Page 52 of The Godfather’s Christmas Twins
“This way, Mrs. Cantore,” Marcus says, leading me toward elevators. We walk parallel to the main casino floor, the din of chatter filling the air even at ten in the morning on Thanksgiving eve.
We’re nearly at the elevator when a man steps in front of me. “You’ve got to be shitting me.”
I stop short, and Marcus rounds me, his arm coming out to block the man. “Back off.”
“Benny?” I ask.
Benny holds up his hands in surrender. “I’m family. Practically her son.”
“Don’t care. Back off before I throw you off the property.”
Benny steps back. “Wow, you’ve gotten high and mighty since your brother took over.” Benny's face twists into an ugly sneer. He's thinner than I remember, his eyes wild anddesperate. He glances at Marcus. “Did she tell you she had my father killed? Stole my inheritance.”
“Back the fuck off.” Marcus waves over toward security.
Benny looks at me. “Someday, I’ll prove that money is mine. Those bastard twins aren’t my dad’s.”
I flinch. How could he know that?
“Get him off the property. Don’t let him back in… ever,” Marcus tells the men who rush over to us.
Benny backs away. “No need. I’m leaving.”
“Follow him,” Marcus tells the security men. Then he takes my arm and escorts me to the elevator. “Are you alright, Mrs. Cantore?” he asks as the elevator rides up.
“Yes.” Shaken, but alright. I think back to the talk I had with Max about potential stalkers. Wasn’t Benny on the list? Did he follow me here? Except, how would he know I’d be coming to the casino today? No, more likely, Benny is doing what Benny does—gamble.
We exit the elevator, and Marcus leads me down a hall filled with offices. “Mr. Giraldi says you can access what you need here.” He opens a door to an empty office. “Your access codes should work. I’ll be out here if you need anything.”
“Thank you, Marcus.” I check my watch, knowing I don’t have much time to get the data and synthesize it into a coherent report for Nic.
Five minutes before noon, three eastern time, I get the report off to the New York office. I reach my hands overhead and stretch, feeling satisfied that I got the job done. I rise from the desk and exit the office.
“Mr. Giraldi has asked that I bring you to him if you’re finished,” Marcus says.
“Am I in trouble?” I’m joking, mostly.
Marcus’s lips twitch up, which is unusual for the normally serious man. “Hard to say.” He leads me down the hall, aroundthe corner and down toward double doors. He knocks, opening the door only after he hears, “Come in.”
“Mrs. Cantore, Boss.”
I step in behind him, having my first look at Max in his element. And goodness, is it sexy. He’s wearing his expensive suit, which I’ve seen before. But never in his office, the backdrop of Las Vegas money and power behind him through the window.
Max comes around his desk toward us. “Thank you, Marcus. You can wait outside.”
Marcus nods and leaves us, Max shutting the door behind him. “Did you get your work done?”
“I did. Thank you.”
Max studies me. “I understand you had a confrontation downstairs.”
It takes me a minute to realize he means Benny. “It was nothing. Benny being Benny.”
Max crosses his arms. “It’s not nothing, Gia. He’s stalking you?—”
“We don’t know it’s him for sure.”
“He’s here, isn’t he? He confronted you.”