Page 15 of Temptation and Tyranny

Chapter Five

Cooper

I pushed open the heavy oak door of The Gilded Firefly, one of Steele’s upscale bars in the heart of Paris. The place oozed old-world charm, all dark wood and soft leather, a stark contrast from the neon-lit clubs that dotted the city. Instead of pop and techno, smooth jazz music floated elegantly through the air. As always, I felt a twinge of envy at Steele’s success, his seemingly effortless transition to legitimate business. He’d opened two restaurants and another hotel in the past month, whereas I was just trying to keep my neck above water with his cast-off business.

Steele was already seated in the far corner of the bar, nursing a glass of whiskey at a corner booth. His face was impassive, but I could see the tension in his shoulders.

This wasn’t a social call.

“Steele,” I nodded, sliding into the booth. “Is this another warning? Am I getting another smack down by big brother? Your phone message was barely a string of coherent words.”

A waitress appeared, and I ordered a scotch. Steele waited until she was out of earshot before speaking.

“Viktor Petrov,” Steele said, his voice low and controlled, much different than the rage-fueledvoicemail he had left me earlier, demanding that I meet him here. “Ring any bells?”

I felt my stomach tighten, but I kept my face neutral. “Should it?”

Steele’s expression narrowed. “Cut the bullshit, Cooper. I know you’ve been in contact with him.”

“And how, exactly, would you know that?” I countered, leaning back in my seat. “I thought you were out of the game.”

“I am,” Steele replied, taking a sip of his drink. “But I still have friends in…low places. Associates who are concerned about a certain dumbass young hotshot getting in over his head.”

The waitress returned with my drink. I took a long swig, using the moment to gather my thoughts. “I appreciate the concern, but I can handle it.”

Steele leaned forward, his voice dropping even lower. “Viktor is not someone you ‘handle,’ Cooper. He’s a shark, and you’re swimming in waters way too deep for you.”

“Maybe I’m a stronger swimmer than you think,” I shot back, feeling a flare of anger. Who was he to doubt me? He was the one who left our partnership and abandoned me the second he found a pussy he worshiped more than money.

“Is that why you’re scrambling to fix a botched weapons shipment?” Steele asked, raising an eyebrow.

I felt the color drain from my face. How the hell did he know about that?

Seeing my reaction, Steele sighed. “Look, I’m not here to lecture you. I’m here because, believe it or not, I give a damn about what happens to you. Viktor is dangerous, Cooper. More dangerous than you realize.”

I took another drink, trying to quell the mix of anger and fear churning in my gut. “I appreciate the heads up, but I’ve got it under control. Is that all you wanted to discuss?”

Steele’s expression shifted, a hint of curiosity creeping into his eyes. “Not quite. Want to tell me why you used our connections to get some small-time asshole arrested last week?”

The surprises kept on coming. “How did you—”

“Like I said, I have contacts,” Steele interrupted. “What I don’t understand is why. This Tomas character...he’s a nobody. I looked him up—sexual assault, petty theft...not the type you usually bother with. So why pull strings to get him locked up?”

I shrugged, aiming for nonchalance, but my heart was hammering. Sexual assault? Just how did Allegra get involved with this prick—and had he hurt her? “Guy was making trouble. Thought I’d teach him a lesson.” I leaned back in the booth, lacing my hands behind my head.

“Bullshit,” Steele said flatly. “You don’t waste resources and call in favors to teach lessons to nobodies. There’s something you’re not telling me.”

I felt a hot surge of irritation. I’d forgotten how annoyingly perceptive Steele could be. “Maybe I just felt like flexing a little muscle. Showing what I’m capable of.”

Steele studied me for a long moment, searching my face. Then, slowly, a knowing smile spread across his features. “Or maybe...it wasn’t about showing what you’re capable of. Maybe it was about impressing someone.”

I felt my jaw clench. “I don’t know what you’retalking about.”

“Come on, Cooper. I know you. You wouldn’t go to all this trouble unless there was something—or someone—in it for you.” Steele leaned back, his smile widening. “So, who is she?”

“There’s no ‘she’,” I insisted, but I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks. Unbidden, an image of Allegra flashed in my mind—her wide eyes in the alley, the way she’d trembled in my car. The heat that seemed to radiate between us whenever we touched during therapy.

Steele chuckled, shaking his head. “You know, for someone in our line of work, you’re a terrible liar. At least when it comes to women.”

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