Gastone’s eyes moved up as he picked up on the sudden movements near him. His expression was hard and he scrutinized her with cruel and dark acknowledgement. Terrifying. Inéz prepared herself to get yelled at just as everyone else had.
He didn’t make a sound. Merely kept on rifling through files.
"What do you want Layla?" he asked after a minute, seeing as the girl hadn’t left.
Ignoring the hurricane of insults addressed to herself that rang inside her head, the girl moved closer. Could her level of stupidity increase or did it reach the absolute top? Frankly, she was scared to know the answer to that question.
"I just wanted to see whether you are alright," she whispered, not brave enough to say it louder. Thankfully, there was no music playing in the background so the Capodecinaheard her. But he didn’t seem eager to answer and simply took his time checking her out.
Inéz had a pair of leggings and a t-shirt on so nothing special. Even during her performances, she tried to dress in the most modest things that she could find, which were still a far cry from her comfort zone. She could only count the days until Alberto would make her wear more revealing clothes. Especially since she saw his irritation whenever she walked out of the dressing room each day. Judging by Amanda’s warning as to what kind of person the Made Man was, he should have already reacted, and in a depraved way too.
She pursed her lips, thinking that this must have been a really bad idea.
"It doesn’t take advanced knowledge of quantum physics to realize that I’m not, Layla," he hissed.
"Is there something I can do to help?"
Seriously, her last words showed that her stupidity had no limits. That question shouldn’t have even crossed her mind when speaking to any Made Man, because a positive answer would always mean trouble for her.
The man looked at her, astonished. He didn't expect the girl to act this way. And likely so, as she shouldn’t be interested at all. Gastone wasn’t foolish so he could interpret her concern for exactly what it was - getting some sort of job done. Alberto had looked into her life and hadn’t found anything, just as Isaac had intended when he’d created her cover-up story. However, dealing with the mafia wasn’t easy. The mafioso was too careful around people, even paranoid at times. There could always be a little detail that betrayed her real intentions.
"Take the time off from dancing and join me in the main VIP room around midnight," he stated and, without waiting for a response, got up, walking towards his office.
Inéz took a deep breath, knowing she had just gotten herself in way too deep, but at the same time, she might be able to finally find something out. Gastone was used to having meetings in the VIP room, so this could go two ways. She could only hope that they were not going to be alone and that he would be meeting up with one of his soldiers.
§ § §
Eleven thirty.
She counted the minutes as if they might be her last ones. And for good reasons too. Her dancing was cut short as she went to the bathroom every other song to calm down. Many times, Inéz considered calling Noah and letting him know that she quit before it was too late and she had to do something she would regret the rest of her life. But she was bound by duty. With her initiation, she’d become a part of the Famiglia, and her success was what was needed for the Famiglia’s wellbeing.
And would Noah even react? He wasn’t indifferent as far as she is concerned, but his consideration towards her had to berestricted. As Capo he had a duty and no one, not even her, would change that. TheFamiglia came first. Always.
Besides, what would happen to Drew and Isaac? They would have to stay, and there was no way in hell Inéz would leave them. Ever. They were her family no matter what.
"Are you out of your fucking mind?" she heard a loud voice coming from outside the changing room.
It belonged to Fabro Conte. And it seemed like more than one member of the family was in an awful mood today.
Inéz moved to the door to hear better, however, Fabro probably didn’t care to be quiet.
"I’m perfectly sane. It’s an opportunity that I intend to take," Elio answered. "It’s not like father needs me anyway. He has you to take over his business later on. I’ve never wanted that. So why are you so fucking mad that I am going to work under Noah Falcone?"
Blood rushed through her face, realizing why the Conte family had been seething most of the day. Noah must have proposed a switch of supervisors to Elio. But why? The Falcone had never liked teaching people himself. His soldiers and enforcers answered to him, but they were there simply to take care of the Capo’smatters. And it sounded like Elio was not only going to become such a person, but also change loyalties. He would have to put Noah first, above his father and brother.
Fabro laughed. "If you’re naïve enough to believe that there is no hidden agenda, then I’m not surprised father wants me to take over."
"I don’t care what he wants, as long as I can prove myself. Dealing with extortion is no way of doing that."
"Then fucking stand up to your Capodecina, don’t sell your loyalty." Fabro was furious, and it wasn’t that surprising. He was Elio’s brother and they would soon be on different sides. Especially since it sounded like Elio was in the dark as to what his father was doing.
Relieved, Inéz wanted to tell Noah all she’d
