Page 64 of Mocha Kisses

“Uh-huh. That seem fucking weird to you?”Question three.It’ll take Carson a moment to check. They’re a bunch of ruthless bastards but not all that smart. If what I’ve pieced together in the last few minutes is right, all that money has been going to Yana and she’s been keeping Paula’s Agency off everyone’s backs with small payments.

“No. I like money. They pay slower, I make more in the end. Barney, check the last couple of checks that have come in. Where they wired from?” Mumbling happens in the background and then Carson growls. “The same account? What the fuck do you mean,the same account?” Shuffling papers and then a hand colliding with skin comes through the earpiece. “Okay, now it’s my fucking turn for answers. Who’s paying for these bitches? I don’t know any good Samaritan who’d do that in the 21stcentury.”

“Not a good Samaritan, Carson. Someone who saw an easy payday. They’re getting the money but they definitely aren’t giving you anywhere near what they’re receiving.” I wait for everything to click, for him to fly off the handle. If he starts putting pressure on it, Yana might act out of character. As much as I want to throw her to the police and get her ass locked up, it’s much easier to throw her to the wolves. We just need a fucking plan.

And the cooperation of a lot of people I’ll end up owing favors to.

Carson clicks his tongue and then grunts. “Alright. Tell me where the fuck she is and I’ll deal with it. Also, hand over John Williamson. He’s been a thorn in my ass.”

“Rome’s got that one, I’m sure.”

“Fantastic. I always liked that guy.”

“Give me a little while, Carson.”

“What for? You know where she is.”

“Because I need it to fucking hurt. She’s played with my family, my business, and the things I hold dear. She thinks this is just a game because, in the end, she’ll get what she wants, regardless of who she’s hurt. She’s fucking married to Luna’s father, both of them ruining the life of a woman, for what? Greed? I won’t have it. I won’t let her go quietly. She’s been playing publicly too long. She needs to fall just as publicly.”

There’s several moments before Carson says anything. I know he’s seeing if it’s worth it. After all, he’s been losing out on millions of dollars because of this woman. No idea how long she’s been playing this game. “Alright. All I ask is her name.”

“Yana Siegel.” I hang up just as Rome shoves a mug in front of me.

“That wise to let him know how close to home this is?”

“He might be a terrible guy but not even he’ll condone messing with family, Rome.” I stare into the mug, the scent of chocolate and peppermint meeting my nose. “Peppermint? Really, Rome?”

Rome chuckles as he pours himself a cup, throwing a little creamer and cinnamon into his. “First off, peppermint is delicious. Second, I was feeling festive.”

“Christmas was months ago.”

“And yet, the house needed a little cheer. Fuck off, Nova, and drink the coffee. What’s next?” He takes an obnoxious sip from his cup and I taste mine, pleasantly surprised that I don’t hate it. “The prerelease party is what, a week from now? What until then?”

That is the question. But maybe we don’t need to wait. “Let’s see if Maximillian will move it up.”

“Why hasn’t he called?”

“He doesn’t contact me or Griffin, really. Mostly the occasional email unless one of us complains. We speak through the editor on hand most of the time. How he hasn’t reached out after this debacle, I’m not sure but I assume Yana has him looking in a different direction. A quick call and explanation can remedy that. He’s an easy enough man to work with.”

The hard part will be making sure he believes us over Yana.

Luna

Iwakeuptotwo bright gray eyes staring at me, a hand caressing the side of my face. Griffin is sprawled across my chest, propped up on his elbows as he observes me. To anyone else, it might be unnerving but this is just one of the many things about my sunshine that I don’t mind. He stares at me like I’m the most precious thing in the world. When a sleepy smile slides onto my face, he leans down to kiss me before placing his weight on top of me, his hands sifting into my hair.

I don’t remember much after getting home and shedding that god-awful dress but I can’t imagine either of us were in any state to talk. Griffin nips at my bottom lip before rolling off of me and sitting up at the edge of the couch. He stretches, showing off every muscle in his back as he does. I merely roll toward him, pressing a kiss right in the middle just above the waistline of his pants. He shudders and then twists toward me, throwing an arm over my waist.

“I was so fucking worried, precious. I would have signed my fucking life away but they wouldn’t tell me if you were okay. Where you were. If you had left. I just-”

“I’m okay. I’m here. Rome had me.” I manage to smile wider just as two large presences join us in our moment. I look up to see Rome scowling and Nova holding two mugs, hopefully for us.

Rome plops onto the floor beside the couch, glaring at me. “I’m glad you’re okay, too. Why the fuck didn’t you call me in when your father—John showed up?” I bite my lip and scoot back a little, needing to be upright for this conversation. It seems that’s a detail that neither Griffin nor Nova knew. “Oh, yeah, our little warrior here stopped to talk to John. Why?”

“I wanted answers and I wouldn’t get them if I called you. I knew you were there and I knew I could scream.”

Nova’s disapproval displays in a hearty rumble as he passes Griffin a mug and then me. The peppermint stick floating in my coffee isn’t enough to take away from Nova and Rome’s current expressions. I feel like I’m being scolded by my parents. No, ew. That’s gross. By my lovers. Does this come with spankings? My face heats at the connection my brain makes and I hide behind my mug.

“Seriously? How the fuck did thinking about your father turn to you getting fucked?” Rome barks. “We all know what that blush means by now. Share with the class, Luna.”

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