Not wanting to sour my mood, I shove that thought to the back of my mind.
After applying another coat of lip gloss, I straighten my dress and head for the bar, hoping to catch Elena before the club gets busy. We're not the closest of friends, but she is usually a good source of gossip. She might know where Paolo is, if he's okay.
Though he could be an asshole at times, I hate to think of him being out of a job because of me.
When I get to the bar, Elena isn't there. The bar is being tended by a man I've never seen before. Tall and broad-shouldered with a shaved head and a sleeve of intimidating tattoos on his left arm, he looks like he should be beating people up in the back alley, not serving drinks to Tuscany's elite.
"Where's Elena?" I ask.
"No idea." He looks at me in a way that isn't hostile exactly, but it's not warm either. "Is there anything else I can do for you, Signorina Caruso?"
I clench my fists at my sides as I realize the only way he'd know my name is if someone briefed him. A suspicion forms in my mind.
"Are you even a bartender?"
He shrugs. "I can mix drinks."
"Right."
Irritated, I turn and walk away. I was pleased when Stefano didn't follow me into the club because I thought it meant I was being granted a little freedom. La Stanza Rossa has excellent security so it isn't as if I'll come to harm in here.
Now it seems Damiano has installed one of his henchmen as bartender to keep an eye on me. It's irritating, but I refuse to let his overbearing behaviour put me off doing my job. The independence this job gives me is not something I'll relinquish lightly.
Before I can get myself too worked up over the situation, the first customers start to arrive. I soon settle into a rhythm, greeting people, finding out what they need from me, and making sure everyone has a great time.
When I finally get the chance to catch my breath, I spot Tatiana, one of the other VIP hostesses, standing by the bar. I walk over and gently pull her to one side.
"Do you know where Elena is?"
"Uh." The slight pause, the trepidation in her expression, tell me something bad has happened to her. "Riccardo came in last night. He told her to gather her things and come with him."
"Riccardo took Elena?" That's worse than I imagined. "Why?"
"I don't know, but she looked frightened, like she'd been caught." Tatiana leans closer, lowering her voice. "There's a rumor someone's been speaking to the Rossis."
My blood chills. I try to stay out of mafia business but I know the basics. Damiano heads the most powerful family in the region, if not the whole of Italy. The Rossi and Martelli families also control some of the criminal activity. If Elena has been talking to the Rossis, her betrayal won't go unpunished.
"You think Elena would do that?"
"I don't know." Tatiana sighs heavily. "Look, don't tell anyone I told you this, but I saw her talking to a really sketchy guy a few nights ago. It seemed like he was threatening her. When I asked her about it she brushed me off."
Shit.If Tatiana is correct, Elena's in deep trouble. I hate the thought she might have put herself in harm's way. I could ask Damiano about her, but perhaps her fate is one of those things I'm better off not knowing. No, that's cowardly. I need to use whatever influence I have to make sure she's safe.
As Tatiana walks off, I notice Vittorio Bardi trying to get my attention. I hurry over, apologizing profusely for keeping him waiting. He can be a real asshole if he feels he's not receiving premium service.
I lean in to hear his request over the steady thump of the music. He puts a hand on my arm and I wish I could shrug him off. He's one of those men who believes he's entitled to take whatever he wants and in the past he's made it clear I'm on his wish list.
I try to pull away, but he holds firm, muttering something crude to his companions about me wriggling. They all laugh. I smile politely because no matter how much I'd love to tell these men exactly what I think of them, I take pride in my professionalism.
Before I can extricate myself from Bardi's grasp, Giorgio appears at my side.
"Signorina Caruso, would you attend Signora Silvano's party, please?"
Under Giorgio's intimidating glare, Bardi drops his hand from my arm. I hurry away. As I head toward Alessia Silvano, the lead actress on a popular daytime soap, I turn to see Giorgio bending to speak to Bardi.
The older man stiffens in a way that suggests my new boss just threatened him.Great. So this is how my work life is going to be. Ignoring the anger pulsing in my veins, I plaster a smile on my face.
"Good evening, Signora Silvano. It's a pleasure to see you again." I nod my greeting to the other two women sitting with her on the velvet sofa. "May I fetch you another bottle of Prosecco?"
