Chapter 9 - THE INVITATION TO THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE
By 11:00 PM, the rain had turned into a torrential downpour.
The Grand Hotel stood downtown like a monolith of wealth and corruption.
Armed guards in black tuxedos flanked the front entrance.
Matteo pulled the Honda Civic right up to the valet stand.
The valet stared at the battered car in sheer confusion.
Matteo tossed him the keys.
“Keep it running,” Matteo ordered.
He and Lena walked through the revolving glass doors as if they owned the lobby.
Underneath their coats, the canvas duffel bag hung heavy against Matteo’s shoulder.
They rode the private elevator up to the penthouse suite.
The numbers on the digital display ticked upward.
The elevator chimed softly.
The doors slid open to reveal a massive penthouse overlooking the rain-slicked city.
Dante Moretti sat at a mahogany desk facing the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Two armed guards stood by the double doors.
Dante didn't turn around immediately.
“You took your time, Matteo,” Dante’s voice echoed smoothly across the silent room.
“Traffic was bad,” Matteo replied, stepping out of the elevator.
Lena stayed right beside him, her hand resting near her concealed weapon.
Dante finally spun his chair around.
A cold, calculating smile played across his lips.
May you like
“And you brought the waitress.”
“She’s my wife,” Matteo corrected him, his hand sliding into the duffel bag.
