Gian (Trassato Crime Family Book 1)(11)

“That’d be great. Thanks for your help,” I replied, already feeling better.

Fifteen minutes later, the driver pulled up in front of Gian’s nightclub. “I’ll be right back,” I said.

“Don’t worry. Take your time.”

I headed directly to the bouncer at the front door, circumventing the line to get in the bar. It hadn’t decreased much since I went in the first time. After a quick explanation to the bouncer, he unhooked the red velvet rope and let me inside again. Not stopping to look for Kevin, Carmela, Gian, or anyone else I might know, I darted through the crowds of people to the back area of the bar leading to Gian’s office.

Unlike when I had followed Gian through the No Admittance doorway, a large man now stood in front of the door. He wore a black suit, an impeccably starched white shirt, and a dark tie.

“I need to get back there,” I blurted out.

Folding his bulky arms across his chest, he glanced at me, a frown on his face and his dark eyes narrowed. A wave of cold rushed through me. Something about him made me grateful I hadn’t run into him in a dark alley.

“No.”

“I left my purse in Gian’s office. I had a meeting with him earlier.”

He pursed his lips, a dubious look on his face. “The answer is still no. He’s busy right now. Come back in an hour.”

I heaved a worn out sigh. “I need to pay the taxi outside, and I don’t have any money.”

He shrugged. “Find someone who cares.”

“Can you go back there and get it for me?” I asked impatiently. “I left it on the sofa in his office. It’s a black clutch purse.”

“No. No one is allowed back there right now. Including me.”

“What the hell am I supposed to do?”

He arched one messy eyebrow. “I don’t care. Just find somewhere else to do it.”

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

His dark eyes jerked to mine. “Look, lady, you can either come back in an hour, or I’ll have someone escort you out of here.”

“Thanks for your time.” I spun on my heel. “Asshole,” I said, flipping him off without turning around.

Admittedly, it was childish, but I’d gotten sick of men pushing me around. Gian had probably already moved on to some other woman for the night, and this time he added security so they wouldn’t be interrupted. Well, he and his goons could go fuck themselves. If that man refused to let me get my purse or go back there to get it for me, I’d try the exit door I saw earlier.





CHAPTER SIX





Gian



Tony Red and Sal escorted Tommy Calvo into my office with a gun pointed at his head. His stringy dark hair stuck out in every direction, and blood dripped from his nose. Carlo followed them inside, his hands shoved deep in his pockets.

“Shut the fucking door!” I yelled at Carlo. I didn’t know why Tony Red had recruited him tonight, especially when I was one second away from putting a bullet in Carlo’s head. Some of the guys told me Carlo had attempted to persuade Dominick to take me out based on fabricated charges. If he didn’t watch himself, I’d punch his ticket and worry about the implications later.

I dragged a wooden chair to the middle of my office and pointed to Tommy. “Have a seat.”

Tommy shrugged and rolled his eyes. “Don’t mind if I do.”

I circled his chair with my hands behind my back. “Do you know why you’re here?”

“I don’t have a fucking clue,” Tommy snarled, his nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed. “You better have a damn good reason because Tony Red yanked me out of The Smoking Gun in the middle of a lap dance.”

“Where have you been for the past week?”

He stretched his legs out in front of him, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. “Taking care of my nonna. She’s been sick.”

“Don’t fucking lie to me.”

“I’m not.”

I slammed my fists into his face. First, an uppercut to his jaw. Then, a left hook to his right cheek. And finally, one more punch to his nose.

A sickening crack echoed through the room, and his nose bent sideways. He slumped forward in his chair, cupping his face. Blood seeped between his fingers, dripping onto his shirt and pants.

I pulled a gun out of the waistband of my pants. “I strongly advise you to start showing me some respect, or you won’t like the consequences. And yes, this came from him.” I brushed my hand along my jaw to indicate I meant Dominick. To avoid being caught on a wiretap fingering Dominick for a crime, we weren’t allowed to say his name out loud in circumstances like this, so we touched or pointed to our jaw.

Tommy dropped his hands, his eyes wild. “I’m sorry, Gian. I had some shit come up this week. It won’t happen again.”