Jason was furious with Sonny by time he arrived at the coffeehouse. He had warned him not to test Claudia. His little stunt last night could have caused a mob war. Sonny should thank his lucky starts that Claudia Zacchara has more restraint then he does. She could have used last night as an opportunity to show all the families that she was a force to be reckoned with. Jason was just thankful that Sonny had enough sense to only have gone after a shipment and not Johnny Zacchara. He would talk to Sonny until he understood that there was no other option than working out a deal with the Zacchara's.
Jason flung the door to Sonny's office open and slammed it shut. Sending a clear message to everyone else in the coffeehouse to stay clear. "What the hell were you thinking? Why would you take out a Zacchara shipment without even consulting me?"
"Since when do I have to consult you on how I run my business?" Sonny spat back as he jumped up from his chair. He rested his fist on the desk in a show of power and then leaned forward to meet Jason's accusations.
Jason took a menacing step forward and leaned in to meet Sonny's gaze. "So I assume since this is your business when all out war breaks out you'll be on the front lines ready to pull the trigger." Sonny didn't answer. "I thought not." Jason said and then placed his fist down in front of Sonny's on the desk. "If you want me to be there when it counts, you might want to remember to consult me next time."
The two me stood starring at each other for a few intense seconds until Sonny finally relented and pulled back to stand up straight and then relax back down into his chair. Jason stood back and relaxed also. He didn't need a verbal concession from Sonny, his body language was as good as he was going to get. Sonny had his pride. "I'm going to arrange a meeting with Johnny so you two can work out a shipping agreement."
Sonny brows narrowed and he sucked his teeth in objection, but managed to give his head a slight nod in agreement. He had no intention of making a shipping agreement with Johnny Zacchara, but he would agree to the meeting in order to appease Jason.
With that out of the way, Jason and Sonny both settled down and begin reviewing the reports of damage to the island. Jason found it hard to keep a straight face as he examined the pictures of the total annihilation Claudia had done to the once beautiful tropical island. It was hard to imagine Claudia was capable of this much destruction. He remembered the feel of her as he had her pressed up against the wall. Jason shook his head trying to clear the thoughts out of his mind.
"I know." Sonny said. "I can't believe it myself. The island is basically destroyed. It will take years and millions to put it back the way it was."
Jason mind was snapped back into the conversation and he raised his eyes from the picture that was in front of him. "Now do you believe that Claudia Zacchara could actually be a threat?" He asked Sonny.
"I believe she may be a little more dangerous than I gave her credit for. I still don't understand how she found the island." Sonny threw down the pictures he was holding on to the desk. "I agree that we may have to take another approach to the Zacchara problem. You arrange the meeting and we'll see how that goes. I'm not making any promises. It better be one hell of a deal. Letting something like this slide." He pushed the pictures across the desk to rest in front of Jason. "Makes me look weak. It makes me look like I'm afraid of a woman."
"You should be." Jason thought to himself, but decided better on saying it out loud. "No one else knows about the island. So unless the Zacchara's go around announcing the deed, the other families won't know what happened. Another smart move by Claudia. He had to give the woman credit. She had thought the whole thing through. She had struck back at Sonny in a way that still allowed him to save face with the other families and not force him into a mob war. "I'll make the arrangements and let you know." Jason said as he stood to leave.
ooooOOOOooooOOOOO
Jake's 10:04 pm
Jason almost choked on his drink when he saw Claudia stride through the door at Jake's. She looked amazing. He had to make himself stop starring. Claudia strode across the room and stood next to him at the bar.
"You're late." Jason said as he tapped his watch.
"Only a few minutes." Claudia replied. "You in a hurry? Have somewhere else you have to be?"
Jason ignored her questions, "Next time don't be late." He demanded.
Next Time. Claudia took his statement and filed it away in her mind to examine its meaning at a later time.
"Stop whining." She scolded him. "I'm here now. Are we going to do this or should I leave?"
Jason stood in frustration. "Fine." He said. "Let's get a table." Jason walked away and sat at a table off in the corner of the bar.
Claudia did not follow. Instead she turned to Coleman and asked for a drink. Her back was to him. Jason took the opportunity to thoroughly examine Claudia.
Damn she was gorgeous.
She wore a short black dress. The thin spaghetti straps showed off her tone muscular shoulders and arms. The neck line was curved and plunged just enough to display a descent amount of cleavage. Jason's eyes wandered down. The dress was flared and stopped just above her knees, showing off her long tone legs. His eyes traveled down her legs to the crimson red strap that was cris-crossed down her calves and then attached to a pair of 3 inch high heels.
Jason bit his lower lip as a thought crossed his mind. He wondered where she had hidden the knives she was so fond of carrying. Then he imagined himself running his hands up and down her body in a search to find them.
Claudia picked up her drink and turned to come to the table. Jason quickly averted his eyes and began to stare at the floor. He looked up when Claudia stood next to the table. She had a knowing smile on her face. Had she seen him?
She placed her drink down on the table and took the seat across from him. She placed one leg over the other and he could not help but notice that her long legs were now on display for everyone to see. He looked around the bar and sure enough, Coleman was drooling behind the bar his eyes locked on high on her thighs where her dress stopped. Jason gave Coleman an ice cold stare and Coleman immediately turned away. He looked around and every man was starring at her.
Claudia broke the silence getting right down to business. "So did you talk to Sonny?"
Jason snapped himself out of the trance and got down to business. "I spoke to him." He answered.
"And? Did he agree to negotiate?" Claudia prodded.
"He agreed to a meeting and to listen."
Claudia threw back her head and laughed. Jason's eyes locked on the length of her neck. He suddenly had an urge to trace his tongue along it. She lowered her head. "In other words, you strong armed him into the meeting."
Jason snapped back to his senses. "Sonny is willing to sit with Johnny and listen to his proposal. He's not willing to promise anything beyond that. If I were you I would appreciate getting that much after what you did to his island."
Claudia stiffened and suddenly she was as deadly as a viper. "Let me make one thing real clear. What I did to his island is nothing compared to what I will do if he doesn't figure out how to put his giant ego aside and come to an understanding with John. It is in everyone's best interest that Sonny comes to the meeting willing to compromise. If he's just coming to appease you then we need to end the negotiations now. Like you. My time is precious and I don't want to waste it on a frivolous meeting."
"I'm sorry I think I misunderstood something. I thought this was going to be a meeting between Sonny and Johnny." Jason said in feigned curiosity.
Claudia crooked her head to the side and then her expression lightened. She gave him a crooked smile. "Touché"
"Let's go over the details of the meeting." Jason said.
Claudia began to tap her fingers against the table to the beat of the music in the background. "No. First we dance."