Page 39 of Paolo DeLuca
Chapter twenty-two
GinoDeLucasatback in the executive chair, staring up at the ceiling in the office he and Paolo shared at Night Shade. He was proud of what he was able to build with his cousin. The place raked in thousands of dollars every night. This club was a solace to him—a small oasis away from what it meant to be a savage. The shit that happened with Lyric and Cali fucked him up. He had been thinking about the things happening in and around his life. He was even thinking about her. Where was she now, and what was she doing since he saw her six years ago?
Gino wondered where he was headed if things continued to be like this in the future. Was he thinking about leaving the family? Getting out? He doubted it, but Night Shade was easily a full-time option.
Cali fucked up when she decided to go after Lyric to get to Paolo. Lyric was like a sister to him. He’d liked her from the start. When she walked into the bar to apply for the bartender’s position, she was confident and didn’t flinch once, even though she knew exactly who he was when he introduced himself. Gino hired her on the spot as soon as she finished the application and handed it to him.
Lyric was a quick study and seamlessly fit in with everyone at the club. She wasn’t afraid to give him shit. Like he said, he liked her; she was like a sister. And when Cali Martinez took her from Night Shade a few weeks ago right from under their noses, Gino took it personally. When Gino hired Lyric, she became a part of the DeLuca family. And no one fucked with his family. If Paolo hadn’t finished the bitch off, he would’ve. His blood boiled thinking about what happened that night they rescued Lyric. Now, Cali was at the bottom of the Atlantic where no one would ever find her. Food for the sharks and other scavengers of the sea. And good fucking riddance, as far as he was concerned.
Gino sighed, “I need a fucking break.” He needed a way to unwind and just be. Without the name DeLuca attached. He needed to fucking breathe. He’d heard rumblings from Dante and Franco about a club in Chicago that catered to certain pleasures he thought he’d give a try. Gino picked up the phone and dialed Paolo. “Cugino,” he greeted cheerfully, “I need a favor.”
A favor? More like a lifeline. He needed to go, to get away from the life of a DeLuca for a little while. He needed to get away from his family. This club in Chicago was the way to do it. He read the name on the plain black card with a golden mask imprinted on it, which Dante handed him the other day. Running his hand over the raised mask, the card read: Club Desire.
“I need to get away for a little bit. A mini-vacation,” he told Paolo.
Gino knew Paolo wouldn’t say no. Things had quieted down since the mess with Cali and the Red Barons, and Rodriguez knew what they were in for if they fucked with the DeLucas again, so the Barons were behaving like they expected them to, at least for now. He could afford to get away for a few weeks. He listened as Paolo gave his blessing to leave Miami.
“Thanks. Tell Lyric I said hello. I’ll call you when I land.” He hung up, grateful Paolo didn’t push for answers or question why.
Gino tapped the card on the desk twice, his mind made up that this trip was happening no matter what, and it would be pleasurable. He slipped the card back into his wallet and headed for the door. He had some packing to do and plans to make for nights upon nights of endless desires being fulfilled with no worries of what being a DeLuca would bring.
