Taken - A Gangster Stepbrother Romance (9 page)

Chapter Fifteen

             
Knock knock!

             
Emma looked up. Steven Wells smiled from the doorway.

              “Well, it seems I keep surprising you in different locations,” he said, his blue eyes crinkling in good humor.

              Emma smiled. “Are you looking for Antonio?” she asked, barely hiding her stumbling over his name.

              Steven nodded, entering the executive office. Emma sat behind Antonio’s large desk, folders and papers spread out before her. “I was,” he said, looking over the mess on the desk.

              “His meeting with the Seattle office is running long,” Emma explained. She sat back in the large leather chair, feeling dwarfed by its size. She had seen Antonio sit at his seat, filling it like a king in a throne. But Emma felt enveloped by the rich leather material, feeling like a kid playing pretend for a day at her dad’s office.

              “Ah,” Steven said, keeping his eyes on the papers on the desk. “What are you up to here? Studying?” His voice seemed to always hold a hint of a smile.

              Emma nodded. “I’m supposed to look at one parent operation and see how the work functions down through its subsidiaries,” Emma sighed, brushing her hand against the stacks of papers and files.

              It had been a little over a week now since Emma had started accompanying Antonio to the office. During that week, she had seen just how incredibly competent the man was. She could tell the success of DM Holdings was nearly entirely thanks to Antonio.

              And she respected how he taught. He kept her close in all his meetings and calls. He made sure that she felt included and answered all her questions. She remembered in one meeting when an executive was complaining about how the zoning board in the city was lagging behind on his permits and so his whole project was now delayed.

              Antonio had listened carefully. But before he spoke, he had noticed Emma edging on her seat, her knees bouncing. “Did you want to say something, Miss Del Marco?” he asked. He kept to formal terms in the office. Emma had a sneaking suspicion it was to show the other employees just how much respect Emma deserved from them.
If the boss is giving her that kind of respect, then….

              “Well,” Emma started hesitantly, thinking back to the thick files she had studied in regards to this project (she could see the executive giving her skeptical look), “I remember part of the agreement with the city was that we would beautify the area around the site in compensation for what land we raze for our building. Why not just start on the beautification part then? That needs no permits and it builds good PR for us within the community. It’ll encourage the zoning board to quickly hand out our permits if they see the community backing our project.”

              Antonio had his chin in his hand but she could see through his fingers the smile he was smothering. Emma felt a small glow light her up from within. He clearly didn’t think it was a dumb idea.

              The executive grumbled, uneasy with receiving a suggestion from some unknown Del Marco sister. “Well, I suppose we
could
do something like that….”

              Antonio quickly rapped the table with his knuckles as he stood up, indicating the meeting was over. “Alright then, Wilson. You have the orders from the boss. Start on that beautifying!”

              Emma couldn’t stop smiling afterwards.

              “Well he certainly is quite the drill sergeant, isn’t he?” Steven said chuckling as he looked all the work in front of her. “Any branch you like in particular so far? Want to join me down in the exciting world of legal?” He gave her a teasing wink.

              Emma laughed. “Err…probably not,” she said, making Steven laugh as well. “I think I’m more interested in DM Holdings’ non-profit sector. I didn’t realize it was so big!”

              As Emma had looked more and more into the company, she realized how many incredible resources were at her fingertips. So much good could be done through DM Holdings wealth and network. Not that it wasn’t already. Emma had been shocked to find out that Angels Services and Health was only one of 67 non-profit ventures DM Holdings was involved in. And all of them were operations on a huge scale level. It was stunning.

              She wondered if this is what her life might be, if she married David: running non-profits and helping to undo the crimes done in the past by these families. If she had no choice in her whole present circumstance, then maybe she could make the best of it.

              “Ah, yes, why am I not surprised,” Steven said wryly. “Oh yes, the non-profit sector was really created to be a tax break for us. Lots of large corporations have them. But Antonio was particularly determined to have ours be something substantial.”

              Emma picked up a paper holding the addresses of all of the health centers Angels Services had under its umbrella. “I guess he must really like charity.”

              Steven huffed a laugh. “Definitely not,” he said. “He hardly has patience for any of the non-profit meetings and only allowed the budget secretary to come into his office when it was regarding Angels Services.”

              Emma’s heart began to slowly pick up speed. She wondered if her cheeks were visibly radiating heat. “Maybe it was a way for him to help erase that gangster past,” she said softly, although she was sure she knew the answer.

              Steven shrugged. “Well it certainly helped in that regard. And Antonio was most definitely anxious to reorganize the Del Marco Clan image. It’s a new world and there is no profits in the hidden underbellies of the world. You need to come out now.” Steven sighed and leaned a hip against the edge of the desk. “But of course, none of that is achieved just because you have a sizeable non-profit sector in your company.”

              The lawyer matched eyes with Emma, giving her a meaningful look. “I feel that it might’ve been his way of trying to make someone proud,” he said softly.

              Emma stared at the older man. Her heart was now racing and she was sure her cheeks were as red as apples.

              Steven straightened up, preparing to leave. “And let me tell you, Miss Del Marco,” he said with a soft smile, “Gabe Del Marco was not one for charities or giving. He only thought to take, take, take. And Charisse Del Marco, God rest her soul, had only been in Antonio’s life for a mere eight months, hardly enough time to leave an impression.” He crossed to the door. Putting his hand on the doorway, he said quietly, “So it makes you wonder who he was trying to make proud.”

Chapter 16

Steven’s words echoed through her mind for the rest of the day. Even as they climbed into their Range Rover, Emma could hardly pull her thoughts away from what the lawyer had said.

              Did Antonio
care
about how she thought about him? It seemed almost preposterous. The man oozed confidence. If they could bottle what Antonio had and sell it, no high school boy would ever graduate a virgin.

              And yet…she
had
noticed moments when she caught his gaze from the corner of her eyes. She had noticed how he had tried to quickly pass over certain topics like the founding of Angels Services. If she hadn’t known any better, she would’ve guessed he had been
embarrassed
.

              But too many of the puzzle pieces lined up. Too many dates were too perfect to be coincidences. When she had first been dragged into Antonio’s home, she had thought he had only seen her as a means to an end, a way to close a much-wanted deal. And now….

              And now….

             
Ring ring!

              Emma jerked in her seat in surprise. It wasn’t a ringtone she was used to hearing. Antonio’s phone only had a steady beeping sound on his phone. Emma still had yet to be given a cell phone. But this ringtone was an actual ring.

              She turned around to see Antonio answering a small Blackberry that she had never seen before.

              “What is it?” he answered, his voice low and with a touch of steel.

              Emma stared at him in surprise. After seeing him in his corporate office all day, she was a little jarred to see this rough persona come through.

              “No, keep the distribution back,” Antonio said in that same voice. “I’ve told you to scale back.”

              Emma wondered who he was speaking to. Antonio never spoke like that to anyone in the office. He spoke with authority but not with anger. But here, she could hear more than a touch of tethered anger in his voice.

              “What the
fuck!”
Antonio suddenly burst. Emma nearly jumped through the roof of the car at hearing his growling burst of anger. “What the
fuck
do you think you’re doing?”

              Emma watched as he listened to whatever the other person was saying. Antonio gave an aggrieved sigh as he closed his eyes, his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose.

              “You meet me at our spot in ten minutes. And don’t fucking make me come after you,” Antonio said as he abruptly ended the call. “Ricks,” he called out to the driver, “we need to stop by the alley.”

              Ricks nodded silently, completely unperturbed by his boss’s sudden rage, as he smoothly turned the wheel, making a sharp left.

              “Is…is something wrong?” Emma asked a little nervously. Even when angry, she had never seen Antonio lose control and yet she could see him struggling to keep his temper in check. The veins of his corded neck pulsed and his large hands opened and closed as if he was dying to punch something.

              Antonio closed his eyes and took a deep breath before turning to Emma. With his eyes burning silver, he said calmly, “We’re going to stop somewhere for a few minutes. I need to speak with someone. So I want you to stay in the car quietly until I get back in. Understand?”

              Emma nodded, bewildered. “Yes, but—”

              Antonio raised a hand. “Just stay in the car.”

              In less than ten minutes, they had found their way towards a small strip of road. Either side was surrounded by dilapidated buildings and broken streetlamps. Emma was quite certain they had passed Skid Row on their way here.

              What was going on? Who would Antonio need to meet anyone out here? She wiped her nervous palms on her knees. As their Range Rover pulled to a stop, Emma suddenly wanted to cling to Antonio’s arm. She wanted to beg him not to go outside. She could feel an air of danger and she didn’t want him to walk out into it.

              “I see him, boss,” Ricks’ low voice cutting in.

              Antonio nodded. “I see him too. Remember to keep visual and don’t let Emma out of the car.”

              Ricks nodded.

              With a face that looked like it was cut from solid rage, Antonio exited the car. Emma gripped the leather seat below her. Where was he going? Couldn’t he see that this whole street screamed
danger
?

              Ricks lowered the tinted passenger window by an inch. Being so tall, he could see perfectly out through the small slit, keeping an eye on his boss. Emma squinted through the window and caught the shifty sight of a man standing against the edge of a grungy looking building that had broken windows and a boarded up door.

              She could hear a greasy sounding voice drift in through the open window, “Hey, boss.”

              “What the fuck do you think you’re doing right now, Katz?”

              Even from her far distance in the car, Emma could hear every ringing note of anger and frustration in Antonio’s voice.

              “I thought you’d be happy with the increase in my profits,” Katz said in what sounded almost like a pout.

              Emma sat on the edge of her seat, straining to hear their conversation.

              “I made it abso-fucking-lutely clear that you were to scale back. You’re entire unit was to scale back,” Antonio seethed. “Where the fuck did you get the extra units?”

              “Hey, man, I was just doing—”

              Emma heard Katz gasp followed by a hard thud. She squinted out the window and saw Antonio with his fist around Katz’s grubby shirtfront, throwing him against the wall and lifting him clear off his feet.

             
“Where?”
  Antonio demanded.

              Katz grabbed at Antonio’s wrists. “Hey man! I’m just giving people what they want! I was doing
you
a solid, man! My profits—”

              Antonio slammed him against the wall again.
“Where!”

              “The Ronaldos!” Katz groaned. “Fuck! The Ronaldos got a small op going. Just some weed and heroin for now but—”

              “So my word isn’t good enough for you, Katz?” Antonio asked, his voice lethally quiet. “You had to disrespect my orders and then go selling fucking cheap inferior shit under my name?” Antonio pushed him up a little higher, making the small man squeak in fear. “What the fuck, Katz. What. The. Fuck.”

              “H-Hey, man. Listen, people still craving it! They trust DMClan product! I-I really though that you would want—”

              “Oh,” Antonio said in a voice that made Emma think of a cat playing with a mouse before he ate it. “So now you think for me as well, do you?”

              “N-No! No! Come on, man. I meant—”

              Whatever Katz meant, it wasn’t heard because he was doubled over, clutching his gut with both his hands. Antonio’s fist was still raised as he straightened himself up. It looked as if Katz was out for the count. But as suddenly as a hyena, the small man jumped up and with a roar, began running towards Antonio with his head down, reading to tackle him.

              Emma gasped, wanting to shout out a warning while also block the attacker. She did neither as she swallowed dryly. Ricks watched from his seat, his eyes squinted and focused on his boss.

              Antonio deflected and grabbed Katz by the waist, swinging him around and against the wall. He gave two quick punches in his ribs before the small man wriggled out.

              Katz stumbled as he tried to stand and face Antonio. “What the fuck, dude?” he mumbled. “What’s your problem?”

              “My problem?” Antonio asked, his voice now honed to a knife’s edge. “My problem is that I have fucking idiots who don’t know how to take orders!” He attacked first, swinging a right hook. Katz dodged the hook but missed the uppercut. He stumbled backwards awkwardly.

              “I said,
scale back
,” Antonio said, as he landed another punch that made Katz’s face swing to the left. “I said, stop selling.” He punched him again in the gut. Katz groaned as he fell forward, curling into a ball. “And it’s time you fucking learned that what I say
goes
.” And with final emphasis on his last word, Antonio gave him a good kick.

              “You try selling in my territory again and you’ll see what happens when I’m
really
angry,” Antonio spat.

              Leaving the man battered and out on the ground, Antonio got back into the Range Rover. Without a word in regards to his bloody knuckles, he leaned back in his seat and said calmly, “Alright, Ricks. Let’s go.”

              Emma stared at his large hands, fingers long and blunt. She looked at the reddened knuckles and the blood smeared along the backs. She had just watched her stepbrother fight and beat a man bareknuckled.

              She thought back to what Steven had said earlier about Antonio and his charity efforts. She thought about Antonio at the Gala.

              Would she never figure out Antonio Del Marco?