Link
IDON’T REMEMBER the drive to Il Porto, but I’m pretty sure I broke at least a dozen traffic laws. All I could think about was getting to Emily and making sure she was okay. Her smartass comment telling me it was none of my business who she met with had pissed me off, but not nearly as much as Bull’s text that Mayor Kinlan had shown up.
She was meeting with Mayor fucking Kinlan.
After the messed-up shit Candice had told me, I knew the mayor was every bit as sick and twisted as his son, but smarter and more dangerous. I didn’t want Emily anywhere near him, but she wouldn’t answer her damn phone. Frustrated, I hopped on my sled and hauled ass to the restaurant.
“Please have a seat,” Emily said like she’d been expecting me. Like she hadn’t been ghosting my phone calls.
I gave the thugs on either side of me one last look before taking the seat she offered.
“Bull, Jayson, join us,” Emily gestured at the two open chairs.
One look at my face, and they both opted to keep their asses right where they were. Wise.
“Why didn’t you answer my call?” I asked Emily.
“I was preparing for a business meeting.”
“With a dangerous man,” I growled. Then I took a deep breath and tried to get myself under control. Emily was sitting right there, unharmed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were meeting with the mayor?”
Her forehead scrunched up. “Why would I?”
“Because, as I just said, he’s dangerous. You could have been hurt.”
She sat back and took her own deep breath, staring at me like she was trying to figure me out. I understood that look all too well.
“Do you think I’m stupid, Link?” she asked.
“What kind of bullshit question is that? You’re one of the most intelligent people I know.”
“So… it’s not my intelligence. Trust, maybe? You don’t trust me to safely set up a meeting with the mayor?”
“He’s powerful, babe. Connected.”
Her lips twitched, but her eyes remained hard and focused on mine. “Yes, he is, but so am I.”
Fuckin’ A. Only she had no idea how powerful she was. I’d never met someone who could turn me from pissed to horny so fast I was in danger of whiplash, but that’s exactly what Emily did to me. I didn’t know whether to bend her over my knee and swat her ass for scaring the hell out of me or fuck her right there on the table in front of everyone. Both. I wanted to do both.
“He didn’t say or do anything, did he?” I asked. “You’re okay, right?”
Her expression softened. “I’m fine, thank you. The case… not so much. He’s moving up the trial date. If we don’t scrounge up that girl or some witnesses brave enough to point a finger at Noah soon, we’re screwed. He’s also asking for a reciprocal discovery.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ll have to turn over whatever information I have so far. Soon, the mayor will know we have nothing.”
Emily had nothing. I had Candice, and I was so glad I hadn’t disclosed that bit of information to Emily. She’d have to tell the mayor, and who knew how that asshat would react.
A stunning woman way too dressed up for a restaurant approached our table, eyeing me. “Everything all right, dear?” she asked Emily while eyeing me.
“Yes. Thank you. Abrianna, this is my… this is Link. Link, Mrs. De Lucca owns the restaurant. She’s a good friend who often has my back when I need to meet up with Seattle’s sleaziest. Thank you so much for your help today, Abrianna.”
“My pleasure. You should have told me you were meeting up with the mayor, dear. He blocked my husband on a few building permits recently, and we owe him a great deal of trouble. By the way, the kitchen is boxing up your meals. I figured you’d want them to go since your meeting is over.”
“Thank you.” Emily reached for her purse, but Abrianna held out a hand.
“Don’t worry about that. After his little social faux pas, Mayor Kinlan was all too willing to pay for the meals of you and your companions.” Then she turned to me and said, “This one never ceases to amaze me. She handled the mayor perfectly. That pompous ass needs to be brought down a peg or two if you ask me. Anyway, I wanted to stop by and say goodbye. It was nice to meet you, Link. Please do let me know if you need anything else, Emily.”
