Page 12 of Paolo DeLuca
Chapter nine
“Isshesafe?”Paolo asked Franco as soon as he picked up the phone and sauntered out of the office with Gino down the hall to the room housing his counterfeit operation.
“She is,” Franco stated. “She’s going to be a handful.”
Paolo already knew that. Fire and sass were two things he liked about Lyric and drew him to her.
“You know that’s how I like ‘em. Make sure she’s okay tonight. Stay until she goes to bed.”
“Will do,” Franco stated before they both hung up.
Gino stared at him. Paolo knew what he was thinking, but he was wrong. As her employer, he was responsible for ensuring Lyric got home safely. He was a DeLuca and a gentleman.
“What?” he barked.
Gino’s shoulders shook with his laughter. “You on the prowl?”
“Hell, no,” he admonished. “You know my rules.”
“Doesn’t mean you don’t want to.”
He and Gino made their way down the stairs and into the expanse of Night Shade’s basement. Paolo had the basement constructed to house alcohol for the club and in a separate area, his counterfeit operation. No one had a key to this basement but him, Gino, and the forgery artist. However, there was another door leading up if they needed to escape quickly.
Paolo shrugged. “She’s a beautiful woman. But like I said, I have rules.”
Rules that he seriously thought about breaking for Lyric.
Shit. Not good.
Paolo shook off the conversation and made a beeline to Jamison, his forgery artist. “How’s it going, Jamison?”
The young forger he hired after he got rid of Cali, looked up from his computer. “Good, shipment is printing now and should be done and ready to go in the morning.”
“That’s good to hear. I’ll be back in the morning then.” He headed back across the room and up the stairs, where Gino waited. “What’s the word on Cali?”
“So far, nothing, but we think she’s here somewhere. The work is here; it’s a safe bet she is too.”
“Put the word out to local crews and gangs. I want that bitch found.” He headed back toward the floor. The music pulsed through his veins the closer he got to the VIP section. Paolo took his place at the railing surrounding the VIP dais. The never-ending line of women who pined for his attention were long gone since he threw the son of a bitch out who touched what was his.
What was his? Where the fuck did that come from?
He didn’t even know Lyric, but shit, he wanted to. Gino sidled up beside him. “So, about Lyric.”
Paolo sighed. “What about her?”
Gino stood silent beside him. Not in his nature at all. Like most DeLuca men, he didn’t mince words or beat around the bush. For him to hesitate to speak his mind had Paolo tearing his gaze away from the throng of people writhing on the dance floor.
“She’s a sweet girl is all.”
“I gathered,” Paolo said, “Gino, spit it the fuck out.”
“Just don’t hurt her,” Gino pleaded.
Fury coursed through Paolo’s veins. Exactly who was Lyric to Gino? He needed to know. “Are you two fucking or something?”
Gino belted a laugh like it was comical for him to be fucking Lyric. “Hell no!”
Paolo seethed. What the fuck was wrong with her? Lyric was every man’s wet dream. Fucking smart as hell and cared about people even if they didn’t fucking deserve it. He saw that tonight when she begged him not to kill the fucker who touched her. “What’s so goddamn funny?”
