I shake my head. Dante’s men stand out like a sore thumb. They need to learn to at least wear clothing that helps them to blend in. Look inconspicuous. Otherwise, they might as well stand at Dante’s side and look as menacing as possible to try to keep people away.
“Mr. Conti, a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard many great things about you. Although, I’m surprised to learn you didn’t bring a security team with you since that’s what you specialize in,” Dante says, towering over me at my table.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes at this man. I simply stand and hold out a hand. “Just because your men haven’t identified my security team, doesn’t mean I don’t have one.”
“Touché, Mr. Conti,” Dante says, as we both sit back down.
He scans me up and down, and I wait for the comment about my age.
“You seem young to have become such a leading voice in security, Mr. Conti.”
Yep, there it is. I do roll my eyes this time. I’m sick of men like him thinking because I’m young, and I didn’t inherit my company from my father like he did, that I’m not capable.
“Why did you take this meeting with me, Dante, if you didn’t think I was capable of delivering?” My eyes burn into his as I speak. I hate men who waste my time.
“I never said you were incapable, just young, Mr. Conti.” He repeats my formal name. He wants me to give him the same respect, but he hasn’t earned it. Dante Russo may be a powerful man, but that doesn’t mean I’m willing to cower at his feet like everyone else in this country. I may not have his money, but everything I earned, I built on my own. I was given nothing.
I take another sip of my coffee while I wait for him to speak again. I’m anxious, too anxious. And if I let him know that, he will realize this is more than just a deal for me. So much more. Dante doesn’t understand I know exactly who he is.
“As I said, I’ve heard many great things from you, Mr. Conti. And as you know, security and discretion are of utmost importance to me. Money isn’t an issue. I will pay you well, if you are, in fact, the best.”
I don’t care about his money. But I don’t tell him that. It’s time to impress. “You have two men at the bar. One on the street. Four in cars around the perimeter. And one sniper on the building across the street. They all use a Retevis RT21 system to communicate with, which can easily be dismantled…” I pull out the device from my pocket and press the button. “With the touch of a button.”
Dante scans his men, all grabbing for the earpieces in response to the loud fog sound blowing out their eardrums.
I nod at my sister behind me, and my team moves in on all of his men. His men drop to the ground, put there by my team. My team knows how to blend into the shadows.
Dante freezes as a gun presses against his temple, but only after his gun in the back of his pants is pulled free and tossed to the side.
I smirk as I lean back in my chair, and Dante glares at me. “Meet my sister, Mr. Russo,” I say, using his last name to make a greater impact.
Dante lets out a breath and chuckles.
I nod to Adela who slowly lowers her gun.
“I’m impressed. I didn’t realize your team was here, or that you had a sister.” Dante eyes Adela with lust. This is why I never tell anyone I have a sister. She is fully capable of taking care of herself, but I can’t handle creeps staring at her like a piece of meat.
“That’s all, Adela,” I say.
She nods and disappears again.
“Like I told you when I contacted you last week, I’m the best. I believe in being discreet and working with the best technology around. Technology that no one but me owns.”
“How long to get your systems and
my team up to your level?”
“I can have my system installed in your home as soon as payment hits my bank account. A week. Shorter, if you prefer. And your team? I would recommend firing them and starting over. If I hire your team, I can have you the perfect team within two weeks.”
Dante frowns. “My men are good men. They have been with me for a long time. I trust them.”
I glance over at the man slowly dusting himself off after my team tackled him to the ground. “Ezio there? He’s been stealing money, drugs, jewels, anything he thinks he can take from you without you noticing for years.”
I glance toward the man at the bar. “Gareth has been getting paid by Domenèc for any interesting tidbits about you. Do I need to continue?”
“No.”
“Would you like me to find you a better-qualified team and fire your current team?”