Page 153 of Sin Bin

“Obviously.”

“Cynara. Sin-ar-uh. Like the plant.” Logan smirked. “She’s just as prickly.”

Hunter gave another slow nod.

“So, hey, Jupiter called and said that Jenna got everyone VIP tickets to Cirque du Soleil tonight. She also made dinner reservations at some fancy-schmancy restaurant. I think Jupiter said it was Pierre Gagnaire’s restaurant at the Mandarin. Twist, I think?” Logan shrugged. “Anyway, you coming?”

“Can’t. Already have dinner plans.”

“Yeah? With who?”

“An acquaintance,” Hunter muttered vaguely.

Logan broke into a slow grin. “Acquaintance” was code for a member of Hunter’s international harem, which included babes of every ethnicity and language. The women were supermodels, artists, doctors, scientists, engineers, policy makers, and the list went on. Hunter required his lovers to be as intellectually stimulating as they were beautiful.

“Why don’t you bring her with you?” Logan suggested.

“I don’t think so. Besides, I might cancel.” Hunter raked his hand through his dark hair, making a lock of it fall into his eyes. He seemed on edge. Frustrated.

Before Logan could interrogate him, Santino let himself back into the suite with the spare keycard he’d swiped on his way out. He looked just as agitated as Hunter.

Logan gave him a sympathetic look. “Everything okay?”

Santino puffed out a strained laugh. “Same ol’, same ol’.”

In other words, he was still in the doghouse.

“That woman knows she still loves me,” Santino muttered half to himself. “Why else would she keep my last name after all these years?”

Neither Logan nor Hunter attempted to offer an alternative theory.

“My man.” Santino slapped Hunter on the back. “I’m glad you’re both here. I need to pick your brains about this kid I’m scouting for the Capitals. But first things first,” he said, heading to the bar. “You boys want a drink?”

“I’m good,” Logan declined. “I just had some wine.”

Santino grunted. “I need something stronger.”

“I’ll have a whiskey,” Hunter said.

“Just what I was thinking.” Santino poured whiskey for himself and Hunter. They definitely looked like they could use some hard liquor.

Santino strode back across the room and handed a drink to Hunter, then gulped more than half of his own. Things must have gone real bad between him and Roxanne.

“I’m having dinner tonight with Cabe Landrieu and the rest of team management,” he remarked. “What’re you boys getting into this evening?”

Logan sighed. “We have tickets to Cirque du Soleil.”

Santino grimaced. “Good luck.”

Logan laughed. “Gee thanks, Pops.”

Santino playfully ruffled his hair and grinned at Hunter. “What about you, Captain? You torturing yourself at the freak show, too? No offense. I know Cirque du Soleil is a Canadian company based in Quebec.”

Hunter chuckled. “No offense taken. And I’m still deciding about tonight.” He swirled his whiskey around in the glass. “I understand your daughter spearheaded a relief project to aid Boko Haram victims. I’d love to hear more about it.”

Something about his casual tone must have pinged Santino’s papa bear antenna. He paused with his glass halfway to his mouth, his gray eyes narrowing on Hunter’s face. After several long seconds, he gave a low chuckle and shook his head.

“I see you’ve met the Duchess.”

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