Chapter 44: Chapter Forty Four

*Enzo*

“He’s still following you.”

I clench my teeth as Charlie’s voice rings in the Bluetooth earpiece I have on as I walk down the sidewalk to attend a meeting at a local café. For the last couple of days someone has been tailing me but has yet to do anything. They weren’t doing a good job of it either.

I noticed the man the second day I was here in the city. I pretended to be oblivious and immediately had Charlie find out who he was when I offhandedly took a picture of the man. It didn’t take him two hours to discover who the guy was.

Here I was thinking that Alejandro was taking action only to discover he was a newbie of one of my own father’s men. To be exact Uncle Big Tone’s. Which explains the horrible tailing. Why the fuck they were keeping tabs on me was beyond me, but it pissed me off.

So I decided to have a little fun with the guy now that I knew he wasn’t a threat. The report those two were about to get was either send my father into an early grave or get him so angry that he’ll disown me right on the spot. Was it putting to much hope on receiving the latter?

The first night of being tailed, I decided to head to a strip club and not just any kind either. A place where they were celebrating drag queens and LGBTQ+ like hard core. I didn’t mind their sexualities; my father and uncle however were old school. I knew they were going to shit a brick.

The next night I purposely let him overhear me having a conversation of ordering an escort service with multiple people for an all-night orgy, men and women, hell I even threw in there that I didn’t care if they were trans either. I only showed up for about a minute just so he saw me walk in that hotel room. I made sure they all got paid anyways and I was sure they had the time of their lives.

Last night, I headed to another kind of club that dealt with animal dress up with sexual fantasies. Let the man sweat it out to tell my father what I’ve been doing. Although none of it actually happened, but it was the thought that counted. I wasn’t sure what my father was looking for or what he had hoped to find.

But whatever it was I was going to make sure he got more than what he bargained for. But while I was having fun messing with him, it was time to get serious and hurry the hell up with my businesses so I can get back to Gabby.

I wasn’t able to call her at all. I couldn’t take the chance that while I was away that Russo or my father didn’t bug my apartment or my office. It was too risky, and I wasn’t going to take a chance of losing her. Or exposing Domenico.

Walking into the café I look around to find my potential client. I spot him immediately and head over to sit in the opposite direction. He stands and we shake hands.

“Good afternoon, Mr. Bolin.” I politely greet.

“Afternoon, Mr. Giordano. We finally get to have this meeting.” He smiles as we take our seats.

“I do apologize for the delay, but I want to express the gratitude that you were willing to postpone and give Giordano Winery a second chance.”

He waves my statement away. “Nonsense. I’m a family man too, I understand the hardships. Besides, your winery is the best on the west coast. I’ll be too stupid to pass this opportunity up without a fight.”

My shoulders sag in relief and for the next two hours we talk about business and our home life. It was exhausting to say the least and I probably consumed more coffee than I ever had in my lifetime. But it was all worth it in the end.

We make the deal and set up for another time to meet to set everything in order. Once I leave the café and pay my farewells to Mr. Bolin, watching him drive away in his taxi, I immediately call Charlie and give him the good news.

“How many more do I have?” I ask, walking down the busy street.

“Three more meetings.”

I groan wanting this shit to end already.

“You used to be annoyed at the small amount now you’re groaning?”

I could hear the smirk in his tone, and I roll my eyes. Briskly walking in the chilly air as I avoid smacking into someone on accident, I say, “Before I didn’t have a reason other than staying busy growing my business.”

“Now you have someone to go home too. It’s new territory. One I wasn’t expecting from you so soon, if ever. She’s the one isn’t she?” He asks gently.

I smile thinking of her beautiful face. “Yeah she’s the one, Charlie. And as soon as all this bullshit blows over and we’re both free, I’m going to marry her. Just you watch.”

“If this ever blows over.” He mumbles making me frown.

“Anything new?” I ask, peeking behind me to catch the stalker trying to keep up with my strides.

Rolling my eyes, I pick my pace up even faster, moving around through bodies.

“There’s been some strange activity on Russo’s end.” He admits causing me to slow down just a bit.

“What kind of strange activity?” My mind instantly went to Gabby and the fact they followed Ivy after all.

Or she purposely had them follow her and Dom was in deep shit, and I wasn’t there to protect either one of them.

“A large sum of money was withdrawn from his hidden account yesterday. And looks like he’s been visiting a shady hotel just off the skirts of New Jersey for some time too. I had one of my men keep an eye on the hotel…”

I quickly hail a cab, before this conversation got any further. I couldn’t take a chance of my stalker getting to close and overhearing something he shouldn’t. Once a taxi pulled over I don’t hesitate to get in and look through the rearview mirror at the man cursing himself watching me go.

“What did he find?” I ask now that it was safe to do so.

“Well something unexpected.”

“Spit it out Charlie.” I nearly snap hating when he does this shit to me. It was like he thrived on keeping me hanging on his words of juicy gossip.

I quickly gave the driver directions on where to go before I heard what he says next.

“He was expecting Russo to come out of that hotel room only to discover it was the man’s wife, Elena Russo, in horrible disguise I might add.”

“Elena? Is she cheating on him or something?” I frown wondering what was going on with that.

“Not sure, but I don’t think it was a secret lover’s getaway. He told me that she was only there for less than two hours. She showed with a briefcase and left without one. It makes me highly suspicious.”

“Yeah, me too.” I mumble, alarm bells ringing in my ears.

What the hell was Elena Russo doing at a shabby hotel in a different state, meeting someone for less than two hours, and handing out more than just pocket money? It sounded highly suspicious and one I was going to find out.

I couldn’t have Gabby’s or Dom’s life in danger than it already was. And if Elena was involved with this, trying to hurt the people I love, than I wasn’t going to back down even if she was a woman.

If I had to hurt her, I will.