Kidnapped By The Italian Mafia

Alfonso Quidiaro was a modern day Napoleon Bonaparte, down to the big head and underwhelming height. The man had a temper bigger and hotter than the sun under a magnifying glass and his stubby legs carried him faster than a sportscar on crack. When I first met him, I had to hold back a laugh. It soon died in my throat once I realised why nobody liked him. The motherf.u.c.ker had a ruthless kill count and a knack for dehumanising women in every possible way.

I doubted this last reason was why nobody liked him. It was probably because he killed everyone who was beneath him, whether they be foe or friend, if they caught him at a bad time, they were dead.

He wasn't particularly bright in the bulb, but he had laser focus when his anger got the best of him, and his team knew what they were doing when it came to covering up his tracks. He had the largest network in mainland Italy. He was also foe number one to the DiBiancci tree.

See where I'm going with this?

"Alfonso," I greeted warmly, leaning in for some air kisses, as was Isabella's trademark. "What a surprise."

"Don't be a hypocrite Isabella, you knew you'd find me here." He rolled his eyes and finally let go of my arm once it was clear to both of us that I wasn't going anywhere. "What are you doing in Paris?"

"Networking, of course." I waved a hand around in gesture to the room. "The French never miss a fabulous party."

"Is he here?" His face went dark and his already deep voice lowered even more. For such a short, unusually proportioned man, he had the vocal chords of Cerberus if Cerberus was a person.

"I wouldn't be here if he was, would I?" I hissed, glaring down at him. "What do you want? I'm busy."

"Doing what? You don't know anybody here." He glared back just as harshly. "And don't lie to me."

"I want to expand my reach, nosy." I rolled my eyes. He was like a typical catholic mother, always wanting to know things that didn't concern her. "Stop worrying I'll double-cross you."

"Marco doesn't like me. I need to make sure."

"Half the world doesn't like you." I reminded him. "I'm not part of that group, but I can be if you don't give me space." Alfonso was a piece of shit who had half the bosses in the European mob biding their time to kill him. I would soon be one of them.

That is, if Marco didn't get to him first.

"I don't like threats." He took something out of his coat pocket and handed it to me. "Here. Contacts for my warehouses. It's where I keep my whores."

Holy mother, help me not to throttle this bastard.

"I'm not a fan of slavery." But… "Why do you have women in your warehouses?"

"I said my whores. Men can be whores too." He glared at me like a moody child. "That's so s.e.xist of you."

"For gods sake, Alfonso, do not f.u.c.k with me right now." My exasperated curse came through clenched teeth. The urge to cold-c.o.c.k him was almost unbearable. "Answer my question."

"They're there until further notice. Why?"

"I need to rent some from you." I was just going to ask Juan-Carlos but now that I can throw Alfonso under the bus even more, why not. "They're branded, yes?"

"Of course. I brand all my property."

"Good. I'll contact you when I'm ready for them." I nodded with satisfaction and placed the folded paper into a slit in my clutch.

"What are you moving?"

"Excuse me?"

"I'm not an idiot. You wouldn't ask for slaves if you weren't planning to use some as mules." He crossed his short arms across his barrel c.h.e.s.t and glared right into my eyeballs. "What are you moving?"

"I'm opening a s.e.x house." Why the f.u.c.k did I say that… "that's what you have them for, right? You called them whores."

"You're lying."

"Mon Dieu, Alfonso." I hand rose and fell against my leg in exasperation. He was questioning every little thing I said, granted, most of it was bullshit.

"You just said you weren't a fan of slavery."

"S.e.x work isn't slavery for me. I pay them, they work in exchange for their freedom."

"Yes but those are my slaves. Mine. Nobody goes free until I say so. You better not promise any of my slaves freedom." He squinted at me and in that moment reminded me of a crow.

"Nothing without your consent." I promised placidly, trying to avoid a scene. I knew he'd never set anyone free in his life. He shot them in the back of the head when they turned to leave.

"I'm going to need proof before anything is definite."

"Of course." I nodded my pretty little head, re-dyed red hair swinging. "You're welcome to partake in the opening ceremony, as well."

"I'll do that." He sneered, narrowing beady little eyes at me. He reminded me of a goblin but much less mystical. Alfonso was just ugly on the inside. His face wasn't ugly but then again it's not like I could tell from all the frowning he did.

"Enjoy the party, mon amie." I smiled pleasantly and headed back out into the crowd, mentally checking everything on my list. Not only had I bagged a potential deal with the Saudis, I saw Alfonso and bagged potential mules from him.

I felt bad using people as slaves, but desperate times called for desperate measures. I'd buy them from him if necessary.

"There you are, I've been looking for you everywhere. Where were you?" Henri finally caught up to me and tugged on my wrist. "Finley said you'd excused yourself to use the ladies room."

"That's where I was, Henri. The ladies room." I patted his arm affectionately. "It's fine. Safe."

"You were in the ladies room this entire time? You just came from there?" He looked suspicious.

"Of course. Where else would I have come from?" My thumb jerked over my shoulder in the general direction of the restrooms. "Did you see me come from anywhere other than back there?"

My pointing thumb drew his eyes to the background behind me, and while he was busy looking, I was busy scanning the crowd for Alfonso. Good. Nowhere to be seen.

"I suppose. It's not safe for you to wander alone for so long."

"Trust me Henri, if someone wanted me dead, I'd be dead." I snorted, suddenly stopping short when I remembered the car explosion incident that left me with a little device in my ear.

Damn, I'd forgotten to question him about that. Now my curiosity was prodded.

"Do you suppose the person who tried to kill us is in attendance tonight?" The question rolled casually off my tongue as I looked around the room. Henri followed my gaze and looked at the people surrounding us as well. It was entirely too plausible, and I hadn't thought about that before coming in here. "We should probably leave now."

"We should definitely leave now." Henri helped me return my glass to an empty tray of a passing waiter and we swiftly made our way to the exit without calling too much attention to ourselves.