“What has you smiling like a fool?” Lo’s voice startles me as I lock my phone.
I wasn’t expecting a text like that from Isabella. She has been more open the past couple of weeks, but cautious. This is the first time she has even texted me first.
“Nothing.”
“Sure, nothing. I’m sure it has nothing to do with a black-haired ballbuster who’s suddenly warmed up to you.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about. Get back to work,” I bark.
His chuckle grates on me. I feel like I am walking a fine line between the family and Isabella. I want her to feel safe and fall in love with me again, but I know her biggest hang-up is the family. She doesn’t want to define this between us, but it’s getting harder on me to not tell her how I feel.
Lo keeps his mouth shut as he goes back to his work.
I type a quick text out to Isabella before also returning to work. I couldn’t not respond. Any misstep could spell the end to us. It is like walking on eggshells all the time.
“There is a disturbance at the back door.” I sigh at the voice coming through the phone.
I used to love running nightclubs, but now it is more of a hassle. I used to love surrounding myself with people and drinking until I didn’t have to remember anymore. Hell, most nights, one of the guys would have to haul me home. I know a lot of people thought I was out fucking everything that moved. Truth was, most nights whiskey dick kept most girls away.
“I got it, Lo. Don’t hop up on my account,” I say sarcastically.
He just smirks at me and goes back to his paper.
Bash is in his office with Matteo planning who knows what for Sofia, leaving Lo and I handling business. Which means, even though I am second in line, Lo technically pulls rank being Bash’s right-hand man, meaning I get the shit jobs.
Strolling down the stairs, I make my way into the club. I smile politely at the women who all seemed to take notice of me as soon as I step onto the floor. None of them matter to me, but I can’t be outright hostile. We still have a business to run. I cross the floor and head to the back door, where I find two of our guards holding a man.
“What is going on?” I ask.
“He said he has important information for Bash. I told him to take a hike, but he insisted. I figured I better tell one of you.”
I nod. “What’s your name?” I ask the man.
He is obviously poor, possibly homeless. I take in his appearance and the look in his eye, calculating his motivations. While Bash is better at this, I can still give him a run for his money. After all, we grew up together, making games of figuring people out.
“Terry,” the man says on a whisper.
Whatever confidence he had coming here, it seems he lost.
“What information do you have for Bash?”
“I can only tell him,” he says without meeting my eyes.
“Well, he isn’t available, so you either tell me or you get lost.”
He looks up at me then. “He will want to know this information. It is about Fillipo.”
I jerk at the sound of his name. We have been chasing ghosts when it comes to Fillipo. The likelihood of this man having any valuable information is slim to none, but I can’t risk it.
“Did you check him?” I ask the men.
“We did.”
“Good. Come with me.” I signal for Terry to go ahead of me.
Instead of walking through the club as before, I gesture him to walk to the right, down a back hall. Once we reach the office, I push him inside. Lo glances up from his papers before looking back down. “What is it this time, G?”
“Terry here says he has some information for us. On Fillipo.”
