Page 26 of Extradition (Mobsters + Billionaires 1)
JOE
Happy?This motherfucker here wants to know if I’m happy?
“Sweetheart, I’m a long way from happy. But I’m gonna keep on drinking your wine for now.”
Edgerton, I’m assuming despite himself, tries to hide a small grin.
“This amuses you?” I ask, taking another drink of the best fucking wine I’ve ever tasted.
“You’re drinking a thousand-dollar bottle of wine like it’s a Two Buck Chuck. That is rather amusing, you have to admit.”
I nearly choke again. I turn to Wolfe, incredulous. “You spent a thousand dollars on a bottle of wine? What are the grapes made of? Diamonds?”
“Having toured the winery myself, I can tell you the grapes are not made of diamonds. They are, however, a special varietal that only grows in this one region of Italy.”
Addressing the bigger problem at hand, I turn back to Edgerton. “And it is your suggestion that I stay here until you can secure a better place for me?”
“Sir, that is my suggestion and, if I’m honest, I doubt I’ll be able to quickly or easily secure a place that comes close to this location. I’m familiar with the Portelli family, and I know as well as you do that if you pissed off one of their capos, you’ve got a not-small problem on your hands.”
I stifle the urge to test his knowledge, see how much he actually knows, but I decide I don’t really care. “It’s a good thing I’m in the city then, am I right?”
He gives me a slow shake of his head. “I don’t know. I’m not sure of your father’s next move.”
“Do you think I’m endangering anyone at Wolfe Athletics?”
He shakes his head. “No. Wolfe and its employees are under my care, and the Stefano family will not be coming after you.”
There was a threat in the way he said that sentence nice and easy. I recognize it because it’s the kind of threat my father gives.
“So I shouldn’t be in any danger then, correct?”
“As long as you stay here and take Mr. Wolfe’s job offer, you should be fine. But if you decide to get stupid and go off on your own, I won’t be able to protect you.”
“How long before they figure out where I’m at?”
“There’s very little chance they don’t already know your location.”
“So, I don’t really have much choice at all.”
“That would be my read on the situation.”
I run my hand along my jaw, wincing at the unkempt beard.
Turning to Wolfe, I shrug. “All right, then. Show me to my new living quarters and tell me what my job is.”
Edgerton gives me another one of his not-friendly smiles and bows his head. “Wise choice.”
Yeah, we’ll see about that.
* * *
I don’t knowhow long I’ve been sitting out here, poolside like one of these rich fuckers. Long enough for night to fall. It’s easy to believe this city is a glittering jewel when looking at it from so high up. But I know how gritty it gets at the street view.
I haven’t heard anything from my uncle in far too long, and one way or another, that’s bad news.
Grayson, who’s been kindly keeping me in expensive wine and snacks this whole time, approaches carefully.
“Sir, Edgerton is back with a small box of your things.”
