Page 11 of All's Fair In Love & War

I tensed immediately and whispered his name. “Naeem—”

However, he didn’t look at me.

“Yeah,” he said, like I hadn’t spoken. “She’s downstairs.”

Tandy blinked. “And why the hell is she here?”

“Long story,” I said quickly, sharper than I meant to. “Not one we’re unpacking right now.”

Tandy’s eyes narrowed as they flicked to me while Naeem ignored me, stepping in smoothly. “She’s been through a lot. I thought maybe you could talk to her.”

Tandy turned her head slowly. “You want me to go down there and... talk to a Veneto?”

“Not about anything heavy,” he said. “Just... be yourself. No pressure.”

I sat forward slightly, pain sparking through my hip, but my focus was on Naeem. “She doesn’t know yet,” I said under my breath.

“That’s why she’s the right one to go in. She isn’t biased and has no agenda.”

Tandy looked between us, suspicious now. “Okay, what am I missing?”

“Nothing,” Naeem said. “She doesn’t trust us, and we’re trying to make her comfortable since she won’t be going anywhere for a while.”

Tandy didn’t answer right away. Instead, she tilted her glass, weighing the ask. “And what do I gain for doing you this favor?”

Naeem didn’t hesitate. “Ten grand. Cash. Today.”

“Just to talk?”

“Just to talk,” he confirmed. “No strings attached. If you can get her to talk and calm her down a little... the money’s yours.”

Tandy glanced at me. “This chick special or something?”

I stiffened slightly. “She’s a problem. That’s all you need to know.”

She nodded before turning back to Naeem. “I want it in hundreds.”

“Done,” he said. “I’m sure Khalil has that in his safe. He’ll settle the debt before you leave.”

“Okay,” Tandy replied before tossing back the rest of her drink, setting the glass down, and dusting off her hands. “Just know if she so much as shifts wrong, I’m going for the throat.”

As she walked toward the hallway, Naeem gave her one last nod. “Be careful.”

“I always am,” she said, not looking back.

I watched her disappear, jaw tight. “I respect Tandy, so I hate that you did that. If she finds out what this really is before I get to tell her...”

“Then we’ll pay her again,” Naeem said. “That’s the beauty of money. Everyone’s got a price.”

Chapter 4

Predator Or Prey?

Felicity

Once again, I found myself confined within the narrow boundaries of my prison cell, perched on the edge of the cot, the stench of neglect hanging in the air, thick enough to choke on. It crawled up my nose and settled in my lungs like dust. My skin itched as if a thousand tiny ants were crawling all over me, and time seemed to drag on with excruciating slowness.

When the door creaked open behind me, I turned my head, expecting to see Khalil with a scowl carved deep into his face. However, this time, it wasn’t him. It was a woman, and she moved inside the room as if she were the Bulgari estate’s first lady.

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