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Cain sits beside me, his back ramrod straight. Tosca sits right beside him, so close her leg touches his. I focus on Romeo.
“My name is Violet Price, though that’s a new name. I was born Violet Bates.” No recognition in his eyes. “When I was four years old, my parents were murdered. For years, I labored under the assumption that my father was killed because he was an assassin, but recently I found further evidence that it was actually my mother who was.”
He nods patiently, not a glimmer of emotion on his stoic features. “You understand my time is valuable, Miss Price. I’m happy to do a favor for a friend, but for you, we’d need more than an act of good will.”
“If you give us the answers we need, we’ll pay you.”
He smiles at Cain. “From what I know about you, Mr. Master, you could well afford my services. But I don’t need your money.”
Oh, to have the luxury of not needing money. What privilege. I don’t even want to think about what he’s done to reach that position.
“What can I give you, then?”
He eyes me with a wicked smile I feel down to my toes, a predatory look in his eyes I’ve seen before.
Seems the Rossi family currency is sex.
Cain’s voice is a deadly growl. “Violet herself is off the table.”
I stand, prepared to tell him to fuck off. I open my mouth to speak, and I swear I might just offer to bed this man to get what I want and screw with Cain. “That isn’t for you to say,” I snap.
Cain’s on his feet. Romeo draws his gun.
“Does he have you here against your will?” he asks me, gun cocked.
Oh my God.
I look at him in surprise. He thinks Cain has me here against my will? Would he shoot him?
I shake my head. I’m angry at Cain, but not so much that I wouldn’t fight for him, even now. We might be over, but we have a history together I won’t ever,everforget.
“No. We’re associates and no more,” I say, my words laden with ice. “Mr. Master assumes a level of familiarity he no longer can. Now,” I say in a pleasant voice. “Let’s sit down and stop with the pissing match. Deal?”
I feel my words cut through the tension in the room.
We all sit down. Tosca never even stood. She glances at her nails and picks at an invisible cuticle, like this type of conversation is just par for the course.
“Perhaps we can barter services. Master Enterprises has the most reputable name you’ll find in the Northeast.”
He nods. “While I’m disappointed I can’t haveyou,Violet, I thank you.” He gets to his feet with a bored yawn. “And thank you for your offer to barter. I will tell you only this. Yes, I knew your mother. Her eyes were unforgettable. She worked for us for a time until her demise several decades ago. We suspect we know who was responsible for her death, but unfortunately, I can’t give you that name since you’re an outsider. I do wish you the best with your endeavors.”
“But I—” It isn’t enough. We need more.
He inclines his head. The door to the room opens and Skylar, looking a bit disheveled but wearing a shit-eating grin, comes in with Mario. The men nod at each other, and Romeo leaves.
“So sorry you couldn’t get what you came for,” Tosca says. She places a well-manicured hand on Cain’s shoulder. I want to slap her so badly my fingers tingle. How dare she touch him?
Doesn’t matter. Doesn’t matter!
“Do come again?”
Cain bends and kisses her cheek. “Thank you for your hospitality. And we will.”
I clamp my jaw when I realize it’s unhinged. I’m staring at him as if he’s sprouted a second head.How could he kiss her cheek like that? With me standing right here?
I look to Cain. Is that it, then? We just leave without getting what we came for?
“Thank you,” he says, turning his back to me and heading for the door. “Please tell your husband I said hello.”
