Page 55 of Empire of Seduction

I peeled off more bills and tucked them into her top. “Grazie, signorina. If you have any trouble, any at all, or you need me, come to the Fiorentino Winery and ask for Vito.”

“Fiorentino Winery, Vito,” she repeated.

“That’s right.”

“I’m Brittany.” She took my hand and started walking me toward the exit. “Now I know why you didn’t enjoy the lap dance. I worried for a minute that your equipment might be broken.”

“My lack of enthusiasm had nothing to do with you. You’re beautiful.”

“Is it your wife?” She nodded down at the ring I wore.

“Yes,” I lied.

“She’s very lucky. What’s her name?”

“Maggie,” I said before I thought better of it. But as soon as it left my mouth, I realized it was true. Maggie might not be my wife, but she was the woman I was constantly thinking about.

“Aw, that’s cute.”

We entered the main stage area and I said goodbye to Brittany, then strode toward the booth. Cesare was preoccupied, talking to one of the dancers, but Tommaso was scanning the room, staying alert. I met his gaze and gave him a lift of my chin. He stood and met me in the middle of the floor. “Red Raiders were here last night,” I told him.

“You think they recognized Gaetano? Can’t be, Vito.”

“It seems unlikely, but I don’t like coincidences. Let’s find the owner. These places have cameras and I want to see the footage.”

We approached one of the bouncers. “Where can we find the owner?” I held up two hundred dollars in my fingers just to prove I was serious.

He eyed the money but didn’t take it. “Who is asking?”

I wasn’t giving out that information, not here. “Someone who will be very grateful for your assistance.”

“I’ll get him. He’s in the back.”

I shifted the bills and only gave him one. “Half now, half when you return with him.”

Putting the money in his pocket, he disappeared toward the side of the stage and through a door there. It only took a few minutes before the bouncer returned, trailed by a short man with a white beard and messy white hair. He had a pair of wire rimmed glasses on his face and wore a wrinkled suit. When the pair joined up with me, I handed the bouncer the rest of the money, then put out my hand to the owner. “You are the owner?”

“Clyde Michaels. Nice to meet you, Mr. . . . ?”

“Let’s talk in private, if you don’t mind.”

“What is this about?”

“A friend of mine was here last night. He didn’t come home.”

Clyde’s white brows climbed his forehead. “Follow me.”

Tommaso and I trailed Clyde behind the stage to a set of offices. He opened the door to one and we all went in. I lowered myself into a chair and Clyde took the seat behind the desk.

He straightened his tie. “Now, tell me who you are.”

“My name is Vito D’Agostino and I’m an associate of Luca Benetti. I’m in town with some of my men. One of them was here last night.”

Clyde rubbed his beard. “And you said he didn’t come home.”

“That’s correct. The Red Raiders. Do they stop by often?”

He put up his palms. “Listen, we’re a respectable place. I don’t want any trouble.”

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