Chapter 151 One day to go
Dante's POV
This was probably the most anticipated reply of them all.
We had sent an invite to him a few hours ago, like we did to the rest, and something in me told me I knew the response already.
“What did he say?” I asked and Nico rather turned the screen to me.
I stared at the laptop screen till the words blurred out and in.
Luca’s response had apparently come in ten minutes ago. A single line, polite, formal, and cold.
“Regretfully, the Moretti family will not be able to attend this year’s event. We have spotted more important commitments to attend to and so therefore wish the Russo family a successful evening.”
I couldn't tell what surprised me the most. The fact that he bothered to give a formal response rather than a straight rejection? Or the fact that he put together such a logical response.
For one, I could tell he simply didn't want to attend the ball. No one can say there's an event bigger than the ball.
Nico was now standing by the desk with his arms crossed over his chest and watching my face.
I leaned back in the chair and let out a long breath through my nose.
“He’s really not coming,” I said quietly.
Nico nodded once. “Figured he might pull this. After everything, this is the least we could expect,” he continued.
I rubbed my jaw muscles softly. “He’s a family head, the ball is a neutral ground. No one’s ever skipped it, not once, not even when there was war,” I continued.
Nico shrugged. “I guess he's really trying to make a name for himself.”
“I had expected it anyway, only sent an invite out of formality and respect for the Elder,” I muttered, then looked back at the screen again.
“If Luca’s not coming,” Nico said slowly, “none of the Moretti family shows. That’s half the drug pipeline gone for the night.”
“We can’t force him. Inviting him again would look desperate, and the last thing I want to do now is beg that son of a bitch,” I replied immediately.
And Nico nodded. “We need another supplier, and fast. Someone who can fill the gap for the night, and no ties to Luca,” he suggested.
“We'll get as many as we can,” I replied.
Nico nodded again. “There’s a smaller outfit out of Naples, they’ve been trying to get a foothold on sales and their data looks poor. They’d jump at a short-term contract,” he stated.
“Do it,” I said. “Lock them in today, get more if needed. Double the usual budget if you have to, I don’t want the ball running dry.”
Nico made a note on his phone. “Done. What else?”
I leaned forward again. “Luca’s not coming, but that doesn’t mean he’s sitting still. If he’s skipping the ball, he’s planning something outside. We've got to double the external security, we need more roaming teams on every approach road, and snipers on the rooftops across the street with drones if we can get them up without drawing much attention,” I added.
Nico nodded and flipped the screen back to himself. “I’ll pull the night shift from the warehouses. We can rotate them in, and the rooftop teams, I'll call up the best of the best,” he suggested.
“Good, and the valet area. Triple the men there. No car gets close without a full sweep. Inside and out,” I ordered.
“Already in the revised plan,” Nico said. “We’ll have dogs too, bomb and drug sniffers. Guests won’t even notice.”
I nodded. “Make sure the ballroom staff knows the drill. No one leaves their post, no one takes even a smoke break without clearance.”
Nico stood. “I’ll handle it. You should get some rest. You look like hell.”
I gave him a tired half-smile. “I’ll sleep when it’s over.”
He clapped my shoulder once and left.
I stayed at the desk, thinking over Luca's message again.
Five days.
Five days until the doors opened.
I didn't know when I closed my eyes till a knock on the door startled me.
I pushed myself up immediately and stared at the door, stunned by the sudden sound.
But before I could offer a response, the door pushed open and someone I didn't expect to see walked through.
I kept my eyes on her even as she closed the door softly.
“Long time no see, Don,” she slurred out.
“What are you doing here?” I asked in a stern voice.
She chuckled and made her way towards me slowly.
“I just came to say high,” Issabella whispered as she got to my desk.
“I thought I told you never to come around me again,” I said through gritted teeth.
“You sure about that, Don?” She asked. “Last I remember, you were all over me, but left me wet,” she added the last past as a whisper.
“You are not supposed to be here, how did you get in?” I asked.
“I have my way, Dante,” she replied.
“Good, now leave,” I said firmly.
“Oh Dante, what's the fun in that now?” She asked as she walked round my desk.
I watched her all the way as she reached my side and placed a hand on my shoulder.
For some reason, I didn't push away or fight back, I just stared at her.
“Leave, now,” I said firmly again.
“Are you sure you want me to,” she whispered, leaning down over my face till her cleavage sat just directly opposite my eyes.
I fought hard to look away, but lost as my eyes fell on them as she ran a hand over my chest and down to my waist.
“Does she make you feel this way?” She asked in a soft voice, and just like that, my senses returned.
I grabbed her hand and pushed her away, rising to my feet and pointing to the door. “I said leave.”
She chuckled and walked away, back towards the door with a smile on her face.
“I'll see you at the ball, Don,” she called back and I raised a brow, not remembering inviting her.
“Oh don't keep that face, don't you remember who my dad is? Or where we first met?” She asked and laughed as she pulled open the door and blew a kiss at me before skipping past and shutting it.
I heard her laugh from the order end as her heels clicked away.
I guess the ball just got more interesting…
The next three days passed in a blur.
I left not long afterwards, getting home pretty late and heading straight to bed.
The next morning, Nico and Marcus picked me up at dawn in his Black SUV.
We drove straight to the venue, to the ballroom which was already being transformed.
Workers hung on ladder, cleaning and polishing the outside walls while florists arranged the centerpieces.
The cleaning crews were polishing every inch of the marble till the clean parts reflected the light.
We walked the entire space again, checking every camera angle, and testing every metal detector.
We walked round the service corridors, counted exits while Marcus made a joke about needing his own invitation this year since he was “basically staff now.”
I told him he’d get in free if he stopped talking and we laughed it off.
The next day, I did the general final vendor sign-offs as catering trucks arrived for inspection.
The orchestra rehearsed in the corner while I signed off on the wine delivery of wines costing millions of dollars.
The security dogs ran drills while I stood on the balcony, watching the perimeter teams move.
The last two days flashed past quickly and on the day preceding the ball, I took one final look at the place.
It was safe to say that everything was ready. The tables had been set while where flowers could be kept were decorated.
I stood in the center of the empty dance floor and felt the weight of it all settle on my shoulders.
Tomorrow.
Tomorrow the doors will open and I won't be hosting just my fifth ball.
I drove home alone that night, feeling exhausted and all tense.
I found Serena in the living room when I walked in and she looked up from her phone the moment I walked in.
She offered me a small, tired smile. “You’re late,” she said softly.
“Yeah,” I said. “Just doing final checks.”
I dropped onto the couch beside her and she shifted closer, resting her head on my shoulder.
“I can’t believe it’s already tomorrow,” she whispered.
I turned my head and looked at her, noticing how much she had grown from the scared girl I picked up at the church.
She had every right to kick against it, but here she was, and tomorrow, there we'll be.
Only one question remained then. “Are you ready?”