toys with ideas and concerns. Nothing adds up these days. Why are Sinclair and Gambino going behind my back? What are their plans? To remove me from this city? That’s almost laughable. I have every politician, law enforcement officer and judge on my payroll. All aside from that good ole Governor, that is.
“Nikolai, what are your thoughts on this whole Sinclair situation?” Asking him as a trusted friend and advisor, I want his insight.
“Gambino wants territory. He’s lacking that with the Vitale family owning over ninety percent of it. Maybe he thinks bringing the Governor in will give him leverage.” Makes sense to a point. The Governor is on that ten percent end.
“What about the guns? And killing his own wife?” That’s the part I don’t understand.
“That’s a tough one. Maybe he’s sick of the old broad,” he says with a laugh. Chuckling along with him, he may very well be. That isn’t unheard of.
“The gun trade is run through Midas now and Midas only. He wouldn’t dare take a higher price off Gambino, would he? He knows I will leave him powerless and send him out to the vultures of this city.” Nikolai nods his agreement, but I see the look in his eyes. He’s thinking something else.
“What is it?” I ask.
“What if Midas isn’t as smart as we assume, Cord? What if he is making the deal on the newer guns with Gambino?” Clasping my hands in front of me, I ponder that. He could very well be doing that, but he has to know the repercussions of his actions. He knows I will take out his entire family if he does that.
“Would it make sense for a man like him? Sure, it’s more money but then he faces the wrath of the Vitale family.” Nikolai seems to understand that as well.
“We go visit Midas. End of story. I’ll get his kids rounded up and have a family reunion at the warehouse as a reminder of who he belongs to,” Nikolai says. A genuine smile crosses my face.
“You are a good man, Nikolai. I can always rely on you.” He always knows what I’m thinking before I have to say it. That’s part of why he’s a valuable asset to this family.
“You work on that and I’m going to meet with Martin about that powder he’s been bringing in. Apparently, some of that is tainted.” I shrug because I have no clue why someone would try to fuck me over in that manner.
“You got it, Boss. I’ll be in touch.” Nodding to him, he stands to leave as I make a few phone calls. I want extra details on Amelia in case Gambino gets any dumb ideas. After I’m satisfied that that’s all covered, I stand and grab the jacket off the back of my chair and pull it on before heading out of my office and down the stairs. I walk straight outside and climb in the waiting limo and we take off.
I watch out the window of the limo as people’s lives pass them by. They walk these streets not truly knowing the monsters that lurk around every corner. Monsters like me. The light of day turns to the darkness of night, that’s where people like me dwell. In the shadows, behind every corner, we’re there in the darkness. I suppose some can overcome that darkness and make it back out into the light, but I don’t see that as an option for me. My life’s path is set in stone. It was placed there a long time before I was ever born. My fate has always been this family and it’s where I thrive. It’s where I belong.
Some people may never know the power that comes with authority. I, on the other hand, have had it handed to me by generation after generation of Vitale men. Money, women, clothes, designer everything has always been at my fingertips; yet the simple things in life, I have nothing. I see the people enjoying the night just for its bright lights and attire, but where does that leave me in the end? Pulling up to the casino, I wait for my men to do their scan of the place, making sure the area is clear before they open my door.
And just like I was made to do, I climb out catching all the attention of people walking by. Making their way through the evening, so mundane. Jordy holds the door as I step inside. Noises of people and laughter fill the air as I walk towards the back of the room. I have a reason for being here and there is nothing in this place to stop me from that.
“Where is Martin?” I growl at the man near the backdoor; he knows who I am. His eyes dart around before coming back to rest on mine. I reach for him, grabbing him around the throat before pushing him against the wall.
“Let’s not play games here. You know who the fuck I am and what I want with Martin. The question is, are you going to play nicely, or shall I just take care of you now?” I lean in closely so only he can hear me.
“He’s in the back!” That has to be the fastest response I’ve ever gotten. I release my hold on the man before pushing him to the side. Heading in the door, I go straight to the backroom. I know my way around this place, I’ve been here plenty of times before. I push the last door on the left open slowly to see the man himself bent over the table sniffing his own product up his nose.
“Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to use your own product, Martin?” His head snaps up as he regards me with cold eyes.
“Who the hell let you in, Vitale?” Chuckling slightly, I walk towards him.