Page 68 of Power & Punishment

When I open them, Adrian is perched in his usual spot already helping himself to a bottle of my finest scotch.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” I say, heading toward the bar to make myself a drink.

“It’s fine,” he says, swirling the glass in his hand. “I heard you were handling business down at the local precinct. My guy tells me you left with the same detective I risked my neck for you to avoid.”

My hands freeze as I reach for a clean glass. It’s quick. Barely even half a second. But he notices.

Adrian always notices.

“I’m keeping my enemies close,” I say, pouring myself a bigger glass than usual and taking a long sip before turning to face him. “That’s a play from your book.”

He grins, nodding his head. It’s typically a warm gesture, but something is different tonight.

“I don’t consider law enforcement my enemy,” he explains. “They’re more like a necessary evil that I’d rather have in my back pocket just in case.”

I spot my chair in my peripheral, but I don’t entertain the idea of sitting down. “And I’m doing the same thing. I figured a sizable donation wouldn’t hurt. You taught me that everyone has a price; it’s just about guessing the right number.”

He offers a polite chuckle at that. “I taught you a lot of things.”

He’s right. Adrian was my in with Enzo. He’s the reason my plan has any legs to begin with. He taught me how to exist in their world and ours—carefully navigating conversations exactly like this one.

But most importantly, he taught me how to read people before they even open their mouths.

Which is exactly why I’m treading lightly.

“Exactly,” I say, smacking my lips together because I know he hates it. But today he doesn’t flinch. “So, instead of baiting me, why don’t you ask me what you really want to know?”

This time he fully smiles. “Why do I need to ask when I already know who she is?”

I set my glass down and carelessly drape my hands in my pockets. Of course he does. “Well then, please enlighten me.”

Adrian’s smile fades, sharpening at the edges. “She’s a liability, and Enzo won’t be thrilled when he finds out your new girl works for the NYPD.”

Relief hits me. He doesn’t know her real identity.

But it’s short-lived as my fingernails dig into my skin, fighting the need to punch something or someone.

“Tell him,” I say, raising my brows. “I am just using her for intel on the Vince Russo case. But now that it’s been transferred, I’m using her for other things that are more involved.”

I’m not entirely lying, but I can’t tell if I’m convincing based on his stone-like stature.

“According to my intel, Enzo is equally as concerned with you getting distracted, so maybe it’s best to cut her loose before things get too complicated,” he says with a flick of his wrist. “We need to focus on the vote.”

I dig my heels into the carpet, forcing every bone in my body to stay in place. I want to grab the back of his head and slam it into the wall until nothing is left but those flimsy hair plugs that aren’t fooling anyone.

But I swallow my anger and push everything away in one fell swoop.

“I’ll decide when I’m done with her,” I reply, leaning against the front of my desk and pressing my nails hard into the dense mahogany. “Enough about my sexual exploits. Who do we still need to flip?”

The rest of the meeting is quick. Mainly filled with shop talk and logistics. But every name goes in one ear and out the other because I have no intentions of doing any more of Enzo’s dirty work.

I fully intend to tank the vote, but first I have an empire to destroy.

“You’re late,” I say, hearing the front door creak open. I asked Georgia to escort Mia back to my place instead of the office. After my heated exchange with Adrian, I didn’t want to run the risk of her running into him.

Two pairs of heels click against the wood flooring as I adjust my tie in the entryway mirror. “I maintain your schedule. We’re right on time,” Georgia snipes from behind me.

I turn around to reply, but then everything around me blurs into a soft haze.