Page 75 of Dishonored

But all that guesswork was just that—a guess.

“Are you dallying now?” Raffe asked sharply.

Aria passed him a look, and then the restaurant, too. “I thought we were talking, actually.”

“Well, now we’re done. Go to your lunch, and make nice like I know you can. Be pleasant.”

Yes.

Be pleasant to a woman who had challenged Aria at every turn, spoke out against her, and was very possibly fucking her husband. Although, she really didn’t give a shit about that last one at all. She had no care or concern for her husband in the grand scheme of things. Certainly not enough to try and stake claim over him because of petty jealousy.

The bitch could have him.

Aria nodded, and reached for the passenger door handle. It was Raffe’s voice that made her hesitate just a moment longer.

“And remember, Nico is watching—he’ll report back. I’ll be three blocks over checking on some business.”

Yes, Nico …

She smiled slyly.

Raffe didn’t see it because she was already getting out of the car, and closing the door behind her. He revved the engine—another warning to Aria—as she rounded the front of the Mercedes, and headed for the restaurant’s entrance. He didn’t even pull away and drive off until she was safely inside the place.

Aria hadn’t even gotten a glimpse of Nico, but it didn’t matter. He was watching.

She checked her watch—quarter after twelve, it read. Fifteen more minutes. Nico would do his job. It just wouldn’t be for Raffe.

Aria might not have been in the game to her husband, but she was sure as hell still playing what angles she could to make sure the plans she had worked so hard for went down how she wanted and needed them to.

She did a quick survey of the restaurant, and the small bar. Her guest was nowhere to be seen as she stepped up to the podium to speak with the woman tapping on a tablet.

“Mrs. De Rose,” she greeted, never glancing up. “Private room today?”

“As usual.”

“Follow me, then. Your husband won’t be joining you?”

“Not today.”

Unfortunately.

“But I will have another guest,” Aria added.

This whole thing might have gotten rid of him, too, but Raffe had other things to do. He didn’t like to go along with whatever Aria asked of him. But she damn well better do everything he asked of her.

Funny how that worked.

Aria kept a close watch on the time even as she was led into the private area, she seated herself to the right side of the table just offset from the large windows, and her wine glass was filled halfway with a pink Rosé. No schnapps today. She needed to be fully alert, and ready to fucking move when the time called for it.

She only grew more irritated the longer her guest made her wait. Whether they showed up or not, the show was still going to go down at twelve-thirty sharp.

“Drinking this early in the day, Aria?”

And there she is.

Aria tilted her head just enough to get Giovanna Bruno in her sights, and smiled coldly. “I think this whole lunch calls for a drink, doesn’t it?”

“You can’t even pretend to like me, can you?”