My Mafia Madness

Chapter 39 - Making a Deal

Like Alonzo suggested he should, Romeo had been creative with his investigative techniques into finding a way in through the Romano Mafia’s defences.

Romeo had done a detailed history check of Dante’s assistant, Alexa, and knew more about her than she might have liked, had she of known.

Including looking into her ex-boyfriend...

Edward Lewis.

The guy was a total prick. As low as they came. And as it turned out, a heavy addicted gambler.

One that would in fact frequent City Casino, just one of the establishments owned by the Greco Family Mafia in New York City.

So, tracking the guy down wasn’t too difficult.

Romeo organised for Edward to come and meet him up in the casino’s VIP section… for a quiet little chat.

Mr. Lewis was promptly informed that he had won a prize for his frequent attendance at the casino and, as Romeo had predicted, the greedy businessman came along willingly to accept his apparent prize.

Two men dressed in suits escorted Edward up the stairs leading to the VIP section of City Casino, one walking along in front and the other behind him.

Edward found it quite strange that he was pat down for any sort of weapon before he was allowed into the large viewing room where the well-dressed Romeo stood waiting for him.

“Mr. Lewis…” Romeo announced, with his back facing their newest guest before he slowly turned around like the villain out of a movie.

“Yeah, and you are?” Edward enquired rudely.

Ignoring the obvious lack of disrespect, Romeo began to slowly cross the floor to where several chairs sat around a glass coffee table.

“Please, have a seat.” Romeo gestured with his hand extended.

All of a sudden, Edward could sense apparent unease as he glanced from one of the large men still standing on either side of him.

“Am I in trouble?” he asked with a frown.

Romeo, who had already sat down opposite him and was reaching into his jacket pocket to grab a cigarette, lifted one of his dark brows at his guest.

“Should you be?”

Edward replied with a chuckle, “Let’s hope not.”

With that, he did as suggested and sat down on the comfortable chair opposite Romeo.

He watched cluelessly as Romeo leaned forward and grasped at a manilla folder sitting on the coffee table between them.

Leaning back into his chair, Romeo opened the folder and began flipping through the various photos and documents inside as he spoke.

“Mr. Edward Lewis… aged twenty-eight. Works for an inner-city corporation as a Provisions Analyst. Drives a silver Lexus. Has no children, no family…” Romeo paused, his eyes flicking up to meet Edwards.

“That sound about right?”

Edward looked terrified by this.

“How the hell do you know all that?” he demanded.

“Oh, I know a lot about you, Mr. Lewis… including the massive gambling debt you’ve managed to acquire yourself over the past few years while coming to this casino.”

Romeo’s voice was deep and in control.

Edward visibly swallowed nervously now, at the mention of his current debt.

“Four hundred grand, if I’m not mistaken.” Romeo reported.

After taking a deep breath in to try and focus, Edward feigned confidence.

“So, what, you’re gonna break both my legs if I don’t get you the money? Is that it?” he asked cautiously, finding it difficult to meet Romeo’s dark eyes.

“No, Mr. Lewis. You can keep the use of both your legs… for now anyway.”

Romeo threw the file across to land in Edward’s lap as he calmly stood up and made his way around the coffee table, slowly.

“I’m more interested in someone you once knew…”

Edward picked up the folder from his lap and turned his head to the side, frowning.

“Who?”

“I understand that things between you and Alexa didn’t end very well…” Romeo announced with a smirk.

Edward suddenly froze at the sound of her name.

The woman he had been searching for, for several years.

Ever since she ran out on him that fateful night.

The woman he had spent a lot of money to try and find, with no apparent luck.

“Alexa Myers… you know her?” Edward queried.

Romeo smiled devilishly.

“Oh, I know a lot about the beautiful Miss Myers. Including her current whereabouts… but I didn’t bring you here for that.”

“Listen, I’ll do whatever you want me to, just tell me where she is.”

Edward seemed serious suddenly.

And that meant that Romeo had his full attention on the matter at hand.

“Tell you what, you seem like a nice enough guy. How about I make you a deal?” Romeo announced, taking a quick drag before adding more.

“I’ll tell you where the lovely Miss Myers is, and you’ll pay her a little visit on our behalf… If you’re successful in your task, we can consider your gambling debt wiped clean.”

Edward’s frown showed just how baffled he was by such an incredible deal. And it all seemed to be in his favour.

There was something he was missing; there just had to be!

“That seems… far too generous.” Edward replied cautiously,

“What’s the catch?”

Romeo wasted no time with his response.

“She works for the Reaper.”

Edward’s eyes widened upon hearing this.

His Alexa, working for someone as dangerous and sadistic as the f*****g Reaper?

How in the hell had that even happened?

Edward remembered just how innocent and submissive she had been in the years they had been together as a couple.

He had always dominated her, even with things like their finances and of course, their s****l relationship. She was nothing but a frightened little kitten to him.

So, what had changed?

And how did she happen to cross paths with such an infamous mobster in the first place?

It made no sense!

Romeo noticed the jealous ex’ reaction and grinned.

“I’m assuming you’ve heard of him?”

“Heard of him? Who the hell hasn’t heard of him?” Edward mused.

“Dante Romano, aka The Reaper. The man’s dangerous… So, you’re saying that my Alexa works for him now?”

Grinning, Romeo had noticed the comment of ownership as Edward had spoken it but pushed such things aside.

He had a mission to complete.

“Yes. like I said, she works for him. She’s his assistant.”

Edward bit the inside of his cheek while he thought to himself in silence, giving Romeo the chance to continue explaining what it is he needed from Mr. Lewis.

“What I’ll need you to do is to get Alexa out in the open, away from as many of Dante’s men as possible.” Romeo explained simply.

“The less men the better.”

“And you think that I can lure her out?” Edward asked, his brows lifting along with his question.

“You and her have a history. If anyone can, it’s you.”

Edward shook his head as he spoke next.

“No. She won’t agree to see me. The b***h’s been on the run from me for years. It’s the last thing she’ll agree to do.” he reported solemnly.

Romeo’s grin only widened.

“I might have something that can help with that...”

He then turned his head and lifted his hand up, snapping his fingers for his men to make their move.

Suddenly a doorway behind them opened and two men appeared, dragging along a struggling woman between them.

Each of the men had hold of her by an arm as she feisty red head continued shouting out angrily at them.

“f*****g assholes, let me go!”

The second Edward saw who it was he narrowed his eyes at her and sighed.

Willow met his glare and gave him a furious glare of her own as they pulled her to a halt.

“Not you... anyone but you.” Edward complained.

“I knew it! I f*****g knew you’d be involved with this somehow! You pathetic prick!”

Willow spat her words laced with venom and in Edward’s direction.

“It doesn’t matter what you do to me Edward, Alexa’s never gonna take you back! She’s found someone ten times better than you could ever be!”

As Edward’s top lip lifted into a snarl, Romeo decided to step in and take over.

“Tony, shut the b***h up, will ya?” Romeo commanded with a nodded gesture of his head towards the furious red head.

Willow frowned as she watched one of the well-dressed men pulling out a long piece of cloth as he moved in towards her.

“Edward you sad f**k, I swear to god I’ll-”

Her voice was suddenly silenced as Tony came in behind her, forcing the middle of the cloth into her mouth and then wrapping the ends tightly into a knot at the back of her head.

“Mmmph!”

She grunted defiantly, unable to voice her opinion on the matter any longer.

Edward turned his attention back to Romeo now.

“Let me get this straight. You think that by using this b***h, Alexa will willingly come out into the open. That’s your plan?” Edward reiterated.

“All you have to do is lure her out, Edward. We’ll take care of the rest.” Romeo announced confidently.

“Do this, and your debt is gone…”

With a long sigh, Edward nodded his head before lifting his gaze to meet Romeo one last time.

“You got a deal.”