Ruthless: A Bad Boy Mafia Romance (15 page)

I felt a warmth inside me, and a smile spread across my face. “You know, I'm just as mentally fucked up as you are, maybe more. So if I ever screw up, you tell me. Because the one thing I've learned during this preparation is that you are a lot like your father, and I mean that as a compliment. I put you through hell, physically and a bit mentally as well, but you kept coming back for more. You're the type of man who does his job, and the world needs more men like you.
I
need a man like you."

The meaning of my words hung in the air, and as if drawn by magnets, we came closer, until we were just a finger's breadth apart. We paused, trembling on the edge of something powerful and life changing, both of us smiling, when suddenly my phone rang. "Damn phone," I said, not moving. "What should I do?"

"I'm not going anywhere," Dante said with chuckle. "Go ahead and grab it. Who knows, maybe it's Jennifer Lopez."

I rolled my eyes and answered my phone. "Hello."

The voice on the other end was unfamiliar, but instantly friendly. "Hi, Miss Esperanza? This is Bonnie Fredericks, of the AADP? I'm the event coordinator for the Las Vegas Regionals you competed in."

"Oh, hello Miss Fredericks. What can I do for you?"

“Actually I was calling about something else. You placed fourth in the ballroom competition.”

“We did. My partner and I were just discussing that when you called."

"Oh, that's great, your partner is right there so you don't have to wait to share the news with him. Would you mind putting me on speaker phone then?"

Surprised and confused, I took the phone away from my ear and tapped the button to put it on speaker. "She wants it on speaker," I explained to Dante, who nodded in understanding. "Go ahead, Miss Fredericks."

"Okay," her voice came over the speaker, slightly distorted because of the cheap quality of my phone. "Well, as you know from the rules of the competition, no couple is eligible to compete if they have worked professionally before."

"Yes, we cleared that with your competition committee," I said, thinking about my past. "They said that solo exotic dancing wasn’t a disqualification."

"That's correct, but being a paid part of a dance troupe in a Meghan Trainor music video is cause for disqualification."

"Huh?" Dante interrupted. “I can assure you, neither of us have been in
any
music video, let alone one by Meghan Trainor."

"You weren't, but the third place team, the Pedersen twins, were," Fredericks said. "The information was brought to our attention by some AADP fans soon after the results were posted. In any case, the Pedersens have been disqualified, and the standings adjusted accordingly. We wanted to get in contact with you before too much time passed and you may have gotten out of the competition mindset."

"Wait, what are you saying?" Dante asked. “Use simple words, I'm somewhat sleep-deprived."

"Mr. Degrassi, congratulations. You and Miss Esperanza are now the third place team from the Las Vegas Regionals, and in eight weeks, will be competing at the Nationals at Madison Square Garden. That is, if you accept the invitation."

"Oh, we accept, we accept!" I yelled, trying not to jump up and down. I looked at Dante, who shot to his feet and pulled me with him, lifting me up and spinning me around in his excitement. Fredericks could hear our celebration, and she hummed happily before interrupting.

"Okay. Well, the national office will get in contact with you one week from today with the information about the Nationals. That'll give you seven weeks to prepare for the compulsory and the wildcard rounds. May I say, as one of your judges for the showcase round, you did a tremendous job, but it could use some improvement. Keep working on it, and make the Las Vegas Region proud."

After she hung up, Dante hugged me again, having not set me down the entire time. "Come on," he said, setting me down. "Let's finished getting our stuff unpacked, the costumes hung up and ready for pressing, and then, I'm going to take you out on a date. Not dessert, but a real date."

I hugged him back, and kissed him on the cheek. "That, Mr. Degrassi, sounds like a wonderful plan. But, let me call Adriana first. She thinks we ended up in fourth still."

"That's fine," Dante said. "I should report in to Tomasso this afternoon anyway, just to fill him in on some stuff that happened in Vegas. Now, last time I screwed up picking the restaurant, so how about this time you do it? I've got no qualms going anywhere with you, even if it's the Chinese place two doors down."

"Then let’s do that," I said with a laugh. "They've got great moo goo gai pan."

"
C
ongrats on the Nationals
," Tomasso greeted me as we met under the Space Needle. "Sorry I had to ask you to meet out here, but I figured with you having a date tonight, it would save time, with where I was this morning."

"How'd you know about that?" I asked, then just shook my head. "Never mind, I know how. Carmen to Adriana, to Luisa, to you?"

"You make it sound complicated," Tomasso said with a laugh. "But still, congrats. How was Vegas?"

"It was less fun than the last time I went, but more magical," I replied, the two of us turning and walking toward the park that was near the Space Needle. "Sorry if that sounds mushy."

"I don't hold it against you. But you wouldn't have called me just to tell me about a dance competition. What's going on?"

"While I was at the Marriott, I ran into a friend of the family, a Peter Malone whose group is in control of the management at the JW Marriott. He seemed surprised that I came into town without him being notified."

"Malone?" Tomasso said, surprised. He stopped, tapping at his chin. “He isn't in charge of the Marriott. When I heard the competition was in Vegas, I called down there personally, just to be sure. The JW is totally open. It's a regular corporation, nothing Malone's crew is involved with at all."

"Well, according to him he is," I continued. "There wasn't any major beef, his muscle-bound simpleton seemed to be trying to start something, but that was it. It just surprised me that I'd make any waves going into Vegas."

"You'd be surprised," Tomasso said, smiling tightly. "You've done a lot of good work over the past few months. And it seems our group is getting noticed. You might find yourself having to be more careful when you leave Seattle from now on, making sure it's cleared through my family. But that's beside the point. Malone approached you inside the Marriott?"

"Right on the casino floor," I said. "I was next to the blackjack tables when I saw a couple of men with unfriendly expressions looking me over. I figured to stay next to the tourists, you know, and he just approaches me directly. Who is he, anyway?"

"He's with the Malone family, one of the Jewish families that are old time Vegas," Tomasso said. "I've met him once I think, but the Malones were never big players in Vegas, not since the days of Bugsy and his crew. They had their little operation, kept it going, and stayed out of everyone's hair. But this . . . I need to make a few phone calls. I hate to ask, but can you keep your phone on you tonight? While you were gone, we got some more information on the
Gatos
, and I might need your help with something."

"I'll have it on me. I know you won't call unless there's an emergency," I replied. "Thanks, Tomasso."

He offered his hand, and we shook. Instead of letting go, Tomasso kept my hand in his grip. "One more thing," he said, still not letting go but not squeezing. "Later on, when you have time, I'd like to take a look at a notebook you apparently may have. I don't know the contents, but Carmen felt it necessary to say something to Adriana. If what might be in there is true, I think my family owes you a big apology."

I swallowed, and shook Tomasso's hand again. "Thank you . . . boss."

"Now go get ready for your date. I promise you, if you have another bad date with Carmen, I'm going to have you scrubbing toilets at the mansion for the next two months," Tomasso said with a laugh. "Get going!"

* * *

"
S
o you're not
mad that I told Adriana?" Carmen asked, as we sat down in the restaurant. I'd expected a cheap diner style place, Dreamstyle Dance wasn't exactly in the best strip mall in town, but instead the inside had an intimate, if slightly dated air, with tall horseshoe shaped mini-booths lining two of the walls. We'd been seated there, the owner giving Carmen a smile and a thumbs up as he left. Apparently, they were friends. "That I said something about your story."

I shook my head. “I kind of wish I’d have been there, but no, I’m not. I realize that you have other people that are closer to you than actual family. If I want to try to see where things between us can go, then I need to accept that you're going to share things with Adriana and Luisa. You just can’t tell them that I wore women’s underwear underneath my dance tuxedo."

Carmen laughed at my stupid joke, then sobered. “
Things
between us?”

"Well, yeah," I replied, rolling the dice. "Isn't that what we've kind of been doing for months now? I mean, if you can call two screwed up dates, a very strange dance competition, and . . ."

"And one bout of very intimate and mind-blowing sex?" Carmen offered, and I grinned. "Okay, I can see your point of view there. I guess we have been doing more than dancing.”

“Excuse me, Carmen. Are you ready to order?" the waitress said, pausing our conversation.

"Friend of yours?" I asked, giving the waitress a smile.

"Lin and I have shared a cup of tea from time to time," Carmen said with a grin. "But I think we need a minute, what do you say?"

"Hmmm, I guess so then. Actually though, I’m a bit hungry. Do you guys have good wontons or maybe dim sum?"

"Best damn dim sum in the city," Lin said with a touch of pride. "You want pork or beef?"

"Beef, thank you." Lin noted my request and left, and I turned back to Carmen. "Seriously, this dinner is going to be whatever we want to order. Considering the occasion, I say that if we want to do the lobster stir fry, we go lobster stir fry."

"I like the way you think," Carmen said, laughing. "But you know this means that tomorrow we have to hit the dance floor hard to compensate."

"I'm fine with that," I replied. "I plan on not just going to New York with you, but us winning the whole damn thing. How much is the prize money again?"

"Ten thousand," Carmen said. "Why?"

“Just enough to upgrade your living arrangements and spruce up the studio."

"And what about your half?" Carmen asked. The waitress brought out a platter of dim sum, giving us an expectant look. "Hold on. Tell your father that we're here celebrating, that we want the best he's got in the kitchen.

She gave a smile and a nod and walked off, then Carmen turned back to me. "So your half of the money?"

"Oh, that's the half that is either invested into the studio, or is invested into getting you a new apartment, take your pick," I replied. "I don't need the money, and my life is just how I want it.”

Carmen opened her mouth, about to reply when the phone rang. I looked, and saw it was Tomasso. “It's Tomasso. One minute."

I answered the call, Tomasso speaking even before I had a chance to say anything. "Dante, sorry to interrupt your date. I know I said that you can't have another bad date with Carmen, but I need your services."

"It's okay. The date's going fine, and you know I'm ready.”

Tomasso chuckled while Carmen smiled and took my free hand, giving it a squeeze under the table. "In that case, I need you to come by tonight, around eight or earlier," Tomasso said. "Those gentlemen we talked about, and the ones you told me about in Vegas, it seems they are working together, and things are coming to a head quicker than I'd have preferred. My father has given me a difficult task for tonight. Can you make it?"

"Of course. I'll be there before eight. Dress?"

"Tactical," Tomasso said. "Tell Carmen I'm sorry."

"I will. Good-bye."

Tomasso hung up, and I looked at Carmen, pursing my lips. "Work calls.”

"I see," she said, trying not to sound disappointed. "When?"

"I have to be there before eight. Which gives us exactly fifty-two minutes to enjoy our dinner before I have to head back to my place to get ready. Think we can eat dinner by then?"

“Plenty of time for dinner. But unfortunately no time for dessert.”

* * *

I
was still
a little starry-eyed when I got to the Bertoli mansion, parking my car near the kitchen entrance and going in. I was wearing my tactical gear, lightweight combat style boots with black pants, and a long-sleeved Under Armour shirt that I could pull other clothes on top of.

"Well, you had a good start to your evening," Luisa said, greeting me in the kitchen. "You’re nearly floating."

"It was the best date of my life," I said, then shook my head. “Enough of that though, I’m sure you’ll get details from Carmen. It's time for business."

Luisa and I walked toward the study, where Tomasso was waiting. "Good. In just a minute, the other guys are going to get here. Then I'll bring everyone up to speed."

Nick was the first through the door at one minute to nine, while Gene sort of sauntered in a few minutes later, seemingly not aware or not caring about the fact that he was late. It was one of the reasons he was bringing up the tail end, and I had to remind myself that only about six months prior, I'd been the one that had been at the butt of derision.

"All right, now that we've got everyone," Tomasso said, giving Gene a pointed glance, "let's get to work. Here's the deal. As you know, for the past week or so we've been tailing and gathering information about the
Gatos,
a group down in SoDo and Beacon Hill that's been stepping out of bounds. Dante, I know you've been out of the loop the past few days, and by the way congrats on the Vegas trip. Luisa?"

Luisa stepped in, her normal smile gone and the cold-hearted badass I'd seen before there instead. "Dante met a man named Peter Malone in Las Vegas, a member of the Malone family down there. There were some questions about the meeting, and we've been checking up on information. From what we have found out, Peter Malone is part of the pipeline that is supplying the
Gatos
with their drugs and money to bankroll their actions."

"Do we know why?" Nick asked. I'd done training with him, and he was a good operator. Like some of the other Bertoli men, he was prior military who'd enlisted in order to gain skills, so he was older than me, about thirty or so, and he still favored the military-like haircut, with his brown hair cut into a flat-top that was only slightly fuller than military standard. "And what's the deal with tonight?"

"Malone is bringing in a shipment of weapons and drugs to Seattle tonight," Tomasso said. "Now, normally we'd just drop a dime to the cops about it, but my father thinks, and I agree, that we need to send a message instead. Both to the
Gatos
and to this group that the Malones are a part of. So the five of us are going in. This is going to be a full-on raid, no holding back. Only one person is going to be in a suit, and that's me, to send the message to any survivors."

"Will there be survivors?" I asked.

"Not intentionally," Luisa commented. "If they want to guess who did it, they can watch the security footage. So all of us will be disguised, full face masks, gloves, long sleeves, and we're taking disguised cars."

"Where?" Nick asked, his lips twisting into a half grin. I knew enough of his military past that he'd been infantry, and had done a tour kicking in doors in Afghanistan. He got off on this sort of stuff.

"Small airport, crop duster sort of place really, out near Buckley on the edge of Eunumclaw," Tomasso said. "From what our associates say, the plane is supposed to be landing around midnight, which gives us just enough time to get our gear together and get out there. Now, any more questions?"

"Just one," I said. "What're we carrying?"

"Oh, that's the fun part," Tomasso said, grinning. "We get to play with the big toys tonight."

Big toys
was one way to put it, as I felt the stock of the Beretta AR70/90 while Luisa drove. We were taking three vehicles, Tomasso driving by himself while Nick and Gene, who teamed together often, in a third. "Are you okay?" Luisa said as she drove.

"I will be," I replied. “This is kind of the first time I've gone out with the express idea of killing a man. Or
men
."

"It is a difficult situation," Luisa agreed. We changed lanes, getting ready to get off the Interstate and go onto the state roads that would bring us to the airport. "I still don’t like this part of my work. It was one of the biggest adjustments I had to make when I decided I would be more than just a wife and mother to Tomasso and Mariana. My father didn’t want me involved in the nasty side of our family business."