“It’s a good thing, I like you more than I like them, too.” He swiftly scooped me up in his arms and took me to the bed.
CHAPTER 20
NICO
Mornings before a hitwere always a little more stressful. I meticulously went over plans for how we were going to carry it out. The air in my office was thick with tension, cigarette smoke curling toward the ceiling from the ashtrays scattered around the room. Trafficking wasn't something any of us five would tolerate in our cities. We might be mobsters, but we didn't deal in people. It was a new age for our business, and tolerating it in our territory would make us complacent. Make us weak.
"When do the Ajello's typically get to the docks?" I asked, knowing full well what time it was, but my men also needed to know without hesitation.
"Eleven p.m," Anto said almost before I had the question out of my mouth.
"Everyone knows their targets?" Murmurs and nods ran through my men. I looked at each face, making sure I saw confidence, readiness. Any hesitation and they'd be benched.
"What are you planning?" She marched into my office, the door banging on the wall because she'd flung it open with such force. The sound echoed through the room like a gunshot.
"Emilia, this isn't the place for you." All eyes were on her, and I couldn't blame my men. She'd just finished a run, and the leggings hugged her curves and the sports bra left little to the imagination. Her skin was flushed, damp with sweat, her hair pulled back in a ponytail. Standing, I grabbed my jacket from the back of the chair and moved toward her. "Please put this on, and I will find you when I'm done with my meeting." My words were quiet, but forceful.
"I won't be dismissed, Nico." She pulled my jacket off her shoulders and threw it back to me. It hit my chest and fell to the floor.
"This isn't your place." Anger bubbled up through me, and I was ready to haul her out of this room.
"Whatever you're planning, you need my help. Don't be so stupid, Nico, I'm the only one who has been able to infiltrate almost every family." She spoke quietly, even though all the men in this room knew who she was and what she'd accomplished in the last two years.
Running my hands through my hair, I needed to diffuse this situation before my men questioned where my loyalty was. "Please, my dear, we will discuss this later."
"I'm staying." She crossed her arms, planting her feet.
"You're not welcome. This is a closed-door meeting."
She turned and looked behind her. "Looks like the door's open."
"Emilia, enough." My voice was louder than I'd planned. "You are not needed here. I will speak to you later." Out of the corner of my eye, I watched my men avert their gazes and look at the floor, or the walls, anywhere other than me. The discomfort in the room was palpable.
An anger flashed through her eyes that I hadn't seen before. "You're dismissing me." I nodded. "Fine." She took a step back and curtsied deeply, the gesture dripping with sarcasm and rage,before spinning on her heel and leaving my office. Glancing over my shoulder, I looked at Antonio, and he nodded slightly, fighting the smirk appearing on his face. I walked out of the room, pulling the door closed behind me.
"Emilia," I shouted as I followed her down the hall. She didn't stop or even turn. Her footsteps echoed on the marble, quick and angry. She walked into our bedroom, but left the door open. "Did you just curtsy to me?"
"Well, you're acting like a king, so I thought I might as well treat you like one."
Reaching out, I grabbed her arm and pulled her back to me. "I don't have time to do what I want to do to you right now, but when I get home, you’d better be ready." Lowering my head, I pressed my lips to hers, as I brought my hand to her neck and gripped it tightly. She clamped down and bit my bottom lip. Hard. Letting her go, I licked my lip and tasted blood. "Tonight, amore, you’d better wait up."
"Fuck you."
"Yes, you will." I walked out of the room, slamming the door behind me. The sound reverberated through the hallway.
Walking back to my office, I knew I had damage control to do. This was the second time she'd disobeyed me during meetings. "Everyone out. You know your jobs for tonight, be ready at eight. No, Antonio, you stay." I sat at my desk and watched all my capos leave the room.
"You know, Nico, she wasn't wrong." Antonio leaned back in his chair and stared at me, waiting for an answer.
"I know, but she can't keep doing this. I'm going to lose all credibility with the men."
"Oh, I don't think it's all that drastic. She's a Caminati; they have short fuses and don't always think things through. Or, at least that's the excuse you could use." He crossed his ankle over his knee and stared at me.
"What? You're thinking, and I don't like it." Leaning back in my chair, I waited for him to talk to me. Whatever it was, I knew I'd have to consider it. Anto saw things I didn't, and that's what made him the perfect underboss.
"Would it be that bad to bring her in? You saw how she handled the Espositos; she could be beneficial." He leaned ahead in his chair.
"Please don't patronize me by telling me something I already know. We don't have time to switch everything up, but after today, I will bring her in. The Four liked her; they think she's more valuable than just being my wife." I watched Anto process what I'd just said.
