Page 45 of Recaptured by the Crime Lord

“You look great!” Lyla said.

“You too,” Carmen said and give her ass a sharp smack.

“Carmen,” Gavin said, voice tight.

Carmen gave him a cool look. “Gavin.”

“Don’t get into trouble tonight, Carmen.”

Carmen stiffened and put her hands on hips. “Excuse me?”

“You look like—”

Lyla clapped a hand over Gavin’s mouth. “You look hot and you’re going to cause a commotion. He’s nervous.”

Carmen flipped her hair and fixed her boobs in her top. “He should be.”

Gavin yanked Lyla’s hand from his mouth. “I just want to get through tonight without drama. Got me?”

“I’m not making any promises,” Carmen said.

“Gavin?” Marcus joined their group, wearing a dashing cape and a scarlet shirt with his tux. He wore a red mask identical to Gavin’s. He kissed Lyla on the cheek and smiled at her. “You look great.” His eyes moved to Carmen and swept her from head to toe. “I don’t think we’ve met.”

“This is Vinny’s widow, Carmen,” Gavin said.

Marcus took Carmen’s hand and kissed her knuckles. “My condolences.”

Carmen gave Gavin a steely look before she focused on Marcus. “Thank you. And you are?”

“Marcus. I’m the new COO.”

Carmen’s lips pursed and she withdrew her hand. “Vinny’s replacement. Nice to meet you. You finished Incognito. It looks great.”

Marcus’s eyes were intense behind his mask. “I’d like to talk to you, if you don’t mind.”

Gavin stiffened, but Lyla kept her gaze on Carmen who looked surprised.

“I’m here to have fun and keep Lyla company. I don’t want to talk about my husband,” Carmen said.

“We don’t have to talk about him. We can talk about something else,” Marcus said.

“Marcus, can I talk to you?” Gavin said abruptly.

“Sure.” Marcus nodded to Carmen. “I’ll look for you later.”

As Gavin led Marcus away, Carmen voiced what Lyla was thinking.

“For what?”

“Marcus is blunt and a bit strange, but I like him,” Lyla said.

“But why would he want to talk to me? As Gavin said, I’m just awidow,” Carmen said bitterly. “As if that’s all I am, a dead man’s wife. Jesus, I’m a person, damn it.”

“You know Gavin has no tact,” Lyla said consolingly.

“And no manners.”

“Let’s get a drink,” Lyla said and led Carmen to the bar.

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