Page 31 of Samson

Demir laughed. “What is it exactly you think is going on?”

“I want you to know that I’m prepared to go hard. I will make your life a living hell until I stop you.”

“Is that so?” Demir leaned closer to the car. “You look like the kind of man who has experienced a great deal of pain in the past. You wouldn’t want more of that, would you?”

“Is that a threat?”

“Nope. Just trying to keep you safe.”

“You sound like you know a lot about me.”

“I know your type.”

“Then let’s mix things up. How about a riddle?”

“Riddle?”

“Yes. If you get it wrong, you let me get a look inside.”

“And if I get it right?”

“I’ll leave you alone and make sure everyone else does too.”

“That is a very odd proposition.”

“What do you say?”

“I say it’s time for you to go.”

“What is sweeter than honey and hotter than the sun? The king needs it, but the beggar has it. Whoever eats it, dies.”

Demir pulled out his phone and dialed. “Hi, I need the police. I’m being harassed.”

“We’ll finish this later,” Samson said.

“Never mind,” Demir said into the phone, then hung up. “Yes, Mr. Vartan. We will. I hope you have a nice afternoon.”

“It’ll be better than yours will be.”

“Oh, I doubt that very much.”

Samson buzzed his window up and drove away. That should be enough to set things into motion.

Delilah stretched. It had been a long shift, and she’d been distracted because Luca had been distracted. Usually he spent the night moving through the restaurant, laughing with different customers and making everyone feel welcome, but tonight he’d been distant.

After passing through the kitchen, she entered the small hallway and knocked on his office door. It was open a crack, and she could see a light on inside.

“Hey, Luca, I’m headed to—” She poked her head inside but stopped speaking when she saw the other man in the room. He had been holding Luca’s arm in what appeared to be a threatening manner, but he’d let go when she entered. It had been many years, but she still recognized him.

“What are you doing here?” she said.

“You remember Marc?” Luca said.

“How could I forget?”

“It’s good to see you again, Delilah,” Marc said with a tight smile.

“Is it? I don’t remember our last encounter being a good one.” She could still see the scar on his lip from where she’d punched him. She’d been eighteen, and he’d thought being on good terms with Luca meant he could be on good terms with her too.

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