Page 84 of Convenient Mafia Vows

I wait for Caleb to pick up. He’ll be angry. He’ll be raging that I even considered meeting Olivia alone after our conversation last night. He made his feelings on the matter quite clear, and here I am going against him at the first opportunity without so much as an explanation.

But Sienna’s life is at stake here. Who knows what the crazy woman will do if I don’t show up today. I’m not prepared to risk it; I’ll simply have to find another way to get there.

So, I almost cry out with relief when Martin lowers the phone without speaking to Caleb. “No answer. I’ll fire a message through.”

“He’s busy,” I say too quickly. “Family meetings. He might not respond immediately.” Who am I kidding? No matter how important the meeting, Caleb will see the message straight away, and then he’ll intercept us before we even arrive at the Dragon’s Den.

“We’ll see.” Martin’s thumbs tap away on his cell phone.

I sit back in my seat as the car heads closer to Manhattan and stare out of the rear passenger window. The Dragon’s Den, an appropriate name for whatever Olivia is cooking up. But ratherthan feeling like the wanderer who stumbled upon the den by chance, I feel like the knight on a quest to rescue the princess. Empowered by the knowledge that Caleb tried to find Sienna after the accident, and Kyle didn’t leave her to die.

Caleb will be angry when he finds out where I’m going, but he will protect me. No matter what. He gave me his word, and I’m not letting go of it.

I wait for Martin’s phone to ring, for the driver to take me directly back to the Wraith, for Caleb to be waiting for me in his private parking lot. But when the car stops outside the Dragon’s Den, and Martin climbs out first to open the rear door for me, it takes me a couple of beats to realize that I’m here.

My heart performs somersaults as I climb out of the car. Why didn’t Caleb stop me? Didn’t he receive Martin’s message, or have the Murrays planned yet another twisted scheme to catch Olivia out? I don’t know how they live with all the plotting and manipulating, but I guess it’s so rooted in what they do that they no longer notice it.

“I’m staying right with you.” Martin scans the street left and right, Kev taking up his position on my left.

I nod. My mouth is dry, and I don’t trust myself to speak as we enter the Dragon’s Den.

Outside, the building is imposing. Not as tall or as sleek as the Wraith, nor as glamorous as the Titan, but the subtle dragons clambering up the façade are impressive, the kind of building inhabited by emperors in fantasy novels.

Inside, however, the décor is dated. The lights in the foyer are dimmed to detract from the shabbiness of the crimson carpet and the emerald-and-gold-flecked wall coverings. Theconcierge is dressed in a black suit, his waistcoat in peacock colors, the front desk polished mahogany. More dragons cling to huge columns in the grand entrance, and the floral display in the center is magnificent, filled with peacock feathers, arching golden branches, and tiny twinkling lights.

But there is still an air of a hotel that is hankering after bygone days, and I feel a twinge of sadness for Don Dragonetti. Instead of focusing her passions on a man who doesn’t want her, Olivia could’ve been dragging the family business kicking and screaming into the twenty-first century. With some love and attention, the Dragon’s Den would rival its competitors, and I don’t understand her lack of interest in the legacy that funds her privileged lifestyle.

The bellboy leads us through to the casino and the private room where Olivia is waiting for me in a booth.

Her eyes glitter when she spots my bodyguards. Her mouth turns down at the corners. “They go or this doesn’t happen.”

“Caleb would tear this place apart if he knew that I was here alone.” I shrug and stand my ground.

Olivia relies on fear of her crazy reputation to intimidate everyone she deals with, so I can’t let her see that this is all bravado, and that underneath, I’m battling to stop my legs from trembling. Mason might be the most unreliable person I know, but he did teach me to stand up to school bullies by pretending to be confident even if I’m quaking inside. He taught me that all bullies are cowards who belittle other people to make themselves feel bigger.

Maybe it’s fear of rejection with Olivia. Maybe she sees other people in happy relationships and is scared that it will neverhappen to her, so rather than looking at herself, she tries to bring everyone else down.

I look at her properly for the first time. She’s beautiful with her long white-blonde hair, large eyes, and perfect heart-shaped mouth, but it’s true what people say: this kind of beauty is only skin-deep. Underneath the designer clothes and the expensive makeup and the professionally maintained hairstyle, I think that Olivia Dragonetti is a spoiled, unhappy child.

“Fine. But they wait at the bar.”

Martin inches closer to me, his arm brushing mine.

“It’s okay.” I murmur, keeping my eyes on Olivia. “I’m not going anywhere.”

The two men take up their positions at the corner of the bar where they have an unobstructed view of the booth, and I slide onto the bench seat opposite Olivia.

“I didn’t think you’d come.” She smirks and gestures for the bartender to bring her another drink. She doesn’t ask me if I want one. “Honestly, I thought Caleb would keep a much closer eye on you.”

“He doesn’t need to. He trusts me not to do anything rash.”

“Ha! He obviously doesn’t know you at all.” The bartender serves her drink, over ice, with a slice of lemon and a gold straw. With a glance my way, he leaves us alone.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” My voice sounds unexpectedly strong and steady, and for that I’m grateful.

She sips her clear drink, leaving an imprint of her lipstick on the end of the straw. “I know about you and Caleb.”

My stomach churns. She’s bluffing, I tell myself. She’s trying to scare me into walking away from Caleb and leaving the path clear for her to step in.

---