Chapter 9: Reunions

One Week Later

Gia's Pov

I woke up next to my laptop as usual. Things were getting hectic at the club. Security had been increased, along with everyone's paranoia, especially Carla's. She was supposed to close with me that night, but I sent her home early. Matty decided to give her two weeks off to get herself together. Carla wasn't the only one on vacation, I haven't seen Taylor since that night, but that was neither here nor there. I had other concerns at the moment. The new furniture I ordered is supposed to be arriving at the club today and I can't wait to see it. I threw on a pair of high waist dress pants and a simple white t-shirt making my way to the front door and to my car. I gave a quick wave to my neighbor that was outside watering her plants. She just grunts in response. That old lady does not like me for some reason. Whatever, I just shake it off and drive over to the club.

I got there and just my luck, the place was empty. Matty was supposed to be here to help me move the old chairs out and place the new ones in, but it looks like I'll be doing it by myself. One by one I began to line the old barstools up out back. The Salvation Army should be picking them up around three p.m.

The delivery truck finally arrived an hour later. The guys unloaded the new barstools and carried them inside. I inspected the merchandise, and it's just what I ordered, fully padded seats with arm rest and high back. Now these are the kind of chairs a person can get comfortable in.

As I was tearing off the plastic covers I saw Matty and Taylor walk through the front door. He looked just as surprised to see me as I was to see him. I was only expecting Matty, not Taylor. Now I don't know if it was because I haven't seen him in a week, but he looked sexier than the last time I saw him, if that was even possible.

Matty came in with his usual welcoming smile. "Hey Gia, isn't it a little early for you to be here?" He asked. Taylor was his usual nonchalant self. No words came from him, not even a smile; he just sent a nod in my direction and went on about his business.

"I had a delivery coming today remember, you said you were gonna help me move the furniture?" His face drew a blank when I reminded him.

Matty paused for a second, and then he slowly slid his hand down his face. "Oh yeah that's right, I completely forgot."

"Well you're here now, so let's start moving this stuff." I continued to unwrap the chairs waiting for him to join in. I looked up and noticed Matty was standing there scratching his head with a half a smile.

"Uh about that… my father's suppose to be meeting me here in about five minutes, so I'm not gonna be much help." He checked his watch and looked back up at me. "Listen, we're not opening up tonight, why don't you go home and relax or go out and have some fun.

"Fun is overrated Matty. I'll never get the preparations done for the Halloween party at this rate." Halloween was only a little less than three weeks away and I was still behind in some of the planning.

"She shouldn't be here." Taylor interjected. If I didn't know any better I would have sworn I heard a slight hint of an attitude in his voice.

"It's nice to see you too Taylor… and she has a name." I said to Taylor using the same bitter tone he was giving me. "Anyway Matty, what about when you're finished? Then can you help me?" He hesitated and looked at Taylor, I add on a "Pleaseeee," for emphases.

Matty smiled finally giving in. "Alright, I'll give you a hand when I'm done."

"Thank you, I really appreciate it and you will too when you see the turn out for this party." I ignored Taylor's obvious disapproval. Every since the shooting he's been a little overprotective to say the least. The day after it happened more cameras were installed and Matty informed me that Marco would be closing from now on, which I believe to be Taylor's doing.

Matty went upstairs leaving me and Taylor on the ground floor.

I could feel Taylor's eyes on me; his stare makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. "You shouldn't be here." He said once more stepping towards me.

"You said that already, and neither should you. Aren't you still on bed rest" I began setting up the new chairs at the bar.

Taylor took the plastic from another chair and started helping me line the bar. "You know this stubborn thing you have goin' on is startin' to get on my last fuckin' nerves." The gruffness in his voice was starting to fade welcoming in his teasing humor.

Just as I was about to make a smart reply the front door opened and daylight poured in. Matty's father walked in with Teddy and three other guys whom faces I couldn't make out with the sunlight shining behind them. The door closed and that's when I noticed him. I tried not to lose my composure as they came towards me and Taylor.

Benny reached us first and stuck his hand out to Taylor. "Hey Taylor; how ya doin'?" Before he could respond Benny turned to the man with the slight graying hair that was giving me the same confused look I was giving him. "Sonny you met Taylor before right?"

His eyes diverted when he heard Benny mention his name. "Once or twice." He extended hand to shake Taylors. "How's the shoulder kid?"

Taylor just shrugged, "not bad, I've had worse," was his cool response.

"You remind me of your father; he was a good man," said Sonny. Taylor didn't know what to say to that so he just respectfully nodded.

Sonny eventually set his sights back on me and to my surprise he actually spoke, "and what are you doing here. A beautiful girl like you should be out on a date or something, not hangin' around with these knuckle heads." I had to catch myself in mid eye roll.

Benny smiled and took my hand guiding me closer to them. He now stood next to me as he spoke to the men. "Sonny, Vincent, Ray, this lovely young lady is Giana, she works here with the boys."

Sonny reached out to shake my hand, while the other two men simply nodded their hellos. "Nice to meet you," he said.

"Like wise." I kept my voice flat to keep the malice from dripping out. I decided not to partake in any other pleasantries, so I walked away from the group of men to start the bar inventory.

Vincent continued talking with Teddy and Benny, while Sonny and Ray pretended to listen. I could see the two men staring at me from the mirror behind the bar, both for different reasons. While Sonny's eyes were filled with befuddlement, the younger man's was filled with lust and his stare unnerved me.

The younger mans attention finally shifted when Matty came down the stairs. "Well if it isn't Matty dimes. How you doin'?"

Matty looked pissed, but he didn't respond, he just shook Sonny and Vincent hand then turned to his father. "Sorry I took so long pop, I was on an important phone call."

"Always takin' care business huh kid," said Teddy.

He just shrugged. "What can I say uncle Teddy, I'm a hard workin' man." Matty ushered the men to the back of the club.

Taylor's Pov

Why didn't she leave like I asked? It was simple, all she had to do was walk out the door, but no, she has to be so damn stubborn. I sat at a table about five feet away from everyone else; I needed to turn off my brain. Just when I was starting to get my head together, Ray walks over and sits across from me. Now I have to sit here with this asshole and watch him make eyes at Gia. After that incident in the alley I was half hoping that she would quit, imagine my surprise when I heard she showed up for work the next day. She's strange like that, just when I think I have her figured out, she pulls a fast one on me. Women like her are bad for your health. I didn't even realize I was watching her until she smiled at me while walking over with a tray of drinks. I noticed I wasn't the only one lookin' either.

Ray had his eyes glued on her as she put the drinks down. She turned to the table where me and him were sitting and sat his drink down before walking away. "That kinda of lookin can get you hurt." I said.

"Why, is that yours?" He asked still looking in the direction she disappeared in.

"Why the fuck do you wanna to know?" I asked clenching my hands into a fist trying to keep them from reaching out across from me.

"Because that is one fine piece of moolian ass." As soon as the words left his mouth old man Moretti was up out of his seat and had Ray's face smashed against the table. I just watched, smiling on the inside as he bled on the table.

"If you value your life you won't ever let me hear you talk that way around me." Sonny pressed down hard on Ray's head and leaned in close to him. "You're here to listen, not talk." He let him up turning back to the others like nothing happened. "Now where were we?"

If I didn't see it for myself I swear I would have never believed it. That could be the highlight of my day seein this shit head get put in his place. I've heard stories about Sonny Moretti back in his heyday before he became a boss, looks like he hasn't lost a step.

Benny didn't dare question him, he just continued talking. "Like I was saying, I believe Carmine's movin in on my territory."

"Why would he come for you out of the blue?" Sonny asked. He lit up his cigar blowing a cloud of smoke in the air. That's a question I've been askin myself.

"Me and Carmine ain't never seen eye to eye. Business has been good for me; I can't say the same for him. Lately I've been seein a few shortages. I know he's been collecting in my area."

"How do you know it's him? You could have someone in within your family skimming of the top," said Sonny.

"We know this because Taylor saw it with his own eyes." Teddy said calmly.

Sonny glanced over at me; he stared for a second. It looked like he was searching my eyes for some truth. He nodded and turned back to the others. "Alright, so what if it is true, what do you want me to do about it?"

Teddy cleared his throat before speaking again. "Well you see Don Moretti, if we're gonna go to war with Carmine, we're gonna need backup."

"Ah, I see, and here I was thinking this was a social call." Sonny laughed with Vincent and mashed his cigar in an ashtray.

"The man already tried to put one between my eyes and then that thing with Taylor last week. He has me fitted for cement shoes that I ain't ready to wear. I need your help." Benny was practically begging. I've never seen him like this before; this was one for the record books.

Sonny paid no attention to Benny's pleading. He watched Gia closely as she moved around the room. Now this wasn't like when Ray was lookin, it was different and I couldn't put my finger on it. "How long has she been working here?" He asked pointing a finger over by the bar.

"Almost a month, why?" Matty looked about as confused as the rest of us. Why was the old man giving him the third degree?

"And she was here the night Taylor was shot?" He asked. Matty just nodded his head yes.

"No disrespect, but why are you askin so many question about her?" Matty asked. He must have been reading my mind because I was wondering the same thing. I noticed the tension between those two earlier. When she spoke to him, she used that cold tone that she uses when she's pissed at me. It was small, almost undetectable, but it was still there.

"No reason," was his reply, and no one was gonna question that. "I not gonna lie. The other bosses see this as a petty feud, one not worth their time." Benny fixed his mouth to say something, but he cut him off. "But since you are a made man and Carmine didn't did get the okay from the commission for the hit, I'll back you on this one."

"Thanks Sonny, I knew I could count on you," said Benny. I thought the old man's arm was gonna fall off the way Benny was shaking it.

"To try to keep the peace I'll arrange a sit down with Carmine and get him to back off and return whatever profits he's made." Sonny and his men stood. They put on their hats and coats and headed towards the door.

"What if that don't work?" Teddy called out to him.

He stopped and turned back to them. "Then you go to war." That was all he said before he walked out the door.