Page 54 of Savage Little Lies

“Hello there,” Luca greets us as his eyes sweep back and forth between us. Dmitri stands to shake his hand. “I’ve never met with the Bratva before.”

“We don’t typically work with the Italians,” Dmitri replies.

Luca laughs, making him look younger and even more handsome as the men retake their seats. “Yeah, well, they shouldn’t have kicked me out of the family. Now, I like working with the enemy.”

An ex-Italian mafia member. Interesting.

“This is my assistant, Cara,” Dmitri says as he gestures to me. “Cara, meet Luca Leonetti, the black sheep of the Philadelphia Leonettis.”

Luca turns to me, his eyebrows lifting in interest. “Your assistant? I thought you were just arm candy, Bella.”

He seems a little cocky, but I can deal with that long enough for Dmitri to seal this deal.

I hold my hand out to Luca and tell him the truth. “I’m full of surprises.”

Luca laughs before kissing the top of my hand. “I like this one. Feisty.”

“She can be,” Dmitri replies, not sounding all that enthused. Maybe I said the wrong thing. Or maybe he doesn’t like the fact that Luca is being a little sensual with my hand. “Do you want a drink? We can get started.”

“Nah, I can’t stay long,” Luca replies as he finally releases me and turns to Dmitri. “So, you’re looking for moving trucks.”

“I lost my supplier, and I need more than before. Heard you were the man to talk to,” Dmitri tells him.

Luca nods. “I have a whole fleet that can be rented for deliveries. My drivers are quick and discreet.”

Dmitri shakes his head. “I have my own drivers that I trust.”

Luca clicks his tongue. “My drivers ensure that the trucks are in good order and aren’t stolen. How can I trust your drivers?”

“By trusting me,” Dmitri replies. “They know to go to the delivery location and come right back without drawing any attention to themselves.”

Luca rubs his jaw in thought. “These trucks are my business. They’re how I’ve kept myself out of the hole when I got tossed aside by my family.”

“There will be a traffic stop,” I speak up as I join my hands together on the table, figuring I can jump in quick and try to win this guy over. “Do you trust your drivers to pass through carrying illegal contraband? Do you really want the cops to get suspicious of them and trace everything back to you? Allowing Mr. Ivanov’s drivers to take the trucks keeps you safer. You could say you rented the trucks to us and didn’t know what we were carrying if the cops try to come after you.”

Luca hums under his breath and nods. “That’s true. I guess I could put trackers on the trucks to make sure they’re not stolen either. I’d still like them back by a certain time, though. You’re not my only client needing trucks.”

“I’ll guarantee the return of your trucks on time,” Dmitri agrees. “So, do we have a deal? My drivers. Your trucks.”

“And I’m just a guy who rents out trucks if the police ask,” Luca replies as he holds Dmitri’s gaze.

Dmitri nods.

Luca grins and reaches out to shake Dmitri’s hand again. “Agreed. Just have your beautiful assistant send me a message telling me how many trucks you need and when. I’ll put you on my schedule.”

“Will do,” Dmitri replies.

Luca checks the time on his luxury watch. “Gotta go. Busy day.” Before he leaves, Luca pauses next to me and smiles. “If you ever want to show me those surprises of yours, you know how to reach me.”

A blush burns my cheeks, and all I can do is smile back, unsure of what to say. Luca is attractive, but he doesn’t make my heart forget how to beat like Dmitri does.

Luca takes off, leaving Dmitri and me at the table in tense silence.

“Now, we’ve got trucks,” I say as I turn to him.

Dmitri grunts in acknowledgement and finishes off his drink. “I’m going to get another.”

My eyes widen as I watch him leave the table and head over to the bar. Is he upset? Maybe I crossed the line by inserting myself into the negotiations.