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“How are they taking it?”
“It’s not good. Everything changed when they heard about the raid. We’re going to have a tough job. Everybody is angry.”
“I get it. Do you see anything we can do?”
“Bruno’s better at this than me. He’s all out with the charm offensive.”
“Is that going to do it, do you think?”
“Not a chance. They don’t care how charming we are. It’s keeping the doors open, though and without that, the deal would be sunk.”
“you think its on the line?”
“Nobody says so, but I’m sure of it.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Whenever talk turns to anything in the future, they switch off. They blank out and disconnect. I was talking with Waya yesterday about construction in the region. As soon as we got to the upcoming road developments, I saw him tune out.”
“That’s incredibly sharp observation, Carlo.”
“It’s the same with everybody here. They’ll pass the time of day and talk about things that are going on now, but it’s a waiting game.”
“Do you think they’ve made up their minds?”
“No, I don’t think so. I’m certain if they had, they would just throw us out on our ears.” … “There’s still a chance. While Bruno is charming them and keeping the lines of communication open, I’m trying to figure out what we can do to put this right for them.”
“What do you think it will take to make them feel whole?”
“I don’t know. Nothing small. Nothing easy.”
“I wish the two of you would come back here.”
“It’s your call, my queen, as always. If we want to save the Cascades deal, though, I think Bruno and me ought to stay on it up here. It would probably help if you could be here, too.”
“And Alessio?”
“I don’t know. It’s hard to tell where his head’s at right now.”
“Where’s your head at, Carlo?”
His smile is as devilish and hard to read as always..
“They say parting is a sweet sorrow. Parting you is always a joy for me. Parting from you, not so much.” His voice is low, “but still, think about all the chance it gives us to get back together.” He smiles. “Tension — release.”
I’m resigned to him going and me spending another night without him. Without any of them. I have the three hottest men in the city, three kings of the underworld, and here I am in my new house, about to sleep all alone.
Again.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
SEX ADDS TO ROMANTIC TENSION and COMPLICATION
Next morning early, I tie up my hair, put on running shoes, running pants and a top, and I take a small gym towel. With a light jacket — here you’ve always got to be ready for rain — and I jog down the hill to take myself to a local independent cafe for breakfast.
It’s a pretty little place. The kind of a local enterprise that always makes me want to see them do well. Big, bright windows with homely stuffed chairs, ‘scruffed’ chairs, they call them.
Orla, the owner manager, is on site most of the time and bright with a sunny disposition. She and Kieron, the barista remember all the customers’ names and the way the like their coffee and they greet everyone with a friendly welcome.
