Page 5 of Ruined By the Enemy
I’ve never acted on bare instincts before. It’s always been facts and figures, because running the company requires taking calculated risks, rather than relying on emotions.
And yet, thinking about Sophie Greco pushes my thoughts out of focus and raises every alarm I’ve learned to pay attention to.
“If you wanted her, you’d have been here when she arrived,” I say flatly, pulling away from him. “You didn’t, so I’ll keep her for now.”
He rolls his eyes. “That might be the lamest excuse you’ve ever given me. Oh well,” he continues with a shrug, “might be good in the long run. I’ve never met anyone who looks like they might be a match for you, but Sophie Greco… she’s something.”
He pauses, his mouth curling into a devious grin. “This is going to be fun after all.”
I wish I could find the fun in it.
Raff pushes the chair back as he stands. “I’ll look into Blackwater, see if they’re truly in the deep water. If so, I’ll make an offer.”
“Not yet,” I stop him as he walks away. He looks over his shoulder. I sigh. “Give me a day. Then it’s all yours.”
“Okay.”
The door closes again, and I lean back, closing my eyes to clear my head. Instead of clarity, I get a vivid image of Sophie and the same inexplicable feeling.
I run my hand through my hair as an exhale pushes through my chest.
Whatever she’s hiding, I intend to find out.
For some weird reason, a part of me hopes it has everything to do with Blackwater and nothing to do with the fact that I can’t get the image of her lips out of my head.
***
I pull up outside a sleek bar with restricted parking space and ample security, nodding to the man at the entrance as he greets me.
Another uniformed person appears as I walk into the spacious open floor of the bar. “Good evening, Mr. Moretti. What would you like this evening?”
“Nothing,” I say. “I won’t be staying long.”
“Okay. If you do change your mind, please don’t hesitate to send for a bottle.”
As he leaves, I make my way through the back of the sitting area, down a reserved hallway, and straight to the door at the end. The bouncer opens the door promptly, politely ushering me in.
“Domenico Moretti.” A man with a gold robe and a gold tooth, seated behind the desk, spreads his arms out when he sees me. “It’s always good to see you, my friend.”
I clear my throat as I take my seat. “I’m not here for small talk, Rodrigo. Do you have what I asked for?”
He points to a bottle of scotch in the corner. “Why don’t you have a glass first? It’s been a while since you’ve paid us a visit.”
The corners of my mouth tug downward in open irritation, and my tone is clipped. “I don’t pay you for small talk, Rodrigo. Do you have what I asked for?”
His smile falls off, and his tone turns grim. “Yeah, I do. I was surprised you asked me to look into it, though. I usually deal with cleanups. Why her?”
The same question Raff asked.The same one I asked myself when I reached out to Rodrigo. I could’ve asked a proper private investigator to look into Sophie, but I figured they wouldn’t get any further than I did.
Or if they managed to, it’d take a while. And I needed answers as soon as possible.
“Like you said, you’re on cleanup duty,” I remind him.
He chuckles, showing off his tooth. “Know my place. I get it, boss.” He reaches into his drawer and brings out an envelope. “There’s not much on her. She’s a smart woman, but it looks like she might be running away from something.”
I leave the bar as quickly as I entered, slipping into my car. The envelope sits on the passenger seat, and I stare at it for a long moment, itching to look through and get it over with.
I do.
