Page 58 of Diamond Don

Kat’s eyes soften. “Sorry. I should have thought of that,” she says. I nod. “This whole story is insane. A man with mafia ties is murdered at The Metropolitan Museum during a party where the mayor himself was in attendance. Then, his body goes missing. How come this isn’t all over the news?”

“I’ve kept it quiet. It was the least I could do for Maxim. I don’t want his name used as clickbait, and I don’t want the police interfering with my business. I’ll handle Patrick McGuire myself.”

Kat is silent for a long time. I don’t blame her. It’s a lot to take in.

“So, how do you expect me to help you with this? As you know, this isn’t exactly my area of expertise,” she says at last.

“I know McGuire did it, and I will make sure he pays for it. But I can’t just take him out based solely on his history with Maxim. Not without risking a massive war between his family and my bratva. The last time there was a war within the Seven Families…it was bad, let’s leave it at that. Suffice it to say, I need to avoid a war at all costs. I can’t risk my men’s lives so recklessly. Now, If I had unquestionable, undeniable proof of McGuire’s involvement and guilt, then I’d be justified in taking action. War could be avoided. Lives would be spared.”

“I still fail to see how I can aid you with any of that.”

I smile at her. “You’re beautiful. You’re charming as hell and too clever for your own good. I am the bratva’s pakhan. I’m one of McGuire’s rivals. But you are neutral. You’re an esteemed member of our little slice of the criminal underworld. One with curves that go on for miles and with a smart mouth that is dangerously distracting. In more ways than one. You can get into places I can’t. There are people who will talk to you but not to me. My men are seen as an extension of me, but you… McGuire will never see you coming.”

“We weren’t being discreet at the party. He could’ve spotted us together. He might know of our connection.”

“I realize that. I’m not concerned about it.”

Kat raises her eyebrows. “Why not?”

“Even if he knows about us, it won’t matter. If anything, it’d help our cause.”

“That makes no sense. You just gave me a whole speech about how I’m neutral, and blah, blah, blah…”

I lean closer to her. “The temptation to take my latest conquest from me would drive him to seek you out. He wouldn’t be able to help himself. You’d play him like a fiddle.”

“You seem very sure of that.”

“I am. Nothing to worry about.”

Kat scoffs. “Speak for yourself. You want me to trick the boss of the Irish mafia into giving you a justifiable reason to off him. I have plenty to worry about.”

I stare at Kat until she meets my gaze. “I won’t let him lay a hand on you. He won’t harm a hair over your head. If he touches you, he’s dead.”

She sighs. “What about the war you want to avoid?”

“Fuck the war. You’re under my protection now. If he even dreams about harming you, I’ll destroy him without a second thought.”

Kat studies my expression, trying to gauge my sincerity. Fascinated, I watch different emotions flutter over her face as she absorbs my words.

“Do you trust me?” I ask her.

The little thief considers my question. “I believe you are sincere. You’ll do your best to protect me. But I’ve known you for such a short amount of time… And it’s been a wild ride so far. You can’t expect me to trust you just yet. I know you don’t trust me.”

“Well, you stole from me.”

“You kidnapped me.”

“Because you stole from me.”

Kat has the nerve to roll her eyes at me. “Let’s not argue semantics, Nik. My point remains. You can’t demand that I trust you when you don’t yet trust me yourself. ”

“Again, you stole from me. You presented yourself as an untrustworthy person from the start.”

“Get off your high horse,” she says, scoffing. “You didn’t very well tell me everything about yourself from the start, either.”

“I wasn’t dishonest. I just didn’t tell you what you didn’t need to know then.”

Kat raises her eyebrows at me, her gaze unwavering. “I could say the same.”

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