Page 58 of Unlock My Heart

“Make sure the recipient’s luck runs out.”

I’m getting my seat at the table, and I’ll use Angelo’s severed head as my footstool.

Chapter Eighteen

Fabien

The present

“Michele ran Hotel D’Amico into the ground,” my lawyer reports. “Everything’s underwater. But what surprised me most was the offhanded comment Mrs. D’Amico, I mean, Ms. Jenkins made.”

“Which was?” I prompt.

“That she was the madam of the family’s call girl ring.”

“What?” I shout.

Saint holds up his hands. “Repeating what Ms. Jenkins said.”

“What happened to Jade? That old bird’s run the call girl ring forever. And why the hell would Sienna have taken over?” No way that was her choice.

“I did some digging, but couldn’t find much information on the former madam. No obituary. The woman simply disappeared. As for why Sienna’s the madam, I don’t know. I didn’t want to pry too much and make her suspicious of my motives.”

A man on the outside looking in, I want to throw my fist through the cinderblock wall. I don’t, only because I need to be ready in case Angelo sends more “regards.” “Get in touch with Detective Pierre.” I’ve kept him on my payroll for a reason. “Tell him I need a highly publicized arrest at the hotel related to the call girl ring; a john or a prostitute. Better yet, both.”

“Sure, boss, but I’m not following your logic.”

“There’s nothing my brother hates more than negative publicity, so let’s embarrass Mr. New Orleans.” The arrest will have Angelo’s butthole puckering, and he’ll shutter the call girl ring faster than you can say society pages. And with no other source of income, Sienna will be backed into a corner.

I grin from ear to ear.

The little fox just got outfoxed.

Sienna

The present

In anticipation of my meeting with the boss, I pop two ibuprofen, downing them with lukewarm water because I’m too lazy to walk to the back and deal with the deep freeze.

Ice is overrated, anyway.

There’s a knock on my door, and with a deep breath, I call, “Enter.”

Angelo steps inside, and I flash my most practiced smile as I rise. “If it isn’t the big bossman himself.” Out of habit, my hip pops to the side.

“Sienna.” He says my name with mild irritation. Or maybe that’s just Angelo—always mildly irritated.

“What’s this nonsense I hear about shutting down our call girl operation?” Nic let the rumor slip. Now that I’ve “accounted” for all missing funds thanks to overtime foot worship, the loss of income from this racket will be a big hit. And I can’t afford to take any hits right now. “Surely the rumors aren’t true.”

“They are,” he says without inflection.

“But that’s only because you’ve yet to sample from the tasting menu. Angelo, I have the perfect woman for you.” I rub my hands together dramatically. “Her name’s⁠—”

“Not interested. What I am interested in is information. A few months ago, a trumpet player by the name of Ellis played in this hotel lounge’s band. He still around?”

Unease dances up and down my spine. Technically, I cheated on his capo with the little weasel Ellis. But surely Angelo’s not going to kill me for being “unfaithful” to the biggest cheater in all of NOLA? “Ellis. Ellis.” I make a show of patting my cheek with my finger. “Doesn’t ring a horn.”

With zero amusement, Angelo pulls out a wallet and fishes out a wad of hundreds, waving it in the air.