“I’ll go get Layla,” Player said, moving towards the back of the plane.
“What am I supposed to do while you’re off doing New York?” Dwayne grinned.
“We can play go fish,” Paolo offered with a smile. Dwayne looked at our cousin and grinned. “Sure thing, buddy. Would love to.”
“Got room for me?” A gruff voice said, walking onto the plane, making his presence known.
“Son of a bitch!” Dwayne shouted as he went to hug Enzo, patting him on the back. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Apparently, Gio needed me and Nico in New York. We’ve been waiting for over an hour for you to arrive.”
“Is Nico with the car?” I asked, putting my phone away.
“Yes. He has everything ready.”
“And Sebastian?”
Dwayne slowly turned towards me, growling. “Why is that fucker here?”
I smiled and simply said, “Because you and Reginald need showers, haircuts, and shaves. I have also asked Sebastian to bring you your suits, to which when I return, I expect to see the both of you looking more like the respectable family members I remember.”
“I’m not part of your family, asshole.”
“Unless genetics say otherwise, dear cousin, you are, in fact, part Valentinetti, and therefore part of my family. While in Chicago, you will represent the family, and as such, you will be dressed accordingly.”
“I’m not doing it.”
“Yes, you will,” I said, ignoring the fuming look on his face, then turned as Reggie entered with the beautiful Layla. Walking over to her, I took her hand and said, “Bella, I have called and made an appointment with you with a woman named Veronica. She ownsLa Bella Rosa, a day spa and high-end retail store. She is awaiting your arrival. She will tend to all your needs.”
Reggie didn’t blink before he had Layla behind him. “She isn’t going anywhere without me.”
“I give you my word Reginald. No harm will come to her.”
“She isn’t going.”
“You are not in charge here, cousin. I am.”
“She’s mine to protect.”
“And you are mine. She will be protected.”
“No.”
“Reggie, I will not discuss this. She is going to a spa while you and Dwayne stay here and let Sebastian do his job. Understood?”
“Player,” her soft voice whispered, interrupting us. “I’ll be okay. I can take care of myself.”
I had no doubt of that, but Reggie didn’t see what I saw earlier. Layla was anything but helpless.
“No, you can’t. That’s why Reaper and Bullseye put you in my care. I can’t let you out of my sight.”
“My brother isn’t here, and neither is Reaper. I get that you want to help me, but you can’t. No one can.”
“It is settled then. She goes.”
“I said no!” Reginald shouted, getting in my face, which caused Nico, Enzo, Marko, and Paolo to stand. Holding my hand up to stop them, I softly said for only Reggie to hear, “You forget your place, cousin. I am the head of this family. I make the rules, and you follow. You knew this before coming home and asking for my help. Now sit down and behave. Choose to be defiant, and Iwillput you in your place, in front of your brother and Layla before anyone can blink.”
Reginald blinked, his face paled, and he took a step back. He didn’t have to say anything else. I said everything for him. He knew I would never hurt the woman, yet he didn’t trust me for some reason. I wanted to know why. Never in our time together did I ever give him a reason not to trust my word. My word was law. It was gold. Once given, I never broke my promise. Reggie knew that. Yet, either he had forgotten, or something had him believing otherwise.