“One dinner doesn’t erase?—”
“It’s not just one dinner.” I reach over and place my hand over hers. “It’s the school in the village. It’s taking care of your fatherall those years. It’s the way you want to rid this city of the Gattos.”
Her fingers are cold beneath mine, and I can feel the slight tremor in her hand. She exhales sharply, her gaze fixed on the Vegas skyline. “Robin, I should never have taken you away from your family. The money is yours. Ten million, already in your account. And anything else I can give you—cars, a house, protection—I’ll arrange it. You’re free.”
I study her profile in the neon glow, my stomach twisting with sudden understanding.
She’s letting me go.
Eva Novak, who controls everything and everyone around her, is offering me complete freedom. No strings, no conditions, no expectations. Just…release.
I take a deep breath, my heart hammering against my ribs. “You say you’re not a good person? Then let’s do something good. What if the kids came back with me for the last week? To the castle? I know they’d all love it.”
Eva looks startled, like the suggestion never occurred to her. For a moment, she just stares at me, and I can see her turning the idea over in her mind.
Then, to my surprise, she nods slowly. “Perhaps you’re right. There’s certainly room enough.”
Something blooms in my chest, warm and bright. “Really?”
“Really.” And at last, she smiles.
I lean forward, emboldened by her agreement. “And then, once that week is up, you and I need to have a talk. About our future.”
Eva blinks at me, as though the word “future” is an alien concept—something she’s never allowed herself to consider outside of business deals and strategy sessions.
Then, slowly, she nods. “Yes,” she says quietly. “We will talk then.”
For a moment, everything feels almost safe. Like maybe we can figure this out. Maybe we can build something real from the complicated mess we started with.
I’m about to say something else when Eva’s phone buzzes against the table. She glances at it, and I watch her entire demeanor change. Her spine straightens, her expression shutters, and suddenly she’s the Consortium Eva again.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I’m sorry,” she says, standing abruptly. “I have to make a call.”
She’s already moving toward the door, the phone pressed to her ear, her voice dropping into rapid, urgent tones. “Give me a moment,” she’s saying. “I’ll find somewhere private.”
I sit alone on the balcony, the sweet wine turning sour in my mouth, watching the lights of Vegas blur together below.
Chapter 21
Eva
As I hang up the phone, Leon appears in the doorway as if summoned by telepathy. I suppose after thirty years together, he can read my moods better than anyone.
“Problem?” he asks.
“I have an impromptu meeting tonight at the Golden Sands. Brie Colombo and a few…guests.” I set down my phone. “They’ve asked to see me alone, so you’ll have to wait outside the room when we get there.”
“Like hell I will.”
“This is women’s work, Leon.” I adjust the cuffs on my silk blouse, trying to pull on my usual persona, to emulate my father, the Beast of the Blacklake. “Let us take care of it.”
“Who are these guests?”
I give him a bitter smile. “The usual suspects, as they say. But if they knock me off, you have my permission to kill all of them as hard as you want.”
Leon’s scowl deepens. “They’ll be watching for weakness.”
