Chapter 511 - The Gathering (3)

Bliss was the name of the speakeasy bar behind the restaurant. It was located half a floor down the ground floor of the restaurant and the only access was through the door off the kitchen hallway. It was invitation-only access or one had to be vouched for to get inside during its regular operating hours where the De Lucas ran a casino and they had many secret places just like this all over the city.

Tonight, they closed it down to host the after burial gathering. But even with the lack of chips and cards on the tables, the ambiance of the venue was still the same. Moody, classy, and sexy. Black marble counters and furniture, red velvet drapes on the walls, and gold detailing all around. Needless to say, the place was swanky.

High rollers came to Bliss with thousands to hundred thousands of dollars to waste. They won some, they lost some, but one thing was for sure, the house always won. This establishment alone brought millions to the De Lucas in a small time frame. Their best month by far was last December, raking over eight digits in just a week. And it was just this location.

As Gael and Giovanni walked back into the bar, a female server wearing a slinky outfit sauntered towards them with a tray in hand. She gave them both a suggestive smile as she offered, "Drinks, Bosses?"

Gael simply shook his head as he barely glanced at her while Giovanni gave her a fake smile and said, "No, thank you." She turned around and made sure to sway her hips more than necessary.

Giovanni snorted. "I forgot how…debauched the servers here are."

"Did you now?" Gael began walking towards his father's table when he saw Alessandro waving them over. "You fucked her spring last year."

"I did?" Giovanni did a double-take at the server. "I thought she was new. Doesn't matter. Like I said, it's forgettable."

Alessandro was at a table with Angela's grandfather, Matvey Novikov, and a few other Bratva men including Volkov. Gael and Giovanni dragged two chairs from an empty table and joined them as they discussed a new protocol for their oil business. Gael didn't want to be there because he was already slowly removing himself from the equation. He had no choice but to sit through it so as not to raise suspicions, and Novikov might take offense if he left. After talking about oil, the conversation moved to politics.

Gael began to feel restless and was about to excuse himself when something caught Novikov's attention from across the room—specifically at Angela's table. The muscles on Gael's shoulders tensed up as he watched the old man rubbed his chin.

"Isn't that your daughter, Don Alessandro? My how grown up she is already," Novikov mused, his Russian accent thick.

"Ah, yes, she is." Alessandro formed a tight smile. He didn't like anyone talking about his daughter from any of the crime families.

"And who is that young man beside her?"

"Don Mariano Morelli of Chicago."

Novikov raised his brows. "A Don? But he looks so young."

"Mm. He just turned thirty last month, and he took over his grandfather's reign."

"That's…impressive." Novikov hummed. "He seems close to your daughter?"

Alessandro nodded, his expression neutral. "They got married early this year."

Novikov muttered something in Russian and then said, "That's a shame. I would've liked to pair her with my grandson, Aleksander."

"Doesn't Alex have a girlfriend?" one of the Bratva men probed.

"That girl is a civilian and she's just a plaything. You know how boys his age are." Novikov sipped his whiskey and then turned to Giovanni. "What about you Giovanni? You are a bachelor, yes? What do you think of my granddaughter, Anika?"

Giovanni was a little taken aback by Novikov's question, but he schooled his expression real fast that Gael was sure only he noticed it. 

With a small, measured smile on his face, Giovanni answered, "I think your granddaughter is very beautiful and I'm sure she won't have a hard time looking for a suitable man and a grandson-in-law for you."

Novikov's face was unreadable. "But not you? I can guarantee that she hasn't been touched."

Hasn't been touched meant she was a virgin. Gael and Giovanni glanced at Volkov whose jaw was clenched so tight but otherwise remained quiet. Gael felt disgusted listening to this.

Giovanni softly chuckled. "I appreciate that you consider me, Mr. Novikov. But I don't think you'd want me as your grandson-in-law. I already give my brother so much headache for being a pain in his ass. Besides, I'm too old for Anika… I think I'm fifteen years her senior."

Novikov waved his hand. "Age is just a number. I prefer men your age for her. She'll be very obedient and will give you plenty of sons."

Gael wanted to throw up in his mouth, feeling so sick to his stomach. He could no longer stand hearing more of this conversation. He made a move to stand just as Rick whispered to his ear, "Ms. Angela is tired. Would you like me to drive her back to the apartment first?"

Thankful for the interruption, Gael excused himself from the table, flashing Giovanni a sympathetic look before he walked back to Angela.

Sliding onto the round couch, Gael circled an arm around Angela and she instantly snuggled into his side. "You tired?"

"A little." She lazily rubbed his thigh, and his dick jerked in approval. He knew she was only being loving, but he couldn't stop his body's reaction to her touch. "You can stay longer if you want. Trigger can drive me home."

"No. I want to leave."

Angela briefly glanced at her grandfather's table and sank lower as if wanting to hide. She had been doing that a lot since the church, making herself invisible and small so she wouldn't draw much attention to herself—particularly from her grandfather. Gael hated that she had to do that. Angela deserved to stand out. He didn't think what she had been doing made a big difference because she was naturally beautiful, drawing eyes wherever she went. 

"What did you talk about back there? I noticed him looking over here," she wondered.

Gael sighed, brows pulling together in annoyance as he recalled the part where Novikov asked about Gabriella and his interest in pairing her to his grandson and then offering Anika to Giovanni.

Mariano visibly stiffened and he shot a sharp glare at the Bratva's table. Gael cocked a brow at his reaction and it didn't escape him when Gabby gently touched Mariano's arm, her eyes looking…concerned? Then Mariano's expression softened when he glanced down at her.

Gael wasn't oblivious. He knew something was going on between the two, but he wasn't sure how to feel about it, given the fact that the two were already married. All he wanted was that Gabriella ended up happy. But he didn't need to see her get close with a man—any man. She's still his baby sister. No man should touch her. So he looked away before he was tempted to kick Mariano's teeth in for being too close to Gabby.

Angela pressed her lips to his cheek and whispered, "After everything that happened, your sister is happy."

Gael met her eyes, his gaze full of affection. His future wife was so attuned to him, she knew what was on his mind. He brushed his lips on her forehead. "Let's go home."

Just then, footsteps came close and the Bratva stopped at their table. Novikov scanned the group, his stare lingering a second too long at Angela before settling at Gael. "It was a wonderful service, Gael. I am certain Pietro is at peace where he rests."

"Thank you for coming, Mr. Novikov." Gael nodded politely as he stood to shake the other's hand.

Matvey looked over at Angela again and tilted his head. "And who is this beautiful lady? She is by your side the whole day."

Gael didn't want to do this. It took everything in him not to grab Angela's hand and run out of there without looking back. But he plastered a casual smile as he pulled Angela to her feet, his arm sliding around her waist. "This is my fiancée, Angela. My love, this is Mr. Matvey Novikov—Novikov Corporation's Chairman and a close friend of my father's."

Angela's back was damp as the old man scrutinized her. She wished this didn't happen, but she straightened her back and acted like there was no problem at all, lifting her lips into a smile as she politely nodded, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Novikov."

"Hmm." Novikov stared at her face. "You remind me of someone."

The air was too quiet for a few moments that Gael was about ready to put himself between her and the Bratva. He exchanged a brief glance with Volkov whose eyes were narrowed at the exchange as if he, too, wanted all this to be over fast.

Novikov looked at Gael and gave him a small nod before walking away, heading outside of Bliss with his men trailing behind.

Angela fell back on the couch, her stare fixed at the door.. "I feel like I've aged a hundred years in that ten seconds of silence."