As if I was on display, the chatter in the room ceased and all eyes turned toward me, their expressions ranging from surprise to confusion. I put the count at twenty-three, full attendance except for the two empty seats. One I assumed to be Salvatore’s, at the head of the table and another immediately to his right. Leo’s seat probably hadn’t been filled yet.
Two years ago, overcome with nerves, I would’ve puked right there on the threshold. Now, I tilted my chin in defiance, squared my shoulders, walked further into the room, and headed straight for Salvatore’s seat.
Just as Julian slid it back for me to sit, the man on the immediate left said, “you can’t sit there.”
Julian opened his mouth to reply, a quick lift of my hand stopped him. I looked at the other man. “May I ask why I can’t sit here?” I set the envelope Wentzel had given me, down on the table.
The man eyed me suspiciously then glanced around the table as if waiting for backup before addressing me once more, “that seat is reserved for the head of this organization. Vincenzo Salvatore.”
“So, where should I sit then?” I fluttered my eyelashes at him, and his lips immediately widened in a goofy grin. “Here?” I pointed to the vacant seat on the right with a giggle, my gaze doing a quick flick around the table. Except for the lone woman in the room, all the other men were smiling. I guessed my dumb bitch routine worked. Then I moved closer to goofy grin and resting an arm across the back of his tall leather chair, I leaned down slightly and played with his tie. “What’s your name, handsome.”
“Luiz,” he offered, his smile would’ve probably blown the glass out in this room, it was so bright.
Luiz Vittorio, mafia capo out of LA, and judging from his looks I could see why prostitution was his biggest trade. With that much gold teeth, he probably couldn’t attract the good shit. None of the portfolios had photos, probably a safety feature, which meant I’d have to wait for each one to introduce themselves. I didn’t have the patience for that.
“Who are you?” the man next to Luiz asked me.
“Nobody important,” I replied.
“She must be the new secretary, Wentzel told us Vincenzo was hiring.” A fat fuck across the table called out. He wiggled his eyebrows at me, and I faked a wide smile for him.
“Then you sit at the corner table, sweetheart,” Luiz pointed to a table just to the left of the boardroom. “Unless you want to sit on my lap and maybe play with my pen.” He winked and that earned him a snigger from the other men.
“Sure, honey.” I slipped the hand down from the backrest and cupped the back of his head then with a quick flex of my arm, I slammed his head, face-down, into the glass table. Fuck, that must’ve hurt.
“What the fuck?”
The man next to Luiz shot up from his seat, followed by the others, curses flying across the room in between Luiz’s howls. He sat back, cupping his nose. Blood poured, dripping into his mouth and running down his chin. Only one man remained seated, and I gave him more than a cursory glance.
In a gray three-piece suit that appeared to be cut with his muscular frame in mind, dark hair neatly styled, a five-o'clock shadow peppering a chiseled square jaw, the man was beautiful. If I had to compare him to Salvatore and Zayne, he’d rank a close...a very close second. A brooding mysteriousness surrounded him, and I had the insane urge to smile at him. Blue eyes, intense and piercing, swept over me in a quick appraisal. Judging by his lack of shock, he was either expecting me or he didn’t believe in unnecessary noise, unlike the others.
“Who the fuck are you?” the fat fuck demanded, pulling my gaze away from Mr. Blue Eyes. Okay, I seriously must stop labeling people.
“Why the secretary, of course.” I slid into Salvatore’s seat. Behind me, Julian chuckled.
“She’s Gianna Salvatore,” the woman called out and all the men turned to look at her then me before resuming their seats. “Quite an entrance, little lady,” she complimented. “I’m Daniela from Boston.” Her smile genuine. Maybe she was glad to have another female on board.
I smiled. “Trust me. Where I’m concerned, little and lady don’t go together on the same line.” I arched a brow at the fat fuck who seemed to be still fuming. I guessed he didn’t like surprises. Next to him, Blue Eyes smirked. “So, now that you all know who I am, shall we get started.” I steepled my fingers, resting my hands on the table in front of me.
“Where’s Vincenzo?” fat fuck asked, and I figured he was the loudest of all the crime lords.
“Unavailable,” I replied.
“At the last meeting, Vincenzo was supposed to disclose the location of our funds. He hasn’t done that yet and now he’s unavailable. If that’s not suspicious then...” The man next to Luiz accused with his eyes on me.
I was about to ask what money then I remember that all these members pooled funds together as a safety net if shit ever hit the fan for any of them. It protected their interests and I recalled correctly in was sitting in the billions. Problem was, I didn’t know where those funds were invested, and neither it seemed, did Wentzel when I mentioned the money to him. I didn’t think Salvatore would disclose that figure to just anyone.
“What’s the amount sitting at?” someone asked, and a few people scrambled for their phones to check.
“Your funds are sitting at...,” I blurted out a long figure down to the cents.What the fuck?There was no way I could remember that exact figure. I shocked myself and everyone else in the room, it seemed. Stunned gazes turned my way.
“She’s right,” someone mumbled.
“Wow, Gianna, that’s some skill,” Daniela laughed. “I need to write it down to remember.
“Me too.” Someone else replied.
“Well, now that we’ve established what the figure is, where is our money, little girl?” fat fuck asked.
