Page 25 of Christmas with the Mafia
“Why must we leave?”
She sounds disappointed, and I whisper, “Because I am the host, and similar to a wedding, others cannot leave until I do. It would be frowned upon.”
“Is that really a thing?”
She peers up at me from under her lashes, and I resist the urge to kiss her tempting lips.
“Sadly it is.”
“But you haven’t had much of an evening. You’ve worked mainly. Don’t you want to have fun now?”
“Of course.” I stifle my grin because my fun is only just getting started.
“Come, your chariot awaits, luckily we don’t have far to go.”
I register the disappointment heavy in her eyes as I take her hand, my guards moving into position, Trent and Alyssia already two steps ahead of us. They will also be staying in the penthouse. It has four bedrooms, but they will occupy the other half of it that is separate from ours.
As we head to the exit, I avoid eye contact with anyonestaring. But I notice the woman who was with Regina’s ex earlier. She obviously notices her too and grips my hand hard and whispers, “Wow, look who’s moved on already?”
I glance with amusement at her hand firmly clasped in Jefferson Richard’s. A smooth-talking criminal from the west side of town who is making a name for himself. I’m guessing she will soon discover she has jumped from the smoke back into the fire, and yet I have no time to dwell on that.
“I can’t see Connor anywhere.”
“Are you looking?”
Her statement gives me a moment’s concern, and she shakes her head. “Uh, no. That guy burned all his bridges with an atom bomb tonight. I’m hoping he’s drowning his regrets in the bottle, wondering where it all went wrong.”
I say nothing, knowing full well what happened to him tonight. He was hauled out of the ballroom to a conveniently empty bedroom where he learned a valuable lesson in how to treat a woman by accepting the beating of his life. When he is barely breathing, he would have been ejected out onto the street into the gutter, where hopefully a car would have finished the job. He touched my woman. There are consequences to that, and I will enjoy hearing the full report of his demise in the morning.
I am officially closed for business and make certain not to glance at anyone on the periphery of my vision. Many meetings were scheduled this evening, and hundreds and thousands were raised for charity as a result. The price of an audience with me was one hundred thousand dollars into the charity pot, and some came out of it in profit,others not so much.
It was considered a golden ticket where businesses could pitch their idea in under five minutes. It’s an unusual way to do business, but for one night a year the door is open and can reap huge rewards for the fortunate. My assistant took notes and will be working through the night and all of tomorrow, securing the contracts and carrying out the necessary arrangements. I never stop working, and Regina is a prime example of that.
We head toward the elevator, and as we step inside, the rest of the guards remain, and only Trent and Alyssia share our ride.
We say nothing as we travel, which is standard procedure when there are women around. Trent and I share many conversations, but not when it could come back and bite us.
It’s not long before we split and they go one way and Regina follows me into the living area where, as requested, two glasses of brandy are waiting for us, set before the roaring fire. I point to one of the chairs, and as she falls into it, I offer her the glass and hold mine against it in a toast.
“To our agreement.”
She nods, fatigue now heavy in her eyes.
“To us.” She replies with a smile, and for some reason, the thought of ending the evening with her naked body wrapped around me is a pleasant proposition. But not tonight. There are steps to follow before I will allow that to happen, so I settle back against the chair and turn my head to the business part of it first.
Thirteen
REGINA
I could get usedto living like this. Fine living certainly has its benefits, and I’ve been spared the dreaded journey home in the chill of winter, back to a freezing condo where nothing but mountains of gift baskets still to pack will be reminding me why I really should have stayed in tonight.
But as I peer from beneath my lashes, I must admit what a night this has been.
“What are you thinking?”
Nico interrupts my musings, and I smile. “That if anybody had told me I would be here now, with you, after possibly the most life-changing night of my life, I wouldn’t have believed them.”
“I see.”
