Blood in the Golden Palace

Chapter 11: Angelo-2

Erika’s face fell a few ticks. “Ah. Are you sure?”

Angelo glanced in Penny’s direction. “I’m positive.”

Clearly, this was not the answer Erika the flight attendant wanted to hear. Her expression froze over, and she took a step back. “Please take your seat before we descend, sir.”

As much as Angelo hated to leave a woman disappointed, he returned to his chair next to Penny and buckled up. “We’re going to land soon,” he said. “Get ready.”

“Is it still scary?” Penny asked, her cheeks flushed.

“A little. Don’t worry, you can hold my hand again if you want.”

Beaming, Penny turned back out to the window. Her final glass of champagne was drained, and Angelo realized just how much of that bottle she had in under two hours. Angelo held up his hand to get Erika’s attention. “Can we get a water bottle over here, darling?”

Clearly, Erika would have rather stewed in her seat, but seeing as that she still had a job to do, she returned with a water bottle. Angelo noticed that it was room temperature, despite a fridge full of cold ones. Still, he’d take it. Ignoring his attendant’s pissy attitude, Angelo turned and put the water bottle in Penny’s hands. “Here. Drink this.”

“What is it? Water? Oh, water.”

“All of it, let’s go. Before we land.”

Suddenly, Penny giggled, and she brought the cap to her lips. “This is just like the first night.”

“The first night?”

Penny uncapped the bottle and chugged half of it down. “Yup! When you swooped in and saved me from Daniel.

“Ah…” Of course, how could he have forgotten? “I thought his name was David.”

“Who cares what his name was,” Penny said, taking another drink of water. “He was a creeeeep. I can’t believe I liked him.”

“Well I’m glad I didn’t read the situation wrong.”

“Nope, nope.”

“You’re not drinking.” Penny tilted the bottle up and swallowed the rest in an impressive few gulps. Angelo had to restrain his rude thoughts at the display. Penny gasped for air and showed him the bottle.

“Done,” she sang.

Angelo took the empty bottle, though didn’t pull it away just yet. Seeing Penny grin with pride, his common sense was trumped immediately. Leaning in just enough, Angelo made sure that he had Penny’s full and complete attention. “Good girl.” Penny, buzzed and swooning, melted against his chest.

The plane jostled, and Penny yelped, now clinging to him out of fear more than flirtation. Angelo made sure her seatbelt was buckled, and with his arm around her shoulders, they watched the landing into Los Vet airport. Hank, who had spent most of the plane ride napping on the couch, escorted them to a car ready and waiting on the tarmac. Driving into the city, Penny was glued to the window the entire time.

Los Veteranos was known by some as “North Atlanta,” and with good reason. The city was expansive and colorful, with a constantly changing skyline over a wide mouthed river. They had landed late enough in the afternoon for the winter sun to set, and as they drove to their hotel, the city of Los Vet came alive with lights. Casinos sprung up from city blocks like steel forests. Fountains shot water ten stories into the air in synchronized shows for all to see. Music wafted from every window, and the delicious smells of restaurants enticed them, even through the rolled up windows. They passed sprawling green parks, trolley stops, shopping malls, and movie theaters. Each location was brighter and more exciting than the last.

Hank dropped them off at the front of their hotel while he dealt with the valet. Getting out of the car, Penny nearly fell over backwards with how far she craned her neck. The Étoile Boutique Hotel was a beautiful, Parisian style building, with hanging trellises and marble inlay in every molding. Walking in, they found themselves in a gorgeous main lobby, complete with live piano and a massive, priceless chandelier in the center of the ceiling.

Angelo checked in quickly, and their things were brought up to the room. Luciano had made the arrangements, so it was no surprise that he had assigned Angelo to an executive suite. No doubt hordes of DeRossi bodyguards would be filling in the side rooms once Luciano’s train came in. As nice and shiny as it all was, they were still in Corsetti territory. Behind enemy lines.

“Wheee!” Without prompt, Penny flung herself onto the massive, king-sized bed, arms and legs spread eagle. She fell with a fwump and laughed into the sheets. Angelo temporarily ignored his troubles, and instead kicked off his shoes and hung up his coat to get comfortable and inspect the room. The suite had only one bed, but also came with a pull out couch and handsome fireplace. The wide windows looked out into a beautiful view of the city. Pillows on the bed were stacked high, and no doubt the finest quality. Angelo wandered over to the balcony and gazed out into the sunset. Hopefully the weather would stay agreeable throughout the trip.

“This is so nice!” Penny snuggled up to a pillow and buried her face in it. “This bed is so comfortable. I could sleep here for a thousand years.”

Boy that champagne was really doing its job, wasn’t it? Angelo approached and sat on the edge of the mattress. “I’m glad you like it. It’s all yours.”

“Huh?” Penny lifted her head. Angelo thumbed over to the couch.

“My father didn’t realize I’d have a plus one when he made the reservations. Fortunately, I can sleep on the couch.”

Penny sat up, suddenly concerned. “What?” she said. “No, no, no, this is your room. Why are you gonna sleep on a couch in your room? This bed is so comfy! Feel!” Penny took Angelo’s hand and pushed it onto the bed. “Feel! Feel how comfy!”

“I can feel it fine, thank you.” Angelo turned, folding one leg over the sheets. “Are you sure you wouldn’t mind that? There’s space here, but I wouldn’t want you upset that you’d have to share a bed.”

Penny smiled. “I had to all the time when I was a little,” she said. “And they were never this big. A lot of the younger kids had to split beds for years in some of the more crowded homes. So long as you don’t kick or fart in your sleep I’m totally okay.”

Angelo did his best to bite back his laughter. “If you say so.” He hesitated. “I’m going to take a shower. Don’t go anywhere.”

“M’kay!”

Angelo headed into the bathroom, which was just as lavish as the rest of the suite. He had flipped on the shower head when his phone buzzed in his pants pocket. Thinking it was his father, he opened the screen, prepared to put off his shower for some boring lecture. However, what awaited him was not a phone call from father dearest, but a text. The contact name was merely: F.A.

Alex said you’d be in town this week.

Angelo frowned at the screen. He flipped it over on the bathroom sink, only for it to buzz again. Hesitant, he picked it back up.

You have your read receipts on, Angelo. I know you saw that. Don’t ignore me.

Angelo sighed and typed back.

I’m busy.

Too busy for me?

Yes.

Fortunately, there was no response after that. Leaving his phone on the sink, Angelo took his shower. He made sure it was hot and long. With the stress of the Corsetti meeting on the horizon, the hot water was enough to help him relax. He was looking forward to some room service and an early night in. Finishing up, Angelo grabbed a pair of lounge pants and a loose shirt from his suitcase, and stepped back out into the hotel room.

The first thing he noticed was the new addition of a wicker basket on the entertainment console. Inside were various cheeses, meats, and chocolates, all opened and ravaged. There was also space for what Angelo presumed would be a bottle of wine. Turning, he saw the culprit. Penny, scrunched up against the headboard with a spread of snacks on the nightstand, cradled an empty bottle of sparkling wine like a newborn baby. Angelo put his hands on his hips, trying to downplay his amused smile.

“And where did this come from?” he asked.

Penny pointed to the door. “The hotel gave it to me.”

“Oh, to you?”

“Yes.”

“So it’s yours?”

“Yesssssss.”

Angelo turned to the basket and plucked a card from the holder. It was indeed a welcome gift from the hotel itself. Probably to keep its mafia guests as happy as possible. Shaking his head, Angelo found a small bag of unmolested cashews and popped a few in his mouth. “So you didn’t save me anything, huh?”

“Uhhhh.” Penny stared, droopy, at the bottle. She held it up by its neck. “Here you go.” There was barely half a glass remaining. Angelo took it from her hands and shook it slightly, as if to ask where the rest went. Penny giggled into the pillow she was cuddling. “Sorry…”

“What a bad girl,” Angelo teased.

“Noooooo,” Penny protested. “No, I’m a good girl.”

“Not right now you’re not.”

“Noooooo.”

Angelo set the bottle aside and straightened up. “I usually punish bad girls like you. Is that what you want?” Penny yelped and dove under the covers. Angelo’s cheeks ached from his smile. He laid both arms on either side of the lump, effectively trapping her under the bed sheets. Penny wormed her way to the edge and poked her nose out of one side. Her hair was wild and frizzy from all the static. Angelo would happily count every out of place strand if he had the time. Angelo knelt forward. “A little mouse ate all my cheese and drank all my wine. What do you think I should do? Trap it? Find a cat?”

“Mmmm…you should give it more wine.”

“Oh I think it’s had enough wine.” Penny submerged her head once again into the sheets. Standing, Angelo peeled off the blanket to reveal Penny, scrunched up in a bubbly ball. “There it is.”

Angelo’s phone rang, interrupting their moment. Leaving Penny’s side, he grabbed it from the bathroom. With one glance at the screen, he answered: “You just pull in, Pop?”

“Yes,” came his father’s voice. “How did the flight go? Well?”

Angelo glanced over at Penny, who was now chowing down on what was left of the salami. “It was fine.”

“And how is your guest?”

“She’s fi…” Angelo blinked. “Wait a minute.” He turned away from Penny and lowered his voice. “What are you talking about?”

“Do not play games with me, Angelo. I know you brought the girl with you.”

“How?”

“Do you think your friendly stewardess was there just to serve you a cocktail, boy? She gave me a full report upon landing.”

Mental note, Angelo thought. Fire Erika. “So what if she’s here? She’ll be in the hotel room for most of the trip. Besides, it’s not like I’m bringing her to the conference.”

“You are too soft on this matter,” Luciano insisted. “What will you do when she escapes and finds the first uniform she can?”

“That won’t happen.”

“Oh no?”

“No.”

“You are very confident on this.”

“Yeah, well, I’m a confident guy.”

“No. You have let your whims run off with your senses.”

“You don’t know where my senses are, and I’ll thank you to stop looking.”

“Do you take nothing seriously?”

“Occasionally.”

Luciano sighed deeply on the other line. “I am expecting you to handle the conference with professionalism. If this child gets in the way, it will be on your head.”

“Trust me, Pop. I can handle one woman.”

“Yes. But will she in turn handle you?”

The question twisted Angelo’s gut in a way he wasn’t expecting. He rounded back to Penny, who was snuggled up in bed, ready to fall asleep. Angelo returned to the conversation. “When are we meeting with the Corsettis?”