I’m sure he’s there, flanked on both sides with half-naked women.
He thinks my father is weak.
He may be right.
But I’m not.
I cross the dance floor and stop in front of Lorenzo’s booth, fists clenched.
He’s not here.
And I’m not gonna stand around with my thumb up my ass waiting for him.
I dart into the darkness, with only those blinding lights as my guide. I wander around the outskirts of the lounge, nodding at a security guy who recognizes me. He nods back.
He’s smart.
Maybe he knows his boss is a two-faced sonofabitch.
Lorenzo’s private office is down a long hallway and tucked into a corner. Close enough so that he can make a fast getaway, but hidden enough where he can fuck a couple of cocktail waitresses without being interrupted.
I stand outside of the office, listening to moans drift through the crack at the bottom. A smirk lifts my lips and I slam open the door, standing there with my arms folded.
He looks at me, completely unsurprised to see me. He doesn’t even have the nerve to look caught off-guard since his pants are around his ankles. The two girls who had been crawling all over him jump away with loud squeals, trying to cover themselves.
“Girls, get back to work. We’ll finish up later,” he bellows, still sitting on the couch, legs spread.
They scramble out, not making eye contact with me, and I kick the door closed behind me. Then I lock it.
“Xander,” he starts to stand and pull up his pants, and I cock an eyebrow.
“Last time I was here, you said you’d keep an ear to the ground for me, to let me know who I need to watch out for.”
Lorenzo nods. “Yes, I did.”
“And what’d you come up with?”
He looks around, avoiding my gaze. “Why don’t you sit down?”
“I’d prefer to stand. That way I can react quicker if someone tries to stab me in the back.” I narrow my eyes. “Oh yeah, you already did that, didn’t you?”
He holds up his hands. “Xander, you know I don’t work for anyone but myself.”
“Oh yeah, I know that damn well. You work to line your pockets and you don’t give a fuck about anyone you crush in the process.” I step closer to him. “You owe my father everything for what he did,” I growl.
“And he has my loyalty,” Lorenzo replies, buckling his belt and walking over to his desk.
“Bullshit!” I yell. “You’re a backstabbing asshole, Renzi! And I’m the one who got you the conversation with my father in the first place. I’m the reason this place is even here! And this is how you repay me? By bending over for the enemy?” I step closer to him. “How does it feel to take it up the ass that hard? Did Moretti use lube? Or did he just ram it in dry?”
My fingers fumble in my pocket for my blade and I pull it out, careful not to catch his attention.
He looks at me with an even stare, but I can see the fear lurking in the depths of his gaze. He’s scared and rightly so. “I did what I had to do, Xander,” he says, his voice shaking slightly.
“Oh yeah? You opened the door for Moretti and gave him free reign to do business on your…or should I say our…property?”
“I had no choice?”
He doesn’t sound very strong himself right now.
With one swift motion, I bring the blade up to his neck, sliding the steel against his skin. “Did you ever hear the story about the guy who sideswiped my car to get me back for taking drug money he stole from me? Do you know what I did to him before the cops even showed up to write the report?”
Lorenzo shakes, his face as pale as the starched shirt on his fat back. “Y-yes.”
I nod. “It was pretty fucking gruesome. It took a DNA test to actually ID the cocksucker since I sliced his face into carpaccio.” I hold up the blade to Lorenzo’s wide eyes. “With this exact blade.”
He sputters his next words, the threat becoming a little too real for him. He’s not used to this kind of shit. He lets his guys handle the rough stuff.
Me? I am the rough stuff.
“Tell me what Moretti is doing here, Lorenzo,” I seethe, pressing the blade against his plump cheek. “Or I’ll channel my inner deli dude and start slicing.”