Page 81 of Tainted Princess
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Enzo
“I am glad we are able to put this distasteful business behind us, Enzo.”
Lifting my glass, I refrained from answering by taking a drink, the tequila doing nothing to wash away my rapidly rising anxiety.
“Of course, Anton,” I replied, not bothering to hide my continued anger. The old goat had been prattling on and on about how he was absolutely not involved in whatever shit was going down in my clubs, as if he talked long enough, I’d somehow forget the whole problem even existed.
My gut told me he was lying, but I couldn’t prove it. Yet.
“But,” I continued, setting my drink on the wide arm of my club chair, “I think we are both eager to find out what, exactly, is going on in this city.” I watched the older man closely, searching his face for some sign of his deceit, but I got nothing. Either he was telling me the truth—which seemed unlikely, given the events of the last few days—or he was a better actor than I would have given him credit for.
Either way, the old fuck was at the top of my shit list, and he fuckin’ well knew it.
When he’d arrived atDeuces Wildlast night, he entered the basement like he had done on a few other occasions, but it was the brief look of shock that crossed his face when he caught his first glimpse of Ivan that began all my suspicions. Anton had wiped it away so quickly that I would have almost doubted whether I’d actually seen it in the first place if I hadn’t caught Rock’s questioning glance letting me know he’d seen it too.
That was strike one.
The next issue was how he’d spent the majority of his time speaking in Russian, the two of them going back and forth angrily, Ivan looking more and more panicked and Anton looking more and more enraged.
I spent the whole fuckin’ time wishing I had listened to Francesca and let her stay. If I had, I wouldn’t have felt like I was completely out of the loop.
When Anton finally turned back to me, all he’d said was that Ivan had provided no useful information, but that he would like to take him back to his own compound for further interrogation. I’d tried to protest but seeing as how Ivan was both a Russian and had been caught with the drugs, he very clearly fell into Anton’s jurisdiction. So, according to the rules we’d both agreed on when we settled our shit years ago, I had to let Ivan go.
Fuckin’ hated to do it, though.
“I agree whole heartedly, Enzo. With that Ivan now dead, there should be no more issues for us to deal with.” He smiled like a benevolent grandfather, and I ground my teeth at his audacity. He’d turned up here tonight to inform me that Ivan had been tortured to death at the hands of hisTorpedoes, the violent bastards that are only kept around to do the dirtiest of work.
I said nothing in response to his statement but didn’t miss the tightening of Anton’s eyes as he accepted my slight. Catching Rock’s attention where he stood near the railing of the VIP balcony, he nodded, letting me know he would keep an eye on things on that end. The last thing I needed was to go to war with Anton and the Belikov Bratva, but I was not about to let this kind of insult slide. I’d watch Anton, and when he fucked up, because I knew he would, I would be there to claim my pound of flesh—and likely dismantle his entire organization in the process.
But for now, I would be patient. Let the man dig his own grave of lies; it’d be worth it to be the one to bury him in it.
Intentionally turning my back on Anton, I surveyed the other people in the VIP booth. The place was packed with the kind of folks who should definitelynothave been present, from celebrities to politicians to Instagram influencers—as ifthatwas a real thing—and even Ralph Bradford, the goddamn Sheriff of Clark County. That sick fuck was like a bloodhound; if there was violence to be had, you could bet he was gonna be front and center.
Rich men and women, glossy and perfect on the outside, exactly what society would expect someone of their station to be. But down here in my pit, you could see just how rotten their cores really were.
These were some of the worst people on the planet, people who felt no remorse at the suffering of others if it meant that they got what they wanted. Women, proudly dripping in blood diamonds, men, treating the women around them like disposable trash. Every single person in the room would gladly stick a knife in your back if it meant they’d get even a single step ahead.
I didn’t trust a single fuckin’ one of them.
But their money was green and that was all that mattered when it came to my businesses.
“Enzo.” I cringed at the desperation in Amber’s voice, as she once again tried to get my attention. She’d been following me around like a lost puppy since I dismissed her so badly last night, but I just couldn’t bring myself to give a single fuck. “Can I get you another drink, baby?” Sitting her bony ass on the arm of my chair, she leaned in, draping herself over me like a fucking jacket.
Barely turning my head, I shot her a look that would strip paint. “I ain’t your fuckin’ baby, Amber.”
She darted her eyes around, trying to gauge who had heard her get reprimanded, but no one was really paying her any attention. Typically, she hated that, but the relief in her eyes was swift.
“I know,” she said with a weak smile. “Of course, I know that.” Her hands were fidgeting from her hair to her skirt and back, and I couldn’t remember a time when I had seen her that nervous. “I just...I hate it when you’re mad at me, ba— uh, Enzo.”
Iwasmad at her, and I hoped she fuckin’ knew it. Every time I thought back to what she’d interrupted—the kiss that I couldn’t get out of my head—I got pissed again. Then, when I realized what I was pissed about, I doubled down on my anger. All in all, it had been an exhausting twenty-four hours of trying to forget the kiss I shared with my wife and not imagining what would have happened if Amber hadn’t opened that door.
“Get me that drink, Amber,” I said, throwing her a bone and holding up my glass. She exhaled heavily, grabbing the glass and darting off to the bar line with her flirtatious smile back in place. I watched the other men in the booth watch her go. Even if I didn’t want to fuck her anymore, she’d have no trouble finding someone who would.
Not sure she’d be all that happy about it, though.
Looking around again, I stiffened when I saw a familiar face approaching me. Rock came to my side, having seen the same thing, and looking to prevent any further trouble.
