Page 26 of Cruel Existence

It was quick, but a noticeable squirm. She tugged on the edge of the red dress. “What do you want to know?”

“Why that hotel? What is his angle?” The original blueprints for the hotel had been lost in a fire once prohibition ended. The secret of the underground passageway had been kept within a small circle of families. I wanted to know if Lorenzo had been tipped off. There was no other way for him to know the true value as an outsider.

Her lips twitched. “Why is that any of your concern?”

I leaned toward her. It was hard to be this close and not reach for her. I was impressed my restraint had lasted this long. The more minutes passed, the harder it was to not think of the way her lips tasted.

“What about the project by the docks?” I asked.

The corners of her mouth wiggled. “What do you want to know about the docks?”

“All of it.” I waggled my eyebrows. “What does Lorenzo have planned for that area?”

Amara began to shred the corners of the cocktail napkin. She cleared her throat. “My father didn’t send me to tell you everything about his plans. You must know that. I can’t just lay it out there. Do you think I’m that naïve, Luka?”

“But will you?” I asked. “What could I say to make you come around?”

She laughed, placing the empty champagne flute a few inches from her clutch. “To unlock all the secrets?”

“How about one or two?” I taunted.

She glanced at her phone. “This was nice. Thank you for the champagne, but I need to go.”

I stared at her. “You can’t be serious.”

“Why not?”

“You just got here. We’ve had one drink. There’s a good bottle of champagne to finish. Stay awhile. Or better, let’s get dinner.”

“Together?” Her voice squeaked.

“I think we can both agree we’re not getting anywhere with this business meeting. Why not have dinner? Maybe I can be the one to enlighten you about how business is done here.”

“Oh, you want to scare me about the big bad Bratva?”

“Shh,” I warned her with a hiss. “That’s not something we can discuss over dinner.”

Her eyes darted across the room to Ciro. “I can’t go. You know why.”

“Bring him with us.” I nodded at the bodyguard.

“Really?”

“Yes. If he’s going to be your security detail, then he goes where you go. I get it.”

I saw her process the information. “And what do I tell my father about our meeting?” she asked.

“You could send him a message for me.”

“What’s that?”

“Tell him to back off the boutique hotel deal. It’s not going to work. The territories here have already been drawn. It might be best for him to look outside the city.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Why would I tell him that? He wants the hotel.”

“But he can’t have it.” I tried to keep my voice clear and firm.

“What makes you think that?” she argued.

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