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I didn’t hear from him all day. After the way he left, I fully expected not to hear from him anytime soon, which is, as far as I’m concerned, a good thing.
It doesn’t explain why I’m so happy to hear from him.
I bite back my smile and text him back.
And you’re telling me about this why?
If you read the contract, Alina, you’d discover we both need to approve any expenditures over five thousand euros.
It’s eleven. You’re starting to make a habit of texting me in the middle of the night. Do you know that? Sounds like an insomnia problem. Maybe a glass of warm milk will help.
Duly noted. You should review that contract, by the way, before hiring any pretty boy teachers.
My smile widens. Pretty boy teacher? Is he jealous? And how did Tomas even find out about my new hire? I gave Luke an advance earlier today. My partner must be keeping very close tabs on the gym’s bank balance.
A devilish urge fills me.
Who, Luke? He is very pretty, isn’t he? All those yummy muscles.
Tomas takes three long minutes to reply. When he finally writes back, he completely ignores my attempt to make him jealous.
Is that a yes to the investment?
Umm, Ali, why are you trying to make him jealous?
One of the organizers comes up. “Start warming up again,” she says. “You go on in ten.”
Okay. As much as it’s fun to tease Tomas, I need to focus on the next fight. Twenty thousand euros are at stake, and Lidya has already warned me she placed a bet on me and will be extremely annoyed if I lose.
Sure thing. As long as you don’t lose.
I doubt I will. But if I do, I’ll cover the loss.
Setting my phone aside, I stand up and do my stretches. I wonder what Tomas is planning.
20
TOMAS
Alina is new to Ciro’s ring. The oddsmaker doesn’t know anything about her except that she teaches MMA classes in a struggling gym in Venice. Davide is a retired fighter, old-school in his thinking. In his opinion, those who can’t do, teach.
He sets the odds of Alina winning the tournament at twelve to one. And I take advantage.
Ciro Del Barba is not happy when Alina hoists the belt up at the end of the night. He glares at me as I collect my winnings. “Damn you, Aguilar,” he says. “Ten thousand euros. A gym instructor. How the hell did you know? You can’t possibly be familiar with every fighter in Venice.”
Del Barba will make it his mission to find out everything about Alina. By this time tomorrow, he’ll know as much about her as humanly possible. “Not every fighter, no,” I say with a grin. I just won one hundred and twenty thousand euros of Ciro Del Barba’s money. Dante is going to get one hell of a laugh out of this. So is Antonio. “But Alina and I co-own the gym she teaches at, and I’ve seen her fight.”
“That’s insider information,” he accuses.
“Groff’s is open to the public,” I reply. “Nothing is stopping Davide, or you, or anyone else from walking in there and taking a class.”
Del Barba is richer than God, but he didn’t get that way by losing money on sports bets. If Alina fights again, the odds won’t be anywhere as lopsided. But he also isn’t a sore loser. “Fair enough,” he concedes with a shrug. “Enjoy your windfall.” He turns to one of his guards, hovering unobtrusively in the shadows. “Lara, would you invite Signorina Zuccaro up, please, as well as the other fighters?” He waits for her to leave before giving me a sly smile. “Is she the woman you’re dating?”
“What?” I ask before remembering that’s the line I used on Maria, Ciro’s handsy friend in the red dress. “No, I’m not dating anyone; I just said that to get rid of your friend. Alina and I are business partners, nothing more.”
“Are you sure?” He quirks an eyebrow. “I was watching you during that last fight. You looked very involved. Concerned, even.”
He’s fishing, and I’m definitely not going to take the bait. “Alina is the face of the gym, and she teaches the majority of the classes. If she’s hurt, I’ll have to scramble to find a replacement.”
