Isaac groaned. "It’s going to end badly, isn’t it?" he asked but no one answered him.
§ § §
They came into Gastone’s nightclub an hour later. It wasn’t planned at all. However, Noah wouldn’t budge after what his brother had told him. He was determined to go to the party and see it himself, hoping that it wasn’t as bad as he started imagining. Isaac and Drew didn’t mind going at all since they hadn’t seen Inéz in a few days. They had already started to come to terms with their new lives, and as far as Ryder was concerned, he seemed to fit in and maybe even like it to some extent. Isaac was certainly enjoying to go back to hacking, now that he was more protected thanks to his involvement in the mafia. It was time for the two of them to return to the real world because soon they would be officially initiated and would move into their own apartments.
The music was really loud and the place was packed. The main dance floor was full, the booths as well. Their eyes roamed the club, searching for Inéz. Yet, she wasn’t among the dancers on either platform and with the huge amount of people, it was hard to actually distinguish anyone.
Flavio went through the booths, reaching the one where the twins were sitting. Surprisingly neither of them had a girl close by. They were usually always in the company of either a dancer or a girl outside of their social circle. Noah followed his younger brother to the men’s booth. He didn’t usually spend much time with them, finding their company quite annoying at times. Even though a few years ago heused to party with them quite a lot as they spent more time in Las Vegas because of Gastone’s few restaurants. Now, however, out of all Made Men, he preferred Nicodemo to hang out with besides his Underboss.
"Noah, it’s been a while, man." Elio naturally spotted them at once, greeting both brothers with a wide grin. Then his eyes rested on Drew and Isaac. Recognition flashed in them. The twins obviously knew who they were as there wasn’t a person in the Famigliawho hadn’t heard of them joining their ranks. Most people didn’t like their Capo’s idea. After all, they were outsiders. But neither Elio nor Fabro seemed to share this preconception as their expressions didn’t change in the slightest.
"This is Drew and Isaac," Noah introduced his soldiers and after a few seconds they all sat down in the booth. As on command, one of the dancers came up to them.
"Amanda, be a doll and bring us a bottle of whiskey," said Fabro. "You’re drinking with us or would you like something else?" he asked the men.
"Beer for me," ordered Noah and both new soldiers did the same, while Flavio preferred whiskey as well. The girl smiled, nodded and went towards the bar.
TheCapolaughed. "Aren’t dancers supposed to dance here? She looks nothing like a waitress," he joked but at the same time hoped that the mention of a dancer would prompt the twins to say something about Inéz. Flavio looked at him, knowing exactly what his brother was trying to achieve but didn’t react. He could care less about what Inéz was doing, but he wasn’t going to leave it to faith that his brother wouldn’t do something really stupid. He was smart but sometimes acted without thinking. They both did. And they always protected each other in such situations.
"Amanda doesn’t mind. When we are here she rarely dances anyway," stated Elio matter-of-factly.
It was no news that they loved fucking their women. A few times even Noah himself indulged in it. There were a few VIP rooms upstairs where people could fool around. But only the most important ones.
Soon the girl brought them their drinks. "Where’s the new girl?"
"Backstage. She’s up next," said Amanda and as Fabro waved her away, she moved towards one of the platforms.
Elio smirked, clearly excited. "You chose a great day to come here. We have a new dancer. Today is her first official day. You’d never believe that she was someone remotely suited for the job just by looking at her," he said.
There was no doubt that he meant Inéz, but Noah didn’t like the way his soldier talked about her. Seeing his brother’s hand resting on his gun, he swallowed the nasty words that had nearly slipped out of his mouth. Flavio was uncertain whether his Capo wanted to start a fight right there, and he would need some back-up plan in that regretful situation.
Drew saw the movement as well. "How come?" he asked giving the Capo time to control himself and get used to the thought that the twins were going to trash talk the girl as they had no idea just who she is exactly. He looked as if he hated the entire situation just as much since she was his best friend, but there was nothing he could do about it.
"With the clothes she wears and the way she carries herself you would think of her as a prude. I mean, maybe she is, but with the way she performed the other day you could get a hard-on just by looking."
Time was ticking as Noah imagined blowing Elio’s head off right here and right now. With Lynette, he hadn’t cared as she had never been his type and he hadn’t been interested in her, but Inéz was a wholly different matter. Not his usual type, but with a darkness that pulled him in each time they were together. And even worse was actually realizing that Elio had been in a relationship for several years before all this. It had been an outsider, but they’d made it work until she’d somehow been caught in a crossfire. Noah didn’t know details as he didn’t need to but he remembered that the man had actually been boyfriend material
