Chapter 8 EIGHT

RYAT]

I take a sip of my drink, bored with watching Romano constantly beat the men playing with him.

Raylee walks up to me and whispers in my ear. It's something about one of the escorts who accidentally got knocked up. While the job doesn't appreciate such, I'm in no mood to kill her or order something of that sort.

"That's fine. Get the nurse to look at her,” I say not looking up at her. She begins to walk away, but Romano stops her attempts by holding her wrist.

"Can I help you with something Sir?" She asks in a professional manner, even though it's clear to me that she wants to break his hands for touching her or even strangle him for just existing.

Romano tilts his head towards the strip poles. "Why aren't you up there?”

"I'm afraid that's not where I was assigned to sir,” she says, trying to release herself from his hold.

"I expect you soon, no?” Romano asks, tilting his head. "Can't wait to have those lips wrapped around my cock,” he says, and laughter rises from around the table.

I look at Raylee and see that she's embarrassed. Not every woman loves being spoken to in such a manner, in public. She blinks, and I bet it's to stop her tears. I'm not entirely sure why Romano chooses to make her life hell, but I don't really care either.

That is his business. He was the one who brought her to my office one day and asked me to hire her as a stripper and a VIP hostess. She's been an excellent worker since then, taking her job seriously. She looked sad and broken when she first walked through the door of my office alongside Romano.

However, she got acquainted easily, and a certain spark found its way into her eyes. She smiles often now and laughs easily. Both of which were foreign to her the first few days of her job.

Unfortunately, Romano has made it his mission to come ruin that happiness and kill that spark at least twice a week. He always shows up and teases or more like embarrasses her. I don't know what his problem with her is, and I have never cared to ask.

"How about you go down and take my cock right here, like the obedient slut you are,” he smirks, and this time she glares at him. He pulls her down so she sits on his lap, and his lips graze the shell of her ear. "I could as well fuck you on this table. Let the men here listen to your screams before I kill them all for laying eyes on you.”

She successfully pulls her wrist free and balls her hand into a fist as she stands up. "The only fucking that's happening between us is in your dreams Nikolai,” She snaps before stomping off.

The other men at the table stare wide-eyed at her retreating figure. No one calls Romano by that name. To everyone, he's Ace.

Well everyone except for me calls him that.

Contrary to how pissed off and bloodthirsty the bastard gets when he's called by his first name, he just throws his head back and laughs.

Everyone at the table is surprised, but chooses to keep their opinions to themselves. I shake my head not knowing what I was thinking. He always finds Raylee's blatant disrespect amusing.

I take a sip from my drink and decide to get this over with as soon as possible. "I assume you didn't call me here so I could watch these three men foolishly lose to you,” I say, and the asshole laughs.

"Loosen up a little Ryat. Besides, you do know that you are my very good friend, no?”

I am trying so hard to resist the urge to punch him in the gut. Like what the fuck is he wasting my time for?

"Is that why I'm here? To be reminded of our friendship?" I ask, raising a brow and he laughs again. God I might really kill him at this point.

He turns to the other men, and tilts his head away from the table. They all stand up and walk away without an argument. No one argues with Romano.

He's known to be a ruthless psychopath when mad, which by the way is a very rare occurrence. He's the type to laugh and play chess on the battlefield.

"I am willing to give you my support to become a godfather,” he informs me, like it's the best thing he could do for me.

"You were always going to do that,” I point out and he chuckles. If there are some people I have to win over in order to become godfather, then Romano certainly isn't one of them.

Regardless of the fact that he makes me want to murder him most of the time, we are friends if not brothers. We grew up together, trained together and were initiated on the same day. We worked hard for our title in the Cosa Nostra and have always been there for each other.

"However, the main person you need on your side is Capo dei capi. She's the one who can single handedly make you godfather, even without the consent of the other Dons, especially your father.”

He is right. My grandmother is the highest authority in the Cosa Nostra, and if I have her on my side then I don't have to do what Maximus wants before I'm made godfather. However there's only one problem.

"She's a hard nut to crack,” Romano speaks again like he's reading my mind. I look at him and nod my head.

"You know how she can be. She doesn't do favorites and believes in strength and loyalty to the mafia ,” I tell him like he doesn't know that already.

"That's why you have to show her that you are strong and are loyal to the mafia.”

He is right. My grandmother is the alpha, and omega of the Cosa Nostra, and having her on my side would mean that I can become godfather without giving Maximus what he wants.

"Strength and loyalty,” I repeat and he nods his head. " Do you think that's all it will take?"

He shrugs, and a sly grin spreads across his face. " Definitely not. But then it's a start. She'll definitely want more. You know how she operates.”

"I have a plan already. I just need you to be ready at any moment.” I stand up, ready to leave. He sends a smile my way and I walk away.

He obviously would stay there for a while before heading up to rain hell on poor Raylee.

As I make my way out of the VIP area, I spot Kira chatting with one of the clients. She has a smile on her face, one which I could tell was fake. The man was openly staring at her exposed breasts and licking his lips.

Her expression remains neutral and professional, but the discomfort is evident in her eyes.

Several hostesses go through the same thing, so she should know how to handle herself.

But I don't know why I am fighting the urge to go over there and teach the man a lesson for merely looking at her.

I haven't been able to get her out of my head ever since the night I slept with her. On a normal, she'll be dead by now, especially after confessing to wanting me dead.

But it's obvious she remembers none of what she told me. I'll keep it low for a while and see how she goes about her plan. I'm quite intrigued, I must admit.

I step out of the casino, and make my way to the strip club to find Jay, my right hand.

The fucker has nothing to do than spend his evening with women. He changes women like underwear, and that makes me wonder why they still keep coming to him.

"Sofia,” I call, as the woman makes her way to the elevator. She turns at the sound of my voice and smiles. "Is Jay down at the strip club?" I ask, and she shakes her head.

"He's in room 203,” She informs me, and I give her a nod before heading to the elevator.

I arrive at the door to room 203 and there's a “Do not disturb” sign at the door. I ignore the sign and push the door open.

Jay is in the room, and as usual not alone. There's a woman, tied to the bed, gagged and blindfolded. Her muffled cries fill the room as he screws her roughly.

As I step in, his eyes turn to me but he doesn't stop. Rather he increases his pace and the woman screams louder. Ignoring them, I take a seat on the couch, and pull out my phone.

There's a message from Martita.

Martita: Jena won't come down for dinner. She's locked herself in

Ryat: I'll be there soon.

"I'll need you to pay a visit to Marquez,” I say

"You don't like Marquez,” He points out, looking at me with a bewildered expression. Don't like would be an understatement. I hated everything that has to do with the bastard, but he has what I need.

I fight the urge to roll my eyes. "You're fucking his daughter.” The bastard chuckles. However, his little companion was far gone to realize that I am speaking about her father. I could be planning to kill him, and she wouldn't know.

"He has information I need.”

"What kind of information?" Jay slows his pace, his eyes locked on mine, but he doesn't stop. The woman's muffled cries continue to fill the room.

"Information about the missing shipments and Hernandez," I reply, my voice even. "He's been making deals with the man, and I need to know what's on the table."

Jay nods, his expression thoughtful, but his actions remain unchanged. "I'll pay him a visit," he says, grunting as he finishes.

The woman's cries subside, replaced by ragged breathing. Jay unties her, removes the gag, and blindfold. She scrambles off the bed, hastily dressing.

"Leave," Jay orders, dismissing her.As she hurries out, Jay turns to me, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Marquez, huh? That's going to be interesting."

I nod, standing up. "Get what I need, Jay. I don't care how you do it."

Jay chuckles, zipping up his pants. "You know I'll take care of it, Ryat. But, just to clarify, what's in it for me?"

"You are my best friend and my right hand. When I give you an order you obey,” I say, and he laughs

"Not when it involves risking my life, and probably my cock. Marquez is dangerous ground.”

I let out a sigh. "How about his daughter? She'll be yours to toy with.”

"She already is.”

"Yet, you risk losing your dick if her father ever finds out about you two,” I tell him, and he simply laughs

I turn to leave, but Jay's voice stops me.

"Ryat?"

"Yes?"

"Be careful with Marquez. He's not someone to underestimate."

I nod, my expression serious. "I know." As I exit the room, I receive a text from Martita saying Jena's still locked in her room and won't open the door.

I pocket my phone and head to the elevator.