Page 24 of Under Control

I don’t know how he’s not getting the message.

“Just leave me alone, okay, Valentin?”

“Come to dinner with me.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“If you hate having a meal with me, I will stop sending gifts.”

I let out a long breath. I’m too tired to fight. “Do you actually mean that?”

“I will never lie to you. I will always keep my promises.”

“One dinner. Then we’re over.”

“I said I’d stop sending gifts. I never said we were over.”

I rub my temples. “Fine. Okay? Fine. One dinner, then no more gifts.” Maybe this way he’ll finally understand.

I’m not interested, and I never will be.

“Good. I will send you a dress.”

“No,” I say quickly, sitting up straight. “No, no, no. I can’t explain that to my mom.”

He’s silent for a moment. “Wear something nice then,” he says, and I can tell he doesn’t like that.

“How nice are we talking?”

“Upscale.”

“I’m not sure I have anythingupscale. I have overdue bills.”

“Then let me send you something.”

“No,” I say and groan. This man is infuriating. “I’ll figure it out, okay? Just, I have to go before I throw myself out a window.”

“I’ll pick you up tonight at seven.”

“Outside of Stove and Smoke. I don’t want to explain you to my mother.”

“If that’s what you want. See you there.”

He hangs up. I stare at the phone.

I called him to make sure I never saw him again, and now we have a dinner date.

How the hell did that just happen?

Chapter 9

Valentin

Anton drives the town car to pick up Karine. I sit in the back and gaze out the window at my city. Several of my soldiers follow in a nondescript sedan, keeping their eyes out for any trouble.

Not that I anticipate any, but there have been some murmurs lately. The Japanese are unhappy with the current status quo, and the Italians are always getting greedy and trying to take more territory. It’s a little dance we do, me and the other heads of the major crime families in this city. We pretend like all we care about is business and stability while secretly trying to murder each other.

“For the record, Valentin, I just want to say that I think this is a bad idea.” Anton glances at me in the rearview mirror.

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