“Do what?” Nico asked, not quite following.
“See if you can make Charleston legitimate and profitable. Do it your way, not Joey’s, or even mine.”
Nico blinked in surprise, then stood and walked around the desk. He placed a kiss on each of his grandfather’s cheeks. “I’ll make you proud, Unonn.”
There was a knock on the door and Antony appeared. “Your next appointment is here.”
“Show him in,” his grandfather said. Nico walked back around the desk having been dismissed. “Wait a minute, Nico,” his grandfather ordered.
A tall man who appeared to be a little older than Nico’s thirty years walked in. His suit was just as impeccably tailored as Nico’s, but the man somehow made Nico take a step back. For one, he was taller than Nico’s six feet. For another, he looked just as strong. And last, his glare made him look like the devil himself.
“Mr. Porzio,” the man said with a deep voice as he held out his hand to shake Nico’s grandfather’s hand. “To what do I owe this summons?”
“I want you to meet my grandson, Nico Saccone.”
The man turned his steely stare to Nico. This man was dangerous, and Nico should know. “Sebastian Abel,” the man said, holding out his hand.
Nico shook his hand and was then dismissed as the tech-giant businessman turned back to Nico’s grandfather. “What can I do for you? We’ve made an agreement on the New York port. I warned you I wouldn’t change it.”
“No, no,” his grandfather said with a smile. Nico could tell his grandfather respected this man a great deal. Unonn didn’t easily smile or relax around people, yet he seemed to be enjoying himself with Sebastian Abel. “Nico has legitimate interests, and I want you to help him by being available to answer any questions he has.”
Sebastian frowned as he looked over Nico. “Sorry. I don’t babysit. Even for the head of the Porzio family.”
“Babysit?” Nico asked tightly. “I have an MBA and have been in the private sector several years. I don’t need to be babysat.”
“That’s cute,” Sebastian said with a scoff. “Did they teach you how to negotiate port entry with the mob-controlled union in that little school of yours? Did they teach you how to cut through the bureaucratic red tape to get business done quickly? How to bribe international authorities to get your product safely exported or through their country?”
Nico felt his anger rising, but dammit, Sebastian was correct. “No,” he finally had to admit.
“You really want to go legit?” Sebastian asked Nico’s grandfather.
“I always like to know my possibilities,” his grandfather answered vaguely.
Sebastian chuckled and Big Joe Porzio laughed. Nico was astounded as the two then turned to chat about the state of affairs in the world, the business, and how Nico’s family was doing.
Sebastian stood after ten minutes and pulled a card from his pocket. He held it out for Nico. “I won’t help you traffic drugs, weapons, or people. I’ll only answer legitimate business questions.”
Nico took the card and slipped it into his pocket. “Why nothing illegal? I appreciate the help and will call with any questions, but you’re obviously a man who can cross the line.”
“Rule one of business. You never cross the line for someone else. Especially someone you don’t know or trust. I’m not going to jail for you. Got it?”
“Got it,” Nico said as Sebastian shook his hand.
The man left the room and Nico looked back to his grandfather. “You admire him, don’t you?”
“You will too, once you negotiate with him.”
“He pays your port fees?” Nico asked with wonder. Sebastian Abel didn’t seem like a man to be intimidated, even by Big Joe Porzio.
“As I said, we have an arrangement. But what did I always tell you growing up?”
“Lots of things,” Nico said with a smile.
“About learning,” his grandfather said with a similar smile.
“That you should respect those who know more than you do. Know your weaknesses and learn how to turn them into strengths.”
“Exactly. Sebastian Abel can teach you a lot. You should respect that.”
“Thank you, Unonn. I’ll leave for Charleston by the end of the week.”
1
Charleston, five months ago . . .
“There’s a Mr. Nico Saccone to see you, sir.”
Ryker Faulkner looked up from his desk and nodded. “Send him in.”
Ryker slid a folder over the paperwork he was reading. Ryker didn’t trust anyone except his family. This man had made an appointment, but had refused to say what it was in regard to other than to say it had to do with shipping. Then, when Ryker went digging, he didn’t like what he found.
Ryker leaned back in his leather office chair in his downtown Charleston office as the door opened. His executive assistant, Mary Alice, a former nun and school teacher in her early sixties, opened the door with the disapproving look only a nun from a Catholic school in New York City could have. Nico Saccone cleared his throat nervously and Ryker wanted to smile at that.
Mary Alice was a gem. She was tough as nails and wouldn’t think twice about smacking a person with the ruler she kept on her desk. Her attention to detail was impeccable and her inability to be intimidated was invaluable. It didn’t hurt that she also had a way to make men quiver with fear as they waited to be seen.
“Don’t take too long, Mr. Saccone. Mr. Faulkner has a three o’clock,” Mary Alice snapped before closing the door.
“Yes, ma’am,” Nico said automatically before turning wide eyes to Ryker.
Ryker didn’t rise to meet him. Instead, he watched the man regain his composure.
“Thank you for seeing me today, Mr. Faulkner. I’m Nico Saccone.”
“Yes, grandson of Joseph Porzio, the New York crime boss. What has you in my office today?” Ryker motioned for Nico to take a seat and waited. He had learned a long time ago that the less he said, the better. They didn’t like the silence, so they would eventually tell you what you wanted to know. He sat back and watched as they gave away their secrets.
“You know my family,” Nico said as a statement. “Do you also know the Di Maio family?”
“I do.” Ryker knew more than that. He knew the Di Maio crime family was trying to buy a port. Or more rightly said, intimidate the owners into letting them run the port and all the shipping. They’d already come knocking on his door to try to intimidate him. Mary Alice took care of it. They hadn’t even made it past her desk.
Nico waited for Ryker to elaborate, but when Ryker didn’t say anything else, Nico continued. “My family would like to establish ourselves in Charleston before the Di Maios. I’ve done my research and Faulkner Shipping is who I want to handle our business. You’re reliable, have a reputation that precedes you, and as a fellow businessman I appreciate all that you’ve accomplished.”
Ryker knew Nico had earned his MBA and even spent some time at various large Fortune 500 companies before working for his grandfather. Ryker kept silent and waited.
“The Di Maios are dangerous. They’re not above hurting people who stand in their way,” Nico warned.