Page 4 of Vincenzo (The DiMaggio Crime Family #3)
VINCENZO
“ C assius get the cameras installed at The Arlington?” Teo asks, from across my desk in my office at Fierce.
It’s a surreal moment seeing him in the same spot I’ve found myself in so many times before. My brother used to run Fierce before he met Lux, but ever since they got married, I’ve fallen into the role of running it.
He used to be a workaholic, but now with a wife to go home to, he’s finally let go of some of his controlling tendencies and has delegated more tasks to me.
It’s been fucking fantastic throwing myself into work. It keeps me preoccupied now that Teo’s always busy with Lux, and my sister, Izzy, is always busy with her man, Nicco.
“Yeah, he got them installed this morning while Velasco and Montoya were enjoying a nice breakfast at one of the bakeries nearby.”
“Good. Everything working well?”
Bringing up the app on my phone that gives me a direct feed into the suite they’re staying at, I inspect it for a second, then slide it over to Teo.
“Yup. They were only back at the hotel once today. About a few hours ago. They have their own separate rooms and didn’t really speak to each other, which was interesting. ”
“Interesting?” he asks, with a raise of his brow.
“Yeah, they ended up leaving a couple hours ago. I had to meet up with one of our suppliers and then get back here, so I put Rocco on it. They were at dinner, and then about ten minutes ago, he texted and said they’re on the move.”
“Any word where to yet?”
“No, but I’m sure he’ll text any second letting me know.”
“Good,” he says, and we sit here in silence for a few moments, his eyes never leaving mine.
“What?” I ask.
“What?” he says, feigning ignorance.
“You’re looking at me like you have something else to say, big bro.”
He shakes his head and gives a light chuckle. “I’m just glad you’re utilizing Rocco. I know a lot has changed lately with me giving you more responsibility.”
“But?” I say, knowing there’s something else he wants to add.
“ But if you ever feel like it’s beginning to be too much?—”
“Not going to happen, Teo. I welcome the work.”
He shakes his head and lets out a humorous sigh. “One day, Enzo. One day.”
One day, what?
I’m about to ask him when he says, “You staying at the penthouse again?”
Teo has a penthouse not too far from here he used to use a lot, but now that he’s wifed up, he spends his time at home with Lux, leaving the penthouse open for me to use as I like.
“Yeah, just consider me moved in there.”
“You know Lux and I don’t mind you staying at the house. You’re welcome anytime you want. There’s more than enough space for us all.”
“Yeah, playing third wheel to you two is so much fun.”
Teo chuckles and says, “Well, if you’d settle down, then we could be a square.”
I narrow my gaze at him. “A fucking square? Was that… Was that supposed to be a joke?”
He gives me a loose shrug. “I thought it was funny.”
“You see how neither of us are laughing?” I don’t wait for his answer. “That means it wasn’t a fucking joke. Damn, man, work on your humor. That was embarrassing as shit.”
Teo laughs. “Hey, I’m just saying. Maybe it’s time for you to think about the future.”
“I think about the future all the time. For example, I think about what Velasco and Montoya are planning all day, every day.”
“You know that’s not what I meant,” Teo sighs out, but I ignore him. Settling down and getting into a relationship isn’t something I need nor want for my future, so I’m not going to entertain him on this.
“When you find that special someone, you’ll get it, Enzo,” he says before pushing himself up to a stand. “I have to head out. Lux is waiting up for me.”
I wave him off. “Yeah, yeah. Tell my girl I’ll see her soon.”
Ignoring me, he turns and exits my office, forcing me to think about his words.
I decided a few years ago there was no need for me to get into a serious relationship.
After my parents were killed, I knew right then and there that letting another person into my life like that could be damaging.
To care for someone who could be taken away in an instant isn’t something I need nor want.
My brother is the leader of our family, which means his heir will take over for him one day. I can continue doing my part and playing my role in the family exactly as I have been.
My phone ringing pulls me out of my thoughts.
“What’s up, Rocco?” I say, muffled music coming through the other end that sounds a lot like…
“You at the club?” he asks.
“Yes,” I say, sitting up straighter in my seat.
“You have some visitors.”
My curiosity is piqued. “What visitors?”
“Velasco and Montoya just showed up.”
Well, it seems my night just got a whole lot more interesting. Looks like showing up at the bakery earlier worked. I was planning on keeping myself in the dark, but I’m getting fucking impatient, so I decided to force their hand, and it looks like it worked.
“Location?” I ask.
“First floor, far-right bar.”
“Standby,” I say.
I walk over to the large one-way window that overlooks the dance floor but also gives me the perfect view of the far-right bar.
Scanning the crowded area in search of Velasco and Montoya, I finally locate them grabbing drinks from the bartender.
I’d say it was a coincidence and just two regular-ole people enjoying a night out at one of NYC’s hottest clubs, but I know better. I don’t believe in coincidences.
I watch them for a few minutes to see what their plan is, but all they’ve done is move a few feet away from the bar to make space for other patrons to order.
“This game is getting old and tiring,” I mumble to myself, bringing the phone back to my ear.
“Bring them to me,” I say.
“Got it.”
I hang up and slide my phone into the pocket of my slacks. Keeping a hand in each pocket, I watch while Rocco closes in on Velasco and Montoya. He whispers something in Velasco’s ear while she takes a sip from her straw.
I narrow my gaze as if it’s going to help me see what’s going on better from all the way up here, and lean closer into the window as if it’ll help me hear what’s going on.
When Rocco pulls away, her eyes dart up to me, and for a second, I think she can see through this one-way window, directly at me. Directly into my fucking soul with that look.
I’ve done my research on Amalia Velasco and Carlos Montoya. Amalia’s the niece of Manuel Velasco, head of the North American region of the Velasco Cartel, and Carlos Montoya is one of his best guards.
What I learned about Carlos Montoya isn’t what had me interested, though. It’s what I learned about Amalia Velasco—or should I say, La Sicaria —that grabbed my attention.
Amalia’s eyes are still seemingly planted on mine when she nods to Rocco. Turning around, he leads them to the private stairs off to the corner. I track their movements until they’re out of sight.
Turning around, I walk over to the mini bar in the corner of my office and pour myself a glass of bourbon. I’m screwing the lid back on the bottle when there’s a knock on my door.
“Come in,” I call out from over my shoulder, then pick up my glass and walk back to my desk.
Rocco pushes the door open and holds it for Amalia and Carlos to walk through.
I’ve seen Amalia a lot the past couple of weeks, but now with her so close, I’m able to really look at her, and damn… La Sicaria is even more gorgeous than I thought.
Her dark hair cuts off right below her shoulders, and she has it styled so the front is swooped to one side. Her light-brown eyes are pinned on me with a blank expression I’m not used to receiving from women.
But regardless of the staredown she’s giving me that could freeze the warmest of hearts, I give her a quick once-over, sliding my gaze up and down her body, sizing her up.
Her style is edgy, dark, and fucking sexy.
She’s wearing black leather pants, black thigh-high boots with a heel that has to be at least five inches, a black lace corset top, and a red leather jacket.
The double-layered silver choker around her neck has me wanting to run my hands along the soft skin it sits on.
She raises a brow, then rolls her eyes at me. “Seriously?” She scoffs. “You’re going to blatantly check me out like that?”
I should’ve known by the way she holds herself and the past couple weeks of surveillance I’ve been doing that she’d be a prickly one.
My lips curl up into a smirk. “Relax, La Sicaria , I’m just looking to see where you’ve hidden your knife.”
There’s a small clench in her teeth that tugs at the little vein in her temple. It was so discreet I’m surprised I caught it myself. Looks like she doesn’t always have her expressions in control.
“So?” I ask.
“So …” she says.
I glance over to the man on her left who hasn’t said a word, and do a quick scan of his body. He could be hiding a gun under his leather jacket, but I know our metal detectors would’ve caught it, so that leads me back to Amalia.
“Your friend here looks like he’s a gun guy, and since my metal detectors would’ve picked up on that, I’m going to assume you have something.” She raises that perfectly arched brow of hers and gives me a small laugh before darting that gorgeous pink tongue out to lick her crimson lips.
“Well, your assumption is incorrect,” she says, but she’s lying. If I had to guess, I’d say her knife is hidden in one of those thigh-high boots of hers. I’ll have to save figuring that one out for another time. If she tries pulling her knife on me, it’ll be the last time she does anything .
“Take a seat,” I order, pointing to the two chairs across my desk, then I lower myself into mine.
Amalia takes her seat first, and when she notices Carlos hasn’t made a move yet, she says, “Sit, Carlos.”
Her eyes remained glued to mine, and I can’t help but let out another chuckle. “I see who wears the pants in this relationship.”
“It’s not a relationship,” she says.
I quirk a brow at her. “Oh, touchy, touchy.” Leaning forward, I rest my arms on my desk and add, “Does the big guy know that?”
An incoherent grumble sounds from Carlos as I sit back in my chair and rest my elbows on the armrests.
“Okay, you got the stupid bullshit comment out of the way,” Amalia says. “Clearly, you know who we are.”
Straight to the point. Good.
“Clearly,” I say with a nod. “But what I would like to know is what the fuck you’re doing in my city?”