Chapter 91

Nico

The Four Seasons always impresses me. It is one of my favorite chains of hotel. Always classy, immaculate and extremely polite and polished staff. We enter the impressive entrance area with the smoked glass; revolving doors finished with gold. The floor is a highly polished, emperor brown marble.

It takes all of a few seconds to spot Carlos. The man clearly has no idea how to be discreet and blend into the background. It is another one of the reasons he had to go from my organization.

In his red suit and black shirt, open to the chest with a heavy gold medallion round his neck, he looks every inch the mobster and pimp that he is. To even have to meet with him here is making me seethe.

“What were you thinking?” I hiss at Tony who grimaces when he sees Carlos sitting on one of the plush, high back chairs covered in a weaved, gold fabric. He cheapens the chair, it goes without saying.

“Not ideal, however, it is a very public place. Nothing can go down in the Four Seasons, my brother. It’s fine. Nobody cares. This is Mexico. All the men dress like they are pimps.”

I shake my head as we move towards Carlos who stands with a fat, Cuban cigar in his hand. Thankfully, it is not lit. Even though Carlos is shaking it with the big guns these days, he isn’t stupid enough to break regulations in the Four Seasons and bring even more attention to himself.

“Nico, Nico, Nico. So good to see you after such a long time. You have ot changed, maybe a bit of flab around the stomach, huh?” He thinks he is funny as he laughs. I, however, could happily punch him in the gut.

“Hardly, Carlos. It is you who seem to have an old man’s pouch going on. You need to take care of that before you get older and die of a heart attack. Too much good, Mexican food, I take it.”

He pats his stomach which indeed does have a slight pouch. “And women, Nico. The women here in Mexico sure know how to take care of a man. They open their legs, they sweep the floor and they cook a big dinner. What more can a man want.”

He takes a seat after he shakes hands with Tony and crosses one leg over the other, keeping the fat cigar in his hand. Does he even realize how ridiculous he looks? His dark hair is greased back with way too much oil, making him look like some gangster out of the 1920’s.

Tony discreetly wipes his hand on his pants then laces his fingers through each other, leaning them on his lap.

“Did you get anything further since we talked?” I ask. Time is of the essence. I am in Mexico City. It’s warm and I am sweating with fear of what will happen to Lucky.

He smiles and gives me a wink. “I have the information. But you know, Nico. It’s gonna cost a bit of a packet. Information like this, it doesn’t come cheap, Man.”

I am keeping it together, even though I am fueled with anger right now. That smirk needs wiping off his face. Who the fuck does this cheap ass, punk think he fucking is? He’s a nothing, a weak link in the big, bad chain and he used to work for me.

Now he has the audacity to sit in front of me like he owns the world. “How much?” I ask through gritted teeth.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d give up all my money to have Lucky safe and back with me. Tucked up in our bed this evening, her satin eye mask on, her gleaming, black hair spilling out across our pristine, white, Egyptian cotton sheets. But to this fucker, well that is another thing.

“Half a million!” He says not even batting an eyelash. Tony and I give nothing away. How can either one of us even bargain when we are discussing saving Lucky Gianluca?

I nod, my lips in a tight line. “The information first, Carlos. I know what a snake you can be.” Tony says on my behalf. I love it when our minds are in sync. His eyes bore into Carlos’s eyes making Carlos shift in his seat. He knows he is asking over the price. But then the smile that appears on his face, lets me know the bastard knows he has gotten away with calling the high stake.

Only, he has no idea what is coming to him. You don’t cross Nico Santangelo and get away with it.

You don’t make a fool out of Nico Santangelo and get away with it.

And you certainly don’t fuck with him when his fiancée’s life is on the line.

AUTHOR NOTE:

Dear Reader, please note there will be NO chapters until Monday 09th June. Thank you xo