Holiday Hockey Tale The Icebreaker's Impasse (By Ivory Row) novel Chapter 110

Easton

I silently chuckle as we watch the morning news. Lorelei and Wallace’s photo from the hotel room flashing across every news screen I flip to. We tipped off a few reporters with extra details. Nothing should have happened between them. Their ride home ensured they were separated. I might want nothing good to happen to either of them but I won’t help with any type of consensual issue like that. And then if they reproduced….I shudder thinking about that poor baby. At least Cole got a halfway decent parent in me. The photo showed him in his underwear, her with her hair unkempt and clothes all wrinkled inside an expensive hotel room.

The anchors were talking about how two meals were ordered from room service for them.

Becker had way too much fun finding that half mask upper torso thing for them to leave nearby. We didn’t take them ourselves knowing we are too easy to recognize. I hadn’t felt sorry for her seeing how pale and almost frightened she appeared. She set those reporters up to try to catch us together and break Luci apart from me. Her best laid little plan backfiring on her was the sweetest irony. She wanted front row press and attention; she’s got it. Jackson said reporters are all over the road near her house.

“Too bad she always flaunted that ugly diamond. Now the whole city knows Wallace has bad taste.” Kingston says sarcastically.

Becker grins. “Well I mean if he picked Lorelei last night, it’s a given. Why did you buy such an ugly ring, East?” His eyes widen suddenly. “Wait, please tell me you did better this time, right? Like nothing that looks anywhere close to that for Luci. You had professional help, as in Sydney and Stormi?”

I shush him while glowering his way. Jackson gets to his feet, checking the hallway. “Clear, East.”

“Ruin that surprise, Becker and I will fill the Jeep with fish and garlic.” He holds both hands up. “I bought that because she f*****g picked it. Circled several similar to it in magazines before she moved to France the first time. She wanted something you could see from a mile away. Don’t panic over there. It’s Sydney approved.” This time I’m the one wishing for mile away visibility.

“Rumors have it that Mr. Wallace Jones was engaged to another young woman, a French diplomat’s daughter, Marie Durand. Her father, Andre, has been business partners with Wendell Jones for fifteen years. Wendell is currently running for the US House of Representatives to further his political aspirations. Marie was seen leaving her home this

morning looking particularly cool and calm with a bare left hand.” The anchor grabs our attention again.

Dad walks in holding up several envelopes. “Restraining orders for all of you. She cannot come near you. Easton, you’ll be going to the office with me to deal with the final piece of this nonsense.”

Jason

“He’s on his way up, Jason.” Lorna says over the phone.

“Thank you, Lorna. Go take your lunch break.”

I glance over at Marco and our other two guests. “I appreciate you coming to help.”

“Mack saved my life and if he says you need help, we’re here. This guy is not as scary as he thinks he is. He could throw some names around, but we’ve got bigger ones. You do too,

Jason. This will help us too. See where this guy stands on this…issue. He’s never gone this route and if he’s going to in our own backyard, we want to know now so we can end it.”

The distinctive sound of footsteps approach the door. Three men come into view and I stand rebuttoning my suit jacket as they enter. Easton moves in to my right while Marco remains where he is. “Mr. Reed, I do like the hospitality of your employees.” The front man says. He’s not Italian though his last name is. Carlos Greco, the current head of a very small Italian mafia family. They lie on the fringe of the main families running the Italian syndicate in the US.

“Mr. Greco, thank you for meeting with us. Would you and your men like to sit down? We have coffee if you’d like some.” I offer and indicate the chairs before my desk.

He waves his hand dismissively as he takes a seat. He has a distinct scar from the corner of his eye straight down to his jawline. Dark brown hair and cold pale green eyes finish out his lightly tanned round face. “No, thank you though. My wife insists upon only one cup for me per day. My associates are Tommaso and Danny.”

I nod at them. “This is my son, Easton and my associate, Marco. These two gentlemen are Gunner and Blitz. They belong to the Chaos Riders Club.”

His lips twitch slightly and he nods their way as his eyes narrow. “You’ll forgive me if I don’t shake hands with anyone. Your club dismantles trafficking organizations. You took out one of my marks recently. Horace Graves.”

Gunner, who is about six three and the size of a mini tank, gives him an evil smirk. “He thought he should beat his wife and little girl. We showed him what happens when he picks on people who aren’t his size.”

Greco assesses them before he purses his lips together and gives an approving nod. “I hope he screamed well. He thought he’d date my cousin, Antonia. Shoved her into a wall instead of having an adult conversation when he became upset over what she was wearing. She was unaware he had a family until I became involved upon discovering her injuries.”

“He didn’t get the chance. We like quiet sometimes and those vocal cords are easy to snip.” Blitz remarks calmly, his expression not changing.

“We should try that.” Carlos murmurs. “You saved us a trip.”

“Mr. Greco, I contacted you regarding Vivienne Winters and her recent offer to you about paying off her gambling debts.” I go straight to the point.

“I appreciate a man who doesn’t dance around the issue. She owes a lot of money. The woman is…..incredibly stupid. She tried to offer herself as p*****t to my men and to me.” His lip curls with disgust. “I decided to lie to her and see how far she’s willing to go. Once I explained that the only services like that we take, are arranged marriages within the family, she offered herself up again. I laughed, telling her my cousin who needs a wife, is only 26. He wants a family. Never occurred to that delusional woman she might not be what we were looking for. Too old is not something she believed herself to be.”

“Too insane.” Marco mutters and Greco gives him a hint of an amused smile.

“That too. She screams mental illness or pathetic desperation, especially with her gambling proclivity. Instead, she informed us her daughter will take over paying off her debts and she offered another girl. Her grandson’s nanny as a bride for my cousin. Smart of her. A way to have a debt payoff person and a sacrificial lamb. I didn’t bother to correct Vivienne that I wasn’t serious. I preferred watching her sweat.”

I conceal my shock. Easton vibrates with fury and I swear I hear his teeth crack. Marco shakes his head, muttering angrily. “I had no idea she offered Luci up for that. I wanted to meet with you because Lorelei informed you my son was marrying her and would be responsible for the debt. That she told you Luci could be used as leverage to have Easton pay off the debt faster.

Vivienne has no contact with MY grandson. She has laid eyes on him once and that was one time too many.”

“Did Lorelei know her mother offered Luci up as f*****g compensation for her debts?” Easton inquires with steel.

“Luci Forrester is my son’s intended fiancée. She is my grandson’s mother, not his nanny.” I interject.

The guy named Danny sits up straighter and nudges Carlos who nods. “I’m sorry. Luci Forrester….brown hair, big brown eyes, sweet to a fault with kids. Goes to Kenton, orphaned at a young age. That Luci Forrester?”

Carlos gazes at him as I slowly nod. “Boss, she was Eva’s babysitter for a few weeks while Tanya was out for her surgery.”

“The one who built the puppet show for all the kids?”

Danny nods. Carlos makes a sound in his throat. “More repugnant than I believed. Luci is safe.

Not that I intended to take her for any reason. Now I see why the younger i***t offered her up as leverage. She was unaware of her mother’s plans. Lorelei is your son’s mother?” He points to Easton.

“Egg donor incubator. Unfortunately for us. She signed all her rights away last night though with a bit of….persuasion.” Easton answers her.

He rises to his feet. “They will pay their debts and you will not be involved in any way.”

“Mr. Greco…” I begin.

He waves his hand. “Carlos please. My children loved Luci.”

“Then I extend the same courtesy. Call me Jason. I have a proposition for you regarding your money. Not that I wish to help her but I want to give her nowhere to go.”

He takes his seat again. “What did you have in mind?”

I grin and lay out my plan. He leaves and we are all satisfied with what we finalized.

Carlos

“Why are you here?” She tries to freeze in the doorway to the private visitation room. I lean farther back with my leg casually crossed over my thigh.

“Sit Vivienne.” I command quietly.

She moves in and takes her seat staring at me defiantly. “Navy blue does nothing for you.”

“Did you get the money from my daughter? And you took the nanny?”

I give her my coldest smile. “Your daughter doesn’t have enough. But you do have something that will cover it all.”

I hold my finger up and Danny slides the paper across to her.

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