Page 75 of One Secret

'Fiori let something slip to that effect.'

'Did he, now?'

Felix's eyes flash and I can already imagine the kind of pain this Fiori is about to be in. Then again, if "Fiori" is the smarmy arse in the blue suit from the hotel, I can summon little to no sympathy.

'If this is truly about you assessing the mood of your people over my employ,' Cyrus persists, 'then you should have him there. He's the one who's going to be most affected, after all.'

Cyrus is careful to face Felix whilst speaking. But, from my vantage point beside him, I can see that he's more attentive to Vincent Omar, catching every lift of the man's cigarillo from the corner of his eye.

'Our current agent is already aware that we're recruiting,' Felix says, trying to avoid giving even an inch of ground in the conversation. 'You'll have no concerns there.'

'Unfortunately, I'd like to be certain of that in person,' Cyrus fights back, wrapping Felix up in his own conditions. 'Face-to-face, as you say. I'm sure you can understand that, Mr. Caruso.

'If your freelancer is who I'm suspecting,' Cyrus continues. 'There should be no concerns of locked horns, I assure you. I simply wish to be sure of it.'

Who "he's suspecting"? I blink at Cyrus, surprised that he's tipping his hand.

Felix is frowning. The goateed Vincent has gone very still.

'You think you know the identity of our current contractor?' Felix asks with glacial care.

'I have a few monikers in mind that I've attached to my theories,' Cyrus admits. 'Based on geography, periods of inactivity…' He waves a hand to imply etc. etc.

'And you're entirely confident in those reports, are you?' Felix challenges, glancing from Vincent to Lana and back again. He looks almost nervous. 'Aren't discretion and invisibility invaluable to those working in your field? Perhaps your information is simply incomplete?'

'Perhaps…' Cyrus tilts his head with an air of mercy. 'But unlikely.'

The tables have turned in the conversation and now Cyrus is the one in control.

'Besides,' he continues, 'This is why you throw these get-togethers, isn't it? For us all to remove some of the mystery with the buffer of numbers?'

'And the catalyst of alcohol,' murmurs Vincent Omar. His tone is hollow but an underlying hint of disapproval suggests he's being equally forced to attend Caruso's shindig.

Felix is pondering, rubbing the tips of his fingers together over and over. If he denies his condition and Cyrus refuses to attend the festivities, Omar feels primed to follow suit. But if he agrees to have the assassin Cyrus is hunting attend the event, he caves to Cyrus's demands in front of his associates.

'Is our current freelancer likely to attend on Friday?' he finally asks the manager of the hotel...

Lana looks at Cyrus, then at me, before turning her smile back upon her boss.

'I believe they've confirmed attendance, yes.'

Felix nods and spreads his hands in the manner of a mediator finally resolving a dispute.

'I trust all parties are satisfied now?' he crows.

He has reason to be smug, given the middle ground he's attained. If the assassin has already confirmed their attendance, Felix has made no leniencies and given no ground.

In any normal circumstance, I might have rolled my eyes or muttered something about the petulant man-child and his sensitivities.

But in a room where there are more concealed guns than there are palms to carry them... a single joke about the male ego could be met with a bullet between the eyes.

Thankfully, the tail end of the meal passes without further incident. Felix has secured Cyrus's presence on the island until the end of the week. And Cyrus would now be guaranteed to meet the assassin he's hunting. Secrets have been kept and power retained on all sides.

Feeling as if we've spent the last hour navigating a labyrinth of bear traps, the tension finally leaves my shoulders when dinner is declared over and we stand to leave.

My relief is short-lived, however, when Lana and Rocco fall into a practiced step and take up sentry at the door, barring our path.

Cyrus reads the situation quickly.

---