Page 4 of Reluctant Surrender

“Whatever. I have to get going.” I downed the rest of my wine. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah. Maybe.” He took the empty glass from my hand, then snatched my elbow, pulling me up against his hard chest. “Don’t let me catch you playing with fire again, Maggie.” His breath was hot against my ear, sending a shiver through me.

“I really should get going.” I kept my eyes trained on his chin when I turned up to look at him.

“My car’s out front. My driver will take you home.”

“I can Uber—”

He squeezed my elbow. “My car.”

“Fine.” I rolled my eyes. “I’ll take your car.” Amelia had told me the Kaczmarek men were overprotective of their women, but I wasn’t Lukas’ woman. I wasn’t his anything.

“Good.” He let me go. “If you need anything, Maggie—”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Call you. I remember.” I took a large step forward. “I’ll see you around, Lukas.”

He pinched his lips together and gave me a curt nod.

As I climbed into the back of his town car my phone chimed.

Textme when your home so I know you got in okay.

I rolled my eyes at Lukas’text but shot him a thumbs-up emoji to get him off my back.

Another message came through.

Won nearly ten grand tonight!Let me know where to meet for your cut.

I sighed.My thoughts wandered back to Lukas. He was probably right. As much fun as it was, it was a dangerous game I was playing.

Not that I would admit it to him. Or would I let that stop me. A girl had to have fun somehow.

Chapter 3

Lukas

I’d been living in Chicago for six months, and I was still dealing with bullshit my cousin left behind. How he managed to stay alive as long as he had boggled me. The idiot had no business sense at all. None of the legit business dealings were making any money when I took over. Finally, they were starting to turn a profit and I could put more focus on the more lucrative parts of the family business.

The electric doors of the massive office building swished open for me, and the cool breeze of the air conditioner hit me. Summer was almost over, and it seemed Chicago heated up at the very end. As though the heat was going for one last blast before finally allowing fall to be ushered in.

I hated this part of the city with all the business offices and stuffy atmosphere, but I had a meeting with Konrad Dudek. As much as I hated working with the arrogant prick, he sent high-paying work our way. He also owned a real estate brokerage company that operated completely on the inside of the law. Being one of the most influential real estate brokers in the city, he was able to get us properties that we could later use for whatever means we needed. If we needed some money cleaned, a large purchase such as a condo or house in the city worked great. If we wanted to make some fast cash, one of those properties might have an electrical fire that led to a serious insurance payout. Every now and then Konrad came across some work that he needed done that couldn’t be taken care of within the confines of the law. That’s when he would call on us for a favor. The relationship was a win-win.

I took the elevator up to the tenth floor where his office overlooked the city below. On a clear day, Navy pier with all of its attractions could be seen. The girl at the front desk was different than the last time I had been there, but that wasn’t odd considering how Konrad used his office as his own personal dating service. His new wife, who had been his previous personal assistant, had probably demanded staff changes. The woman at the front desk was older, mid-fifties, with graying hair and thick glasses that magnified her bulging eyes.

“Mr. Kaczmarek, Mr. Dudek is ready for you.” The woman pointed toward his office door with a gentle smile before I could even tell her my name.

“Thanks.” I walked past her to his office. The door swung open as I approached it. Konrad greeted me with a wide grin and a pudgy outstretched hand.

“Lukas. So good to see you.” Konrad ushered me inside. “You remember my daughter, Margaret.” He gestured toward Maggie who stood at the large windows looking over her shoulder at me. “She’s on her way out.”

Maggie turned around. Her shoulders dropped slightly at the dismissal.

“Dad, we weren’t finished talking. I’ll wait outside until your meeting is over. Then we can—”

“I’ve said all I’m going to say on the matter, Margaret. You know how I feel about it and your mother is right.”

“She’s not my mother.” Maggie’s jaw tensed. Internally, I flinched. Konrad’s newest wife couldn’t be more than two years older than Maggie.

---