Page 20 of Consigliere’s Revenge

“Sarcasm doesn’t really suit you, Isabella.”

I shrug. “He deserves it.”

He laughs as he heads to the kitchen to pour himself a glass of wine. “So should I expect a lot of your cathartic writing that you plan to delete later?” he asks, grinning at me as he takes a sip of the dark red blend he’s selected.

“Umm … no. This time, I censored myself. For the good of the cause, you know?”

He laughs. “I take it your clothes arrived?”

My eyes narrow at the man who I don’t doubt for a minute didn’t have a full report the minute those suitcases were delivered. “Tell me you didn’t get a text about it.”

Lorenzo shrugs out of his jacket and tosses it on the chair. “You want me to lie, Bella?” he asks as a knock turns his focus to the door.

“No. I expected that you would have your people watching my every move.”

“For your protection, Bella,” he says, walking to the door.

My eyes widen at the thought that anyone might come barging through that door. Isn’t that how the families do it? Take everyone by surprise and barge in? He said himself the De Rosas could have anyone in the casino lurking around, ready to strike the minute given an order. I chastise myself for being stupid the minute I see the petite woman who’s brought a room service tray.

“I took the liberty of ordering a little something for dinner. I wasn’t sure what you felt like this evening, so I ordered a little bit of everything. Room service will be back later with a snack,” he says, his dark eyes connecting with mine, leaving no doubt as to what he has on his mind. “Thank you,” he says to the woman. “How’s little Tommie?”

She smiles bright. “Si, he’s getting so big, and all the coaches want him to play for their team. He doesn’t know what to do.” She shakes her head somberly as though it’s just too much to bear.

“You give Tommie this,” Lorenzo says, scrawling some numbers on the back of the receipt. “He’s very talented, Maria. There are a lot of sharks out there that will steer him wrong to line their pockets. You tell him to call me. We’ll make sure he gets in with the right people,” he tells her.

Maria nods over and over. “Thank you, Mr. Larussio. Your family is always so kind.”

Lorenzo laughs. “You take good care of us,” he says as she heads for the elevator. “Bruno,” he says to the guard, “I got you a plate of the calamari, shrimp, and fries you like so much.” He walks over and hands it to the large brute of a man, and his face breaks out in a large smile. “Thanks, boss,” he says, taking the plate and returning to his station before Lorenzo shuts the door.

He brings the large round platter covered with a plastic dome from the cart to the table. “Would you like a refresh?” he asks.

“Yes, please. Do you order in a lot?”

“It depends on the day, but it’s definitely handy. The Larussio has one of the best chefs in the world on staff. You’ll see when we order dinner tonight. Anything you want, he can make it. He has magic hands in the kitchen,” Lorenzo says, sliding into the seat next to me. “So can I see this article?” he asks as we begin to eat.

I turn the computer toward him and take another sip of my drink, trying to settle my nerves while he reads the words that just started flowing to the paper as I looked at the couple so deeply in love.

His eyes widen as he reads. When he looks at me, his eyes have flecks of gold, and I wonder how I ever thought they looked like the dark pits of hell. “The article is perfect, Isabella. You’ve managed to capture the essence of what everyone in the family thinks when they look at these two. Forbidden to love by an age-old vendetta but drawn to each other by an attraction that neither could deny. That’s what everyone but De Rosa and the crime families around the world will see. But the emotion, her longing look at the door, and his hand on her arm coupled with the rumors that are by now already spreading will ensure that at least there is doubt to their real relationship. Where there is doubt that a man has control over his family, especially his prized daughter, there is doubt that same man can be in control of power. De Rosa will lose respect from those who still align with him today. It wasn’t an easy task, but you’ve captured exactly what I wanted.”

I nod, putting some shrimp and fresh crab on my plate. “Thank you, Lorenzo. That means a lot to me. You know that forbidden but fate-bound love is exactly what I felt when I was with them in the boutique this morning. You can feel it sizzling around them. And Emelia is such a nice woman. How she ever came from the De Rosas is beyond me.”

He laughs. “She may look like a nice girl next door, but she is shockingly bold, ruthless, and can fight like a man,” he says, spinning my computer back to me and plating himself a small pile of shrimp and calamari.

“So, do you want to do your magic so when we wake up it’s posted all over the world?” he asks.

I narrow my eyes at Lorenzo. “Do you have Larry under that mafia thumb? I would have thought you would have had it all arranged already. Come back here, read it, and send it to him right away? Eliminate the middleman?” I ask, crunching a piece of shrimp that’s been baked and dusted with a coconut glaze.

He closes his eyes. “I won’t lie to you, Isabella. If I didn’t like the story, we wouldn’t move forward with publishing it. The family interests will always come first in regard to simple things like this. But the story is perfect. There’s no reason for me not to let you handle things the way you always have, right?” he asks.

“So free to make the deal I want, and not the one that will allow Larry to sell the rights to a ton of mags who will chop up bits and pieces and put their own spin on it?”

“You have free rein, Isabella. This story and tomorrow’s, as long as it’s written like this. There’s nothing in this story that would concern anyone or raise any suspicions about their relationship, unless you’re a friend or family member of the De Rosas. It’s fucking perfect.”

I suck in a deep breath because Larry and I no longer have a contract. I call the shots if he wants the story at all. He is going to have a heart attack when he hears the deal I give him because for this one, I want more than I’ve ever charged. Maybe it’s a little screw you for working with the mafia family I was writing about and not even giving me a clue. But if we’re going to get it out, I better get this story in shape, right now.

“By the way, Emelia has agreed to wear a camera, so you do not need to be at the cemetery tomorrow for her mother and brother’s funeral. You can stay here while I attend.”

“I’m going with you.”

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