Page 142 of Their Princess

“Not quite,” answered Wilde.

“Oh?” Massimo cocked his head to the side like an interested dog.

“Got another situation I could use your assistance with,” Prez said, but now he seemed a bit on edge. I hadn’t heard him drop an f-bomb since we entered, and he used to be the worst of us.

At the same time the Don asked, “Is that so?” I glanced over at my Prez.

What was he asking?

“We have some cargo”—Wilde pinned me with his icy stare—“we need some help intercepting.”

I bit down so fucking hard I thought I was going to crack a tooth. But the cold calculation in Wilde’s eyes told me to keep my trap shut.

Massimo asked, “What kind of cargo?”

Wilde peered over his shoulder at the door.

“You’re fine to speak freely here,” the Don reassured him.

“The last time we were here, you brought us into a trap. You’ll just have to fucking excuse the caution.”

Massimo pursed his lips and nodded. “That’s fair.”

“I see the blood cleaned up nicely.”

“Not the first bloodshed in my place. Our cleaners are exceptional,” said Massimo. “And they don’t talk to others, you see, because the one who did lost his tongue.”

Don Parisi grinned, and his perfectly white and straight teeth gave me the chills. That bastard was going to be my father-in-law. Shit.

“Good to know,” said Wilde. “But you’re not planning that again.”

“Of course not, Mr. Wilde?—”

“Just Wilde,” Prez corrected.

“Very well. Wilde.” Massimo leaned back in the chair. “What is this proposition you’re bringing. And you still haven’t mentioned what kind of cargo.”

“There’s a load of diamonds coming into the country from Colombia.”

I felt the Prez’s gaze still on me, but mine had wandered over to Adelina. She stared at the door—at Graff and Rafe—with a blank look on her face. A practiced look that made the hairs on my arms stand on end.

“Diamonds?” mused Massimo, one brow quirked in what seemed like interest.

“Yup,” Wilde said, “and we need your help to hijack the shipment.”

Uncomfortable silence followed as I noted the similarities between Adelina and her father. They had the same nose and eyes, but hers were more delicate while his were hard and lined. Her mouth, though; those lips were too plump to have come from the Don.

Massimo grabbed his Scotch from the table and took a sip. He swished it around as he swirled and admired the amber liquid.

After several beats, he set the glass back down. “I’m afraid I can’t help you. Not yet.”

A growl vibrated my chest, but Wilde said, “Not yet?”

“Our first deal isn’t completed yet, so I’m not ready to enter into another with you.” Massimo reached over his shoulder, tapping Adelina’s hand.

She withdrew clasped her hands in front of her.

Massimo didn’t notice, or at least, he didn’t react. “The marriage needs to be sealed. Gold rings. Paperwork filed. Consummated.”

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