Chapter 34

**Matteo**

The first thing I did when I got in my car was set up an urgent team meeting. The information that Lily shared with me last night is valuable to us, and I wanted the team to focus on digging into these topics. I wanted to understand why Tommaso wanted Lily on his side, so that I knew what to do to keep her on ours. I drove back to my estate in a peaceful bliss, knowing that once I got there it was going to be back to the hectic operations.

Waking up next to Lily was great, and what is especially amazing is that the woman is insatiable. In a way I was glad that I beat Renzo to one of the easiest jobs ever! I mean, I was getting the information I wanted to have, and I was having amazing sex. What more could I wish for?

I turned onto the driveway to the estate and waved to the guards who opened the gates immediately when they saw me. I drove up to the main house and saw Ennio and Valeria walking to the main house when I got out.

“It better be good news.”, Ennio said grumpily, after a yawn. Oops, I forgot that he was on guard for the second shipment of weapons last night. Guess he didn’t get much sleep.

“I trust we had no issues?”, I asked him curtly. He shook his head. Guess that was all the info I was going to get out of him.

We entered the meeting room together, and I walked to the head of the table. Luciano, Nino and Vico were already there. Ennio and Valeria took a chair out and sat down as well. Valeria and Vico started talking about something I didn’t understand at all. Vita and Renzo joined us a minute later, and just after they sat down, Guilia came running in. Her head was flustered.

“Sorry, I’m late. It’s busy without Vita on her post.”, she panted. I nodded. I could imagine that she was suffering because of the punishment for Vita. Just a second, I actually felt sorry for her, but then I figured it was Vita’s responsibility. If she hadn’t disobeyed me, she would still be working with Guilia.

“Let’s start.”, I said, and everybody nodded. “I hope you have some leads, because we’re stuck.”, Vico said. He looked a bit frustrated, and it took a lot for him to get frustrated.

“Lily shared some things yesterday that I think will help us.”, I saw Vico’s eyes light up. “She mentioned a couple of things that I want you guys to dig up.”, I said to Vico and Valeria.

“Of course.”, Valeria said.

“First, related to the Bruno’s. Lily mentioned that Tommaso started coming into their office recently and is fighting with Noah. So, I want to know what Bruno has on Noah Merrick. Also, she mentioned that since Tommaso started coming, Noah has been asking her to go against regulations.”, I said.

“What does that mean?”, Luciano asked.

“One of Lily’s main tasks is to monitor transactions and to flag if she suspects transactions that are related to criminal activities. If Noah is asking her to go against regulations, that means he doesn’t want her to flag suspicious transactions, meaning that Bruno is laundering his money faster.”, Guilia explained to Luciano, and the others. And myself.

“So, Bruno is laundering through Merrick’s bank?”, Luciano asked. Guilia nodded to confirm.

“The fact that he is only asking recently to go against regulations means that before they had different ways of laundering, though. I mean, they expanded territories because they got their money laundered quicker than we did. They could spend what they earned illegally faster than we could. But if he is now pushing Noah and Lily, it means that he lost his previous way of laundering. It also means that Bruno is having a setback.”, Guilia explained.

“That makes sense! So, we need to know what he has on Noah, and whether one of them has something on Lily. Otherwise, I doubt she would comply so easily.”, Vico picked up on Guilia’s thinking. Guilia nodded.

“The other thing that Lily mentioned, is that her mom turned out to have some secrets that Lily knew nothing about. As far as she was concerned, her mom was American, her dad was a soldier, and her mom was good. But now she found letters saying that her mom is Serbian and that she married someone Lily never heard anything about. Lily also mentioned that her mom was caught up in embezzlement and fraud.”, I shared with them.

“If she never told her only daughter about any of it, it means that she wanted it to be hidden. So, there is more where this came from.”, Valeria said. I nodded.

“I don’t know if it is just a coincidence, or if there are more connections between all of this. But I want you guys to dig up what you can. I promised her to look into it.”, I ordered them. Vico and Valeria nodded.

“So, it is up to Vico and Valeria for now?”, Renzo asked.

“Yes. But I want you guys to be ready to jump in when they need something from you. Luciano, you’re still on Bruno’s men.”, I ordered, and Luciano nodded.

“It’s been quiet so far. Can we get eyes and ears in Noah’s office?”, Luciano asked. Vico shook his head.

“Security is too tight for us to get in. It would be great if Lily could do that.”, Vico suggested. I shook my head.

“She is completely in the dark. I don’t think that the thought of mafia has ever crossed her mind.”, I explained. It stayed silent for a bit.

“Renzo, any update on the shipments?”, I asked, changing the subject. We all needed more time to dig and to process, so no use to continue it now.

“All going well. Bruno is off our back, and supplier is behaving.”, he said. “Next shipment is coming in two weeks.”

“Nino, anything new with Serena?”, I asked. We still had the daughter of the weapons’ supplier in our cells.

“No, she doesn’t know much. I guess keeping her with us will be the best leverage we can have. From what she said, she has a good relationship with Juan.”, he said.

“Anything she has been asking for?”, I asked. I didn’t want to take her here in the first place, and I have no reason to make her life miserable here. I just didn’t want her to be able to escape.

“Just to get out of the cell.”, Nino grinned. “But that’s a no go.”

I nodded. “Anything else?”, I asked. No one said anything. “Let’s go to work then.”, I concluded the meeting, and got up from my seat. Ready to go to work.

“Matteo? Can we speak?”, Vita asked softly. I nodded and gestured to her to walk with me to my office.

“About the streets…”, Vita started.

“Vita, the punishment is final. There will be no discussion.”, I interrupted. Vita shook her head.

“That’s not what I wanted to say. Rumor on the streets is that Bruno’s are in need of cash.”, she said. I looked up.

“Why didn’t you say anything just now?”, I asked her sincerely.

“Guilia came to the same conclusion. I didn’t see the point. But there is more, there are some rumors about a lost family member to the Brunos. All I have heard though are vague rumors.”, she said.

“Good, let’s keep that in mind as well.”, I said. “Thanks.”, I concluded.

“Thanks for patching it up with Lily.”, she said as she walked away.

I walked into my office and closed the door behind me. I walked to the coffee machine to get a desperately needed coffee. I sighed taking a sip, I needed this. It’s not like I had a lot of sleep last night, but I was not complaining.

I scrolled through some emails, not ready to immediately jump into some of the issues that were there. At this point my priority was a bit different and I’d rather sit with Vico and Valeria to see what they could uncover. I knew I could trust them with this job, but I felt antsy.

‘I can still feel you…’, Lily sent me earlier. I just reread it to take my mind off the topic at hand. This text made me reminisce yesterday, and I had to smile at that memory. That memory was rudely interrupted by my phone ringing.

“Yes?”, I answered rudely.

“Boss, need you in the cell with Serena.”, Nino said.

“Coming.”, I replied, and I hung up the phone. With a deep sigh, I got up off my chair. Time to start work for today!

I nodded to the guards as I entered the cell complex. Our cell complex was located underground on the estate. One would never find it if you didn’t know where to look. It was where our prisoners were, but also where we did our interrogations. The good part was that it was soundproof because it was underground.

“What is it?”, I asked, when I saw Nino standing outside of the cell that Serena was in.

“She said she had more on her dad that would be of value for us.”, Nino said. I nodded but wanted him to continue. There would be a catch.

“She will share but wants a new identity to live in the US.”, he shared. I just laughed. Not only did I doubt she knew anything interesting, but I would not let her go easily.

“Let me in.”, I said to the guards. They nodded and opened the cell.

“So, you think you know something I would value?”, I wasted no time when I entered. Serena looked surprised seeing me but got off the bed. She sauntered over to me, with her top low. Very low. I almost rolled my eyes, seeing through her scheme.

“Yes.”, she said seductively, running her finger over my chest. With a quick movement I grabbed her wrist.

“Don’t waste my time.”, I said calmly, tightening the grip on her wrist. Serena swallowed, realizing that her plan wasn’t working the way she expected it to.

“I know how Bruno got to my dad.”, she said. I knew that too, so it was not interesting.

“Look, either you have something good, or you don’t. You’d be in the torture chamber if I thought you had.”, I stated. “What is not going to happen, is that you will be walking out of here.”, I finished the discussion, and walked out of the cell.

I walked back to the manor rubbing my hands over my face, suddenly tired.

Someone knocked on the door to my office and entered when I called to come in. I must have looked confused when I saw Guilia enter, because she felt the need to explain.

“You had planned a meeting with Vita. Considering her punishment, I thought I was supposed to step in?”, she said uncertainly. I nodded, I guess it was the best option.

“I mean, I’m not aware of everything, but I will try.”, Guilia said as she sat down.

“Just give me an update on the legal side first. You are familiar with that, right?”, I asked and took a deep breath. Guilia nodded.

She opened some documents on her laptop and took me through our legal businesses. We discussed last month’s performance, and she showed me the impact her work with Lily made.

“So, basically, you say that the spas and hotels are doing very well, but the club is lagging?”, I asked. Guilia nodded. “Golden is lagging, considering the promotion we did.”, she stated. I rubbed my face again with my hands.

“That’s not good. What do you suggest?”, I asked her. “I suggest doing a trial with a lower entry price, making it an offer or so.”, she said. I nodded.

“So, what do you know about the other part of the business?”, I asked her. I noticed Guilia getting a bit nervous, her hands trembling while searching for some papers.

“It seems that the weapons deal is going well if we can stick at current pricing. Some for the drugs, but we continue to struggle to launder that money.”, she said. I nodded, it was a well known issue that we had had for years.

“Is there anything that Lily can help us with on that?”, I asked her. Guilia snorted.

“Yeah, if you put a gun to her head and force her to do illegal stuff.”, Guilia said full of sarcasm. I chuckled. “The Brunos already beat us to that.”, I grinned. Guilia laughed at my comment.

“Seriously though, I’m sure Lily would know how we can beat the law because she knows it so well. I’m sure she knows the loopholes as well. I will try to get as much information out of her as I can, but she hasn’t been forthcoming on this topic.”, she said.

“When are you meeting her again?”, I asked Guilia. Partly for the business interest, partly for my own interests.

“End of the week.”, Guilia answered. It was nice that everyone was aware of me and Lily, and I didn’t have to answer to anyone.

“Thanks, Guilia.”, I said, and dismissed her from my office. As soon as she closed the door, I pulled out my phone.

*‘You’re staying the night when you come to visit Guilia.’*