“It’s too big for him to handle, and I want someone different. He’s too involved in my business to handle this transaction. Wolf dropped your name, and I thought I’d come to you first.”
My eyes narrow on Wolf. Friends or not, criminals are criminals and will stab each other right through the back to save their own asses. “I don’t know, Hassan.” I shake my head and drag my snifter of Louis in front of me. “I’m pretty booked.”
“It’s ten million dollars for you. I’m sure you could find time for that type of cash,” Wolf adds.
“Even for double that amount, I couldn’t find the time.”
Hassan studies me as he lights his cigar, dragging out a few puffs, creating a small cloud in front of me. “Fine.” He leans back and stares at me with an unreadable face. “I’ll give you twenty-five million, but not a penny more.”
I wave away the smoke and the offer. “Can’t do it.”
“I’m disappointed in you, Nix. I thought you’d be interested.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m not interested in getting involved in an arms deal in the Middle East.”
“They’re going to a worthy cause.” The cigar is hanging between his teeth, and his words come out garbled. “That, I can assure you.”
“I appreciate the assurance, but my answer is still no.” Wrapping my lips around the glass, I let the Cognac drift across my tongue before sliding down my throat. I’m done with Alex Hassan and his offer, and he knows it, sliding out of the booth and pulling on the cuffs of his white dress shirt nonchalantly.
“If you change your mind, I’m going to wait twenty-four hours to ask anyone else.” He wanders away toward Eva before I can tell him not to waste the time.
“You’re a fucking fool,” Wolf says and rests his elbows on the table, holding his head in his hands. “That’s a lot of money to turn down based on some bullshit moral code.”
I pin him with my glare and speak with my teeth clenched together. “I’m not getting involved in terrorist shit, Wolf. You fuckin’ know it. Don’t ever mention my name around anything that has to do with it again, especially to him. Got me?”
“Yeah, man. But he’s not a bad guy.”
“We’re all bad guys. Remember that.” I glance around the Loft, taking in our surroundings. There isn’t an honest person here, only people out for themselves and a mountain of cash.
He downs his glass of vodka before slamming the empty tumbler on the table. “I’m out. I have a job to do tonight. You take care, Nix. Let me know when you pull your head out of your ass.” He’s on his feet and heading toward Hassan and Eva before I can reply.
Eva’s eyes meet mine from Hassan’s side and darken. Her tongue darts out, toying with the metal around her lip that captured my attention. All I can think of is how it would feel against my cock as I tangle my fingers in her hair, bumping the back of her throat with each thrust and listening to her moan like a bitch in heat.
But unlike Hassan, I don’t welcome strangers into my bed without knowing their full background. I’m not willing to spend the rest of my life in jail for some head, no matter how spectacular.
3
Kennedy
Wolf approachesthe bar and half shrugs as Alex studies him.
“He ain’t gonna change his mind,” Wolf says. “But I know some other guys I can recommend.”
Alex scoffs. “Other guys are sloppy. I want Phoenix. This deal is too big to take any risks.”
“I can’t change his mind. He doesn’t want to be part of it.”
“Keep trying,” Alex says darkly. “He wouldn’t be at the top of the game if he was ethical.”
I’m taking notes in my head as they speak, remembering every word and sentence spoken. I learned to do this at the Greenlight academy. It would have been a handy skill in college, but I didn’t join Greenlight until six months after graduating college.
Across the room, Phoenix gets up and walks toward the door, staring down at his phone.
“I have to use the bathroom,” I murmur to Alex. Still focused on his conversation with Wolf, he doesn’t even look at me.
I keep my shoulders back and walk with purpose. There’s something about this walk that men always seem to notice. Nix is no exception.
“Taking off ’cause you figured out Hassan’s an asshole?” he asks me, looking up from the screen of his phone.
