Chapter 4: Mr. Moretti

~No One's P.O.V~

Walking into the office building her sweet tea in hand checking in with the receptionist. "Good morning how can I direct you?" "I have an appointment with Mr. Moretti." "ID please." The young man asked her waking it from her and printing out a special throw away pass. "Ok go ahead and go to the top floor the receptionist will check you in have a great day." He wave off to her. The elevator ride took forever as she kept getting messages Xavier kept sending along with the rest of his crew trying to butter her up to forgive them as well. Ignoring them for the time being at least until she leaves here anyway. Walking out the door. "Name." The receptionist asked rudely. "Alderman I am here to see Mr. Moretti." Ariah replied back with a smile maybe she was just having a bad day. "I'm sorry all appointments have been cleared for the day please call back this number and his secretary will make a new one for you have a great day." She said snarly as she kept answering phones.

"Well I am sorry but I am not leaving until I speak with Mr. Moretti." Ariah responded with friendly tone. "It's alright Naomi I will see her." The deep voice responded to her. Turning to face him was a man who was built looking like Xavier with his height shoulders everything minus the fact he was a lighter brown skinned. Xavier was still more handsome. "Phoenix Moretti. Pleased to meet you." He held his hand out for her to take. "Detective Alderman. Pleasure sir. I promise I will try not to take too much of your time. I understand how busy you must be." She replied sweetly. Phoenix couldn't help starring at how beautiful she was it made every part of him skip a beat. Recognizing the name of the lead detective who's been busting his men his defense shot up instantly. "Of course please step into my office." Showing her the way and shutting the door behind them.

Helping her into her chair he went to the other side of the desk. "So detective what can I do for you?" "Actually the question is what am I here doing for you Mr. Moretti and please just call me Ariah. Mr. Moretti I have just recently got assigned to a murder case of one your employees. It seems he got into some bad drugs with some bad people some hot shot new and up coming gang trying to form up in the city. They are the only ones rumored to not have pledged loyalty to anyone else in the city how true that rumor is still unsure." She told him pulling out papers from her purse. Phoenix already knew it was true they pledged to no one and they were like a group of unsupervised toddlers running around the city high on their product they had no idea what they were doing.

"I'm sorry to hear that." "Well be that as it may there are still some issues with this case and once I uncovered it I went to a judge and got all the necessary documents you would or could need to follow through with the other arrests." "I'm sorry I missed a step what other arrests." Phoenix asked growing concern. "Forgive me. You see Mr. Tolman was stealing money from your company." She said flatly handing him the papers. "He and several others on that form about seven I believe have set up a separate file in your system to be seen as some sort of project when instead they are embezzling money from you. No one has caught it except when I went through Tolman's files in his home, and his laptop, bank accounts I found some startling stuff this being one of them. With Tolman's body being found yesterday. I am willing to bet anything the whole project team has called out today. So I brought the warrants for the arrest as soon as you sign the papers to press charges I can send for my men to go pick them up." She said with a sad smile.

"So you went out of your way after finding some red flags about a dead employee who stole from me. Then went on to follow a separate path further down the line to find something no one else from stopping me from losing money?" Phoenix asked shocked no one ever went out of their way to help him unless they were threatened. How can no one else pick this up. "Actually I did the research to the contract Tolman had in his home the fake project was still funded for the last six years taking millions, however after some more examination I found out there was a special government funding protection on that so the money was insured even if it was being embezzled you actually get every missing penny back thanks to the insurance part of your bank." She told him flipping over to the page to show proof.

"So Mr. Moretti all that's left to do is sign some papers and I will go over it all with you as we go it will take just a bit more of your time I'm sorry." "Please call me Nix. Ariah. Look I would love to go over all these papers with you. However my time seems to be up. I am so grateful to you for going above and beyond out of your way to help protect us and our assets. I'm afraid we will have to reschedule another time." "Of course Nix, just warning you though sir, you should be pressing these as soon as possible if you want the insurance company to reimburse you. The sooner the better. "Well that I agree with you on so how about dinner tomorrow at six?" He told her looking her in the eye. "I'm sorry dinner sir?" "Please call me Nix. Yes the soonest I have is tomorrow for dinner I am a busy man, but I still got to eat. I also would like to make sure to take my time and fully understand what I am signing. How this process will be handled and played out. Also I would like to thank you for your hard efforts. So what do you say?" "Well the thanks is not needed but if this is the best you can do sir I am inclined to help you. SO a working Dinner it is. This is my card please call any of the numbers and please inform me of when and where. Please leave a message, as sometimes I am not in the office but I still call in to check the messages." She said shaking his hand as he closed both over hers.

~Phoenix~

"Is this your personal number?" He asked with an eyebrow raised and a smirk she ignored. "Nope that is to my office, and that one is to the receptionist at the front desk for when you need me in a rush they page me. Thank you for your time and I am sorry all this happen to you. Call if you need anything or any other problems occur." Watching her walk away he was smitten by the young detective. Looking down at the card he realized this was Noah's boss. Smiling to himself and texting Noah to get there quick with his men they needed to gather some rats. Who would have thought a cop would walk into his company and point out regular thieves to a mafia boss he thought shaking his head to himself. Picking up his phone he dialed and waited for him to pick up. "Lincoln get me everything you can get on Detective Ariah Aldermen. I want it in my hand no less than three hours from now." Hanging up the phone he walked to his secretary. "Heath make me a reservation for two tomorrow at six." "Where to boss man?" "The Blood Rose." "On it." He said with a smirk looking at him with a smirk.

After a few hours of having his men finally tracking down and retrieving the money that got token from him, also having the other people shot and taken care of. Making it look they all bought tickets and skipped country. "Got what you wanted Gunner." Lincoln said handing him the file. Going over it quickly there wasn't a whole lot of information in. Just the basics. "This article is recent?" He asked looking at the picture of Xavier and her. Knowing of him in the business world all he thought was he was some other big wig. No one has ever seen Reapers face. Most have seen Phoenix's though. "Yeah that just happened like yesterday or so." Jared said looking over at it. "are they a real thing?" Nix asked getting a little annoyed at the possibility of missing out on a chance. "Not publicly known yet Gunner. Maybe you can ask her on your date tomorrow." Heath teased him making the other guys chuckle with him and Nix smirk.

"How much did we lose on product?" Jared asked getting back to business. "Too much. We got men working over time getting the shipment ready. It'll be sent out by day after tomorrow it should arrive even a day early. Supplier will be there." Andrew said rubbing his hand on his neck. "We really got to do something about Reaper's men boss. They have taken over half of us out within the last year. That little fuck tward is always a damn step ahead of us. We just need to expand out better and a lot faster." Seth encouraged. "Yeah get more runners and make sure they know how to cover their ass. I don't need anymore men behind bars. Make sure the men inside get rid of the weak ones. I don't need any more fucking song birds than we already got. We'll handle it all as it comes for now you know what to do. Joker didn't you use to fuck this bitch?" Gunner asked him pointing to Brooklyn. "Oh yeah, she sucks though bro I mean if you need a quick lay you can hit her up." Liam said with a shrug. "No fucktard she was friends with the badge." Killian pointed out. "Besides I would be carefully tapping into that source look here. Every crush she ever had Brooklyn climbed that fucker like a tree." "I only need to find out information on the badge than we can make sure she never bother her again. Besides I mean we do owe the badge a favor she did just get us a couple million dollars from the bank, and a few rats." He smirked around the room.

"Could you imagine what having a card like her in our back pocket?" Liam asked looking around the room. "She outranks thousands of officers like really you have no idea. She's down to Earth, funny, simple she don't do a lot make up or name brand clothes shit either. I think she might do you good boss." Noah added putting down his bottle of water. "I think you might be right. All of you. I think she could be good for me and good for us. Let's get to work boys I got a hot date tomorrow." He smirked thinking of all the possibilities this could lead up to. He doesn't get attracted to women. In fact he's more likely to gut on slowly for even trying to get near him. He was as twisted as Xavier but the difference is it was like he got off on it watching people get tortured by his hands he loved the cries of pains. The pleading to end their meaningless lives. Somehow the idea of anything happening to her turned his stomach. Simple down to Earth girl huh? Looks like going to have to play the friend card first. Like Liam always says a shoulder to cry on later is a dick to ride on he laughed to himself.

~No One's P.O.V.~

Walking into the restaurant she promised to have dinner in with Xavier she got startled by everyone yelling surprise. With a huge I'm sorry sign. Chloe sitting in a chair laughing getting it all on video. "Really?" She asked putting her hand off her heart. "We just wanted to show you how sorry we were." Hunter said as they all gave her a small thoughtful gift they knew she loved. "Thank you this wasn't necessary but thank you. Let's just all move past this alright?" They all nodded Holding out the chairs for their women to sit down and ordering some type of pasta and getting lost in the conversation as they just all finished their dinner. "Ari I was hoping you would like to come to dinner at my place tomorrow." Xavier told her in more of a statement than a question. "I can't I got a working dinner tomorrow. It's the only tie he had free. We really need for him to sign a lot of papers and I need him to be well informed on what's going on before we can go through with all the proceedings it took me forever to go through that case."

"Oh please your version of taking forever is like two days. You went on it in three and had bagged tagged and closed. Your woman is a fucking beast." Hunter said winking to her. Xavier smiled. "Yeah she is the best. Can you at least tell me this he's name?" "Well actually I can since it's mainly public record now. "Phoenix Moretti. I think you would like him he seems like a good enough person." Everyone but Chloes popped their head up slowly looking at Ariah. "Phoenix Moretti?" Xavier growled out in an angry tone. "Yeah do you know him?" She asked taking his hand in hers to play with it. "He's more seen like competition in some ways but no we do not know each other. We don't run in too much of the same circle so to speak. Ok so how about I come over and we watch a movie just you and me some lazy time together please. You don't work Saturday you won't have to wake up early." "Would it really make you that happy?" "Yes, baby please I just need some time with you. After everything I'll go crazy if I don't." HE choked out.

"I may be late I'll try to be home before eight. I don't want you to have to wait that long. Here." She told him reaching into bag as they were all in front of their cars now putting a key into his hand. "What's this for?" "That is one of my spare keys. I… I trust you enough to have it. You are my boyfriend after all and I want you to feel welcomed in my home and there maybe a few times when I need a way in or something. It may be a little to early you know we've been seeing each other for about three months I guess this is my way of showing you I trust you." She said as he looked down at her and brought into him kissing her deeply. Everyone getting into their vehicles and leaving smiling happy for them. Breaking apart and opening her car door for her. "Please call me when you get home just so I can hear your voice one last time before bed. To know this is real." He begged her closing door as she rolled down the window a little bit. "I promise. Thank you for everything." "I love you Ari. Don't look so scared I don't expect you to say it back until your ready, but that doesn't mean I wont tell you every chance I get. Drive safe Angel." Walking away with a smirk knowing just what kind of reaction he has upon her.

After getting home he made sure to have a rotating schedule of men watching her until she came back to her place tomorrow where he will be waiting not only that he will have installed security cameras in her home only the common places like her office, kitchen, living room. It would be a good time to go through some of her files to see what he can do about getting more of Gunners men on the grid and his men off. Although he really didn't need to if Gunner's men were this stupid to get caught with that kind of evidence. He knew exactly who Moretti really was thanks to secret body cams his traitorous men didn't even know they were wearing. Luckily no one to this day knew he was unless they were his close circle men. Right now his main concern was just trying to Ari safe from that crazy ass monster. Moretti once in awhile would dabble in the brothels and strip joints and other shady things like auctions even if the woman he sold had agreed to it, it was still disgusting business that Xavier would never even get near. He just needed to make sure Gunner knew his place. His second Killian and third Liam were nothing to play around with either. He was going to have to up his game and make sure his Ari had a safe net to fall on without knowing he was hovering for her safety. After talking to her on the phone he started going through a few systems backing a few different plans up smiling to himself thinking oh dad even you would be proud.

~Ariah~

Walking into the restaurant she felt way under dressed in a simple white sundress and white simple glittery sandals. "Ariah, I'm so glad you came. Please." He said standing up to help her in her chair. "Well we did have an appointment." She told him with a smile. "I'm sorry if I am embarrassing you I thought it would be somewhere more simple and not so fancy." She said rubbing her arm up and down as the woman around were looking at her up and down with a weird look. "I don't know what you mean. Honestly I think you're the prettiest woman in this whole place you could come in here rocking a potato sack and all these witches would still be looking at you with green eyes of envy. Now please order anything that catches your fancy." He said proudly looking at the menu. He couldn't help but notice her in his peripheral vision she was absolutely beautiful. Hell he was jealous of himself being able to be dining with her.

After giving their order to the waiter. She pulled out some of the papers and pulled her chair closer to him and started to explaining thing s to which were forms they were what they do why he needed to do it. He never had a question because she was very thorough and spoke so elegantly. Not to mention her general smell was driving him nuts. He made sure they accidentally touched from time to time passing the papers back and forth just so he could feel the sparks he was feeling off her. "Ok that will be everything you shouldn't have to do anything the insurance company will be the ones taking them to court you won't even have to be called in I made sure to keep you out of all that I know you're a busy man and all." Putting every thing away and pushing her plate to the side.

"You know I really can't thank you enough for everything you have done. Your job is very lucky to have you, if you are ever looking for work please never hesitate to come to me. An amazing worker like you is very hard to find." "Well thank you for that Mr. Moretti. I appreciate it." "None of that now please call me Nix. If you are not in a rush the night is young could I interest you in an café down the street?" "That would be nice, but I actually have other plans sorry." She said closing everything up. "Yeah, you going to go put your cape on and go save other innocents from bad people." He asked her in a playful voice making them both laugh. "No you silly jelly bean I have plans with my man tonight." She said rolling her eyes in a teasing way. "Silly jelly bean?" He asked touched at the playful terms she had. "Well he is in fact a lucky man to have scored such and amazing lady. Another time perhaps." He told her in a calm voice trying to hide the shaking jealousy. "Maybe. Thank you for meeting with me and again sorry it had to be worked out like this." She put out her hand from to shake. "NO please let me see you out." He spoke rising to her. "I need to pay my check." She reminded him.

"That's sweet of you to think you can try. I own this restaurant, and it's on the house it's the least I can do." He told her showing her the way out. "I could give you a ride if you'd like." "Oh no thank you I drove here." "So tell me Ari do you know what is going on with those workers now I mean have you heard anything they have been sent their termination slips but no one has come to collect their things. Is that not a weird sign?" He was playing his part so well she was just walking into it. "Well I can not be talking to you about an open case, however this is not unknown information that will hurt anything. The men it seems have skipped states. I am unsure if we will be able to find them since their trails have gone cold. Although we did find one. He was cut into pieces and scattering around certain places. That is airing tonight on the local news." She said with a small sigh.

"That's horrible I know they have done me wrong but I would never wish anything like that upon them." He found it weird that they found one guy like that he must have been the one that went missing. "Do you have any leads on who could have done such a sick thing?" "I know who it was he is actually already locked up awaiting trial. This local low street gangs sometimes will go through quite a few things to try to show they are something bigger than they really are sometimes. Just make sure you protect yourself Nix hate to see something happen to you. You seem like such a great guy." She said softly and even he could feel the truth to her words. "I believe you. I guess I'll see you around. Drive safe detective." He said with a wink only for her to nod back getting in her car and driving away.

Watching the tail lights fade from view he knew it he was hooked. Grabbing his phone and texting Noah to be sure to keep him in the loop with her. Texting Liam to get ahold of Brooklyn and meet up some place so he could get information off her too. It won't be too hard to get her away from that damn mountain of a man and swept up in his arms. Welp looks like I got a lot of homework to do, while she goes off to cuddle that fucking beast. Time to go take my frustration on some special friend waiting for me in the pit. He thought to himself lighting up his cigarette and getting in his car having the driver take him where he need to let loose some of the built up jealous anger.

After unlocking the door and looking around I wondered where he could have gone off to until I heard the movement in the kitchen. "Hey baby how'd your meeting go?" Xavier asked her coming up wrapping his hands around her waist. Hugging her close to him. "It was fine. I was trying to hurry along. I was missing you and excited to get home." "You look gorgeous by the way. Little jealous my baby showing her sexy self off without me." He told her with a playful spin and then kissing her deeply. "Come on love I got us a blanket, some drinks and some of your favorite junk food. Let's go cuddle up I've been looking forward to this all day. Grabbing her and laying her on her side and partially on top of him he covered them with a blanket over them. After about three movies they passed out. Both of them having the best sleep of their lives. Breathing each other in being content. After the day she had from work and the rush he did to sweep her house and install everything making copies of everything he needed to know he realized that he needed to start thinking of how to tell her she was going to be queen to the largest mafia in about three countries. After he was certain she loved him and was invested he would tell her everything and god willing she will stay right by his side.