Whatever You Need: (A Chicago Mafia Syndicate) (Castaletta Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

I wasn't hiring for a beauty contest. 
     
    "Sorry about that." I walked toward them and extended my hand to the bigger guy who had to be Marcus, and then his friend. "I'm Demetri DeMarco. My friends call me D, but seeing that you're strangers..." I forced a chuckle and lifted my hands. "Sit, please. You're my guests for the next few hours, though I expected only you, Marcus."
    "This is Zak. He's my closest associate." Marcus nodded toward the smaller guy before taking his seat. "Thanks for meeting with us on such short notice."
    "Pleasure is all mine." The way the two watched me should have been intimidating, though it didn't affect me in the slightest. Both men had been through some shit and taken a few lives from what I could tell. Good. That's exactly what we were looking for.
    That and loyalty above everything else. 
    "Drinks?" The waitress stopped beside us.
    "Guys? What can Cynthia get you?" I lifted my eyebrow.
    "Water," Zak responded. "With lemons, please, ma'am."
    "I'll take a jack and coke. Double. On the rocks, please." Marcus leaned back in his seat and turned his attention back toward me. "Why am I here?"
    "A man who likes to cut to the chase. I like it." I picked up the file I brought with me and handed it to Marcus. "We run a tight, small operation here in Chicago, but our reach is extensive. We work hard and we work a lot, but we're family. There's nowhere else I'd rather be than in the middle of this place surrounded by the only people I can trust. My syndicate."
    "And you're the boss?" Zak asked. "The kingpin?"
    "No. I'm the underboss. My employer is a longtime friend of my family, and it's his family that I've been integrated into. My older sister runs the shipping of goods, my cousin the trading we do in weaponry."
    "And Izabella is your hit man?" Marcus lifted his eyebrow as a smirk tugged at his mouth.
    I almost enjoyed the way his shoulders tightened as her sexy voice rose up behind me. I couldn't do anything but watch her transform like she always did when strangers were around. Fearless and sensual as fuck... I was turned on almost immediately.
    "She is, and if you're not careful, she'll tap you out before you know what hit you." She winked at me as she teased our guests.
    I shook my head as she walked around and dropped down into the seat next to me. Her tight black t-shirt and leather pants left my cock twitching, but watching the affect she had on other men left me a little edgy. Almost more than I was comfortable with.
    "Izabella Castaletta, my new friends. She's our enforcer."
    Izzy tilted her head to the side as she extended her hand. "Nice to meet you both. I hear you’re locked in the clutches of the dastardly Billy Turner."
    Billy Turner. It was a name I hadn't heard for a while. Why hadn't she told me about Marcus being involved with Billy? I forced myself not to look over at her, and chided myself internally over not digging in a little deeper. She obviously had. Fuck me.
    "We're hoping to soon be done with Billy." Marcus brushed his hand over his chest. "He's an old problem that keeps cropping up."
    "We can help." I picked up my glass and took a quick sip. "We're looking to add another couple of good people to our narcotics ring. We've heard good things about you."
    "From who?" Marcus locked gazed with me.
    "Various sources." I smiled. "Let's just say that we're interested in talking partnership, but before we even began... let's get a few things out of the way."
    "Of course." Marcus shifted his attention back to Izabella, who hadn't taken her eyes off of him yet. "See something you like?"
    "You look like a good ride." She smiled sweetly.
    "Izzy." I turned to give her a stern look. I didn't need these thugs getting the wrong idea. One of them tried to touch her, and I'd put a bullet between their eyes if she didn't. "Don't."
    "Fine. No fun at all." She winked at Marcus and got up, walking toward the exit. "I'm going to find a basket of that warm, sticky garlic bread you like, D."
    My