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“Soon,” he answered, his gaze never wavering from mine. “Soon, you’ll be right by my side, ruling Boston with me. You’re so beautiful, Riley. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
I swallowed back a grimace and threw another shot of vodka down my throat. When I looked back at him, his smile had grown. Apparently, he liked what he saw.
I was playing with fire, and I knew it.
I just hoped I didn’t get burned.
His breath was laced with vodka, heavy enough to paint the air between us. As he leaned in, I met his gaze, my own feigned interest hiding the calculations running through my mind.
I wanted to vomit.
“So, about our plan for Boston…” I started, tracing the rim of my glass with a finger, watching his eyes follow my every subtle movement. “I’ve been putting in some thought as to how we can really make our mark.”
Gregor perked up, his bulky frame edging closer. “Yes? I’m all ears.”
“Well,” I paused, ensuring I had his undivided attention, “I believe we could expand beyond just traditional routes. We’re in a digital age now, right? Money laundering doesn’t have to be all grimy cash and shady backroom deals. What about cryptocurrency?”
“Crypto?” he echoed, his thick accent wrapping around the word strangely. His confusion was almost comical.
I held back a laugh and covered it up with another sip of vodka.
Fuck. I hated this stuff, but I swallowed it down because I had to.
“Yes, crypto,” I confirmed with a nod. “It’s perfect for us. Untraceable, fast, and it crosses borders without any fuss. We could set up an entire operation, funneling money through digital currencies and washing it clean as spring water.”
Gregor’s eyes narrowed, not with suspicion, but with the monumental effort he was making to try to understand me. “And you know how to set this up?” he asked, his interest now piqued. I imagined that he was envisioning the possibilities.
As far as I knew, Gregor was a nobody in something like a gang. He’d been vying for leverage for a long time and through me, he hoped to get an in with someone in Boston to strengthen both his name and his reputation.
I’d convinced him that money was power.
Which was probably one of the only true things I’d told him.
Fuck it. I had no regrets.
“Absolutely,” I lied smoothly. The truth was I knew just enough to be dangerous, but that was more than Gregor knew, and it was enough to keep him hooked. “I have contacts in New York. Tech geniuses who eat this kind of work for breakfast.”
He was practically salivating at the idea, the scent of power and money too intoxicating for him to ignore. “And what do you need from me?”
“With the right initial funding, I can get us the tech we need, pay off the right people, and ensure the infrastructure is set up. You’ll just watch the money roll in. You won’t regret this.”
He would. Eventually.
Gregor leaned back, his gaze assessing, then softened into a smile that was meant to be charming.
It missed the mark.
“I knew there was something special about you, Riley. From the first moment I laid eyes on you.”
I fought the urge to roll my eyes and throw up in my mouth.
“And I know a good opportunity when I see one, Gregor. We’re going to change the game,” I piped up.
“To us.” He raised his glass, toasting to our ‘bright future.’
“To us,” I echoed, clinking his glass with mine.
I was playing him for a fool, but I just needed him until we got to Boston.
