Nicholas Pov
Paolo moved around quietly, cleaning up the mess from earlier, but the smell of antiseptic still hung dry in the air, Marco was asleep again, his chest rising slowly and steadily.
"You should've killed him,"
"I will," I said, sipping from the glass in my hand. "Just not yet."
He tossed the trash into a bag and took a moment to lean against the counter with a relaxed smile. Standing tall with broad shoulders, he has a warm golden complexion and friendly brown eyes. His curly brown hair is pulled back into a stylish man bun, adding to his easygoing vibe.
"You think Luis bought it?"
"For now." I set the glass down. "He'll want to believe I did what he asked. Men like him need control more than the truth." Paolo nodded.
"And when he finds out you didn't?" I smiled faintly at that
"Then he'll find out what it feels like to lose control." My phone buzzed; it was a text from the idiot in person.
Luis: Come by tomorrow. We'll finalize our arrangement.'
"It looks like he's ready to shake hands." Paolo frowned.
"You sure it's not another test?"
"Everything with Luis is a test," I said. I took one last look at Marco, who was still breathing hard, streaks of sweat pooling on his forehead.
"Watch him," I said, and he nodded. "When he wakes up, get something out of him"
The next day couldn't have come any quicker. Luis and I will be handling the meeting in his office; he choose the location because he thought he had some kind of upper hand or some shit. Stupid fucker.
His office was all glass, marble, and mirrors; it looked like it was built as an intimidation tactic and he liked that. He was waiting when I walked in, his cigar already lit and a glass of something expensive in his hand.
"Nicholas," he said smoothly. "Glad you could make it. Sit. Let's talk business." I didn't sit because I didn't feel the need to.
"You wanted this handled, it's handled." He nodded," good. I like a man who does what he's told." I met his eyes,
"Then it's a good thing I don't take orders." He chuckled, but his smile was strained
"Still testing boundaries, I see."
"Only the weak have them." And that got his attention, he set the glass down a little bit forcefully and leaned back in his chair. This fuckers ego is the size of an elephant, literally.
"You're a dangerous man, Nicholas."
"That's why you called me." He studied me for a long moment.
"You're right. I did, which is why I think we could be good for each other. I have routes you need, You have a reputation and contacts I could use. Together, we could move things no one else can touch."
I raised an eyebrow at him "and what makes you think I'm the kind of man who shares?"
"Because even you know power's easier to hold when you're not holding it alone."
I let the silence stretch on because I enjoyed watching him squirm beneath it. Then, finally, I nodded once. As soon as Nathan gets me any dirt on the said man who thinks he just gained a deal with the devil, the deal is off...
"Fine. We'll see how far this goes." Luis smiled but it didn't quite reach his eyes
"Good. I'll have my men draw up the papers." I stepped closer, my voice calm and low,
"One thing, Luis, if you ever try to test me again, there won't be any paperwork. Just a funeral." His grin faltered for a moment but I was already done with him. "I'll be in touch."
Arriving back at the penthouse, I could hear the faint mix of voices and laughter echoing through the walls. I need a massage with a bottle of chilled wine as soon as possible, my body hurts like shit I thought as I walked towards the voices at the mini bar, to see Bailey Nathan and Greg confiscating my drinks.
"Richard gifted me that" I muttered, rolling my eyes at them.
"Oh, please, it's not as if you were going to drink it anytime soon. We we're just taking it off you hands." Nathan says finishing the wine in one sip.
"Well you could tell Richard that he has impeccable taste" Bailey concurred
"is Marco up yet?" I asked Greg while I sat down on the fluffy stool
"Yeah and he says Luis isn't who he said he was" he said passing me a glass of whiskey
"What else?"
"He claims he didn't interfere with his shipments and Luis just wanted to get rid of his competitions. Plus he got some documents that proves him at least for now reliable"
"How'd you're fashion show go?" I asked Nathan who's been awfully quiet since I stepped in and that was terrifying. I mean on a good day he talks more that a parrot and trust me it can be so annoying. Sometimes I think he does it to do just that to me.
"You should tell him," Greg says stag at Nathan
"I might've been seeing things and I want to be sure about what I saw before opening my mouth" Nathan says sighing
"If you don't tell him, I will"
"Ugh fine," Nathan says "pour me a drink first"
"Well, the party was a blast, obviously, because anything I do is that great" he says and I rolled my eyes
"Here we go" I muttered and he smacked my shoulder at that
"The party I threw for my new fashion design plus where I could get Intel on some new drugs roaming the streets of Miami and some shareholders wanna invest-"
"Back to the point Nathan" Bailey says pouring himself yet another glass
"Yes, yes, apparently I saw Reed there with some woman." i didn't say anything because it could be his sister or a friend or Lucy, the pretty lady I saw in the picture frame
"And she kissed him, it was so scandalous" yeah definitely not his sister or Lucy because that'll be weird, I shivered at the thought of him kissing his sister
"It doesn't mean anything" Bailey interjects and I glared at him
"I think she's a soldier like him, depending on her stance and the way she carries herself"
Nathan sighed, "Look, maybe it wasn't anything,"
"Or he might've wanted a quick release since Nicholas isn't going to give any," Bailey says and Nathan smacks his arm
"Oui that hurt" Greg who's been standing mixing the drinks all the while not saying clears his throat
"Did you find anything useful?" He asked pointedly of Nathan
"Yes obviously" Nathan responded scoffing and mildly offended that Greg said that
"Aren't you mad or a little bit jealous about any of this?"
"Yes I am but that doesn't change anything" I muttered and Nathan waggles his brows
"I mean from where I was standing she's the one who initiated-"
"Don't defend him"
"Get your head outta your ass and go talk to him" Greg finally says "you've been all wishy washy it's depressing"
"What is wishy washy?" Bailey asked "and it's not depressing it's kinda hot"
"Ooh I feel like I'm gonna be taking up that bet soon," Nathan says "by juju raider is tingling"
"Fuck off," Greg says keeping the utensils back In order and cleaning the counter with a cloth
"More like fuck me but I'm not complaining" Nathan replied
"we did not need to hear that" Bailey says
"All I'm gonna say is you both need to have a chat plus get some relief while you're at it" Greg says chuckling "a little bird told me the sergeant major dinner's coming up, you could meetup there"
"I think I'm buzzed" Bailey murmurs "why'd I have to drink too much. This is your fault Nathan"
"The first wine was probably my fault but I did clearly tell you that your alcohol tolerance was low"
"Come I'll take you to the guest room" Greg says chuckling. Leaving Nathan and I
"You okay?" He asked
"I'm fine." I say and he side eyed me
"Okay, I might've been a little jealous but apart from that I'm okay" Nathan who's still glaring at me sighs and says
"You're completely okay with the fact they kissed?"
"Of course not, he's a grown ass man. He can kiss whoever he wants to"
"Then why are you holding the tumbler so tightly, I swear you're gonna break it with and hurt your palm" he takes it and keeps it far away from me as possible
"I think you should go swim and let all that tension out i'm going to shower"
"Yeah I will, thank you"
"It's nothing"