AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I take the seat closest to Dusan and across from my brother. Jinx shifts her chair closer to Zakiya while rarely taking her eyes off Dusan. I rub circles into her back to let her know she isn’t alone.
During dinner, Dusan continues his overly solicitous behavior. Although he makes no outward move to offend Tácito, he thinly veils his disdain. I glance at Valentino. My brother is holding his patience together, but he fists his hands on the table and the muscle in his jaw flexes hard. Dusan has earned himself a second strike, guaranteeing Val and I will either have to draw lots for the privilege of ending him or work together to do so.
The staff clears the table for dessert. While we wait, Dusan calls Zakiya’s name in the quiet, grabbing all our attention.
He wears a curious frown. “Given your circumstances, you must have an interesting story regarding how you met Sansone.”
“Excuse you?” Zakiya places her utensils down to hide her shaking hands.
“Sorry, I assumed you being a single mother would make meeting someone in Sansone’s circle difficult.”
Sloane coughs after choking on her drink. Tácito and Valentino pat her back and try to help her breathe through the episode.
Zakiya glares at Dusan. “I’m not a single mother. What gave you that idea?”
He looks her up and down. “Forgive me. Blame it on my not being American.”
Zakiya shares a glance with me that tells me anger has overridden her fear. Then a curious look comes over Dusan, and Zakiya’s caution rises.
Dusan folds his hands and rests his chin on them. “But I am curious. Last night my Nedi mentioned you’re the first woman linked to Sansone in a while. Of course, I checked.”
Everyone stares at him in open-mouthed astonishment.
“You looked into me?” Zakiya asks in a breathy voice.
Dusan smiles. It’s superficial like his others and doesn’t reach his eyes. “I look into all my business partners’ females. Knowing who and what a person values is paramount to a good relationship.”
“I’m not your business partner,” I say, grinding my teeth and on the point of fucking him up.
“Not today, but soon you will be. Call me an optimist. But I’m still curious about Zakiya because I found nothing.” He returns his attention to Zakiya. “And I can’t help but wonder what your background is. I mean, the two of you are an unlikely pair. And since you said you aren’t a single mother, I have to assume your husband must be pretty understanding if he allows you to be another man’s mistress. I’m not that open-minded, personally. But different strokes and all that.”
I slam my hand against the table. “Dusan, you need to leave.”
“What about dessert?”
“You’ll have a hard time eating it without teeth.” I stand, towering over him, my fists ready to deliver on my promise.
“Mayor DeLuca?”
“Did my brother stutter?” Valentino rises, vibrating with barely leashed violence.
“I see.” Dusan turns to Sloan, Zakiya, and Jinx in turn. His interest in Jinx and Zakiya rubs me wrong, like sandpaperagainst my skin. “It seems I must take my leave, but I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon.”
Valentino and I follow him to the front door.
Before Dusan gets into his car, he turns to me. “I’ve been wondering, does that little girl model? I swear I’ve seen her before.”
I swallow. “No. I wouldn’t exploit my daughter that way.”
“Your daughter? Interesting.” Dusan lowers himself into his vehicle.
Beside me, Valentino calls one of his men. “Make sure that asshole gets off my property and never comes back.”
When he gets off the phone, he stares at me. “What the fuck was that?”
I stare toward the gate Dusan heads toward. “A big fucking problem.”
CHAPTER 28
