Carlyle
Why are the Italians so damn gaudy?The question had no answer, and I hid my scowl as I stared at the obscene, ugly mansion I’d been invited to. Wide columns swirled with gold inlay, a huge staircase leading up at least a story, and every single light on. It reminded me a lot of that rehab center Mateo liked.
A disgusting display of wealth. How anyone finds this shit attractive to the eye, I will never know.
“Is she in?” Glancing at Theo as he materialized next to me, I pursed my lips thinly when he nodded mutely. “I guess we’ll just have to watchThe Lion Kingnext weekend.”
“You may be the new king of crime or whatever, but that gives you no right to reference Disney.” Smirking at the gruff, totally serious grumble, I only shook my head before Theo caught my gaze. “It’s been twenty-eight minutes.”
“Right on time.” These damn Italians always had a reason to get fancy and waste money. I took the steps up to find several people waiting at the door. Someone to take my coat. Someone to give me wine. Someone to suck my cock and another to feed me grapes off the vine.Wait a minute . . .
I really need that night off tomorrow.
An absolutely enormous chandelier swung from the ceiling, and I ground my teeth at the superficial laughter and fake tits around me. No wonder the Italians were into sex slaving so heavily— they coveted physical beauty and spit on everyone else. Glancing around, I couldn’t identify Illya in the crowd, but I hadn’t hoped to spot her.
Who I did see, however, was Isabel in a sleek, beige cocktail dress that really flattered her figure. My skin crawled under my three-piece suit when her eyes found me, and I made my way towards Diamon—as in ‘diamond’ without a ‘d.’ The irony.
“Carlyle!” Forcing a polite smile onto my face, I grabbed Diamon’s outstretched hand as he practically bellowed to echo off the high ceiling. He and I were about the same age, but the excess of wealth clearly showed on his pretty face. “I wasn’t sure you were going to bother. I know this isn’t your scene.”
“I’m waiting around for the old man to die. Maybe, it’ll be tonight.” A couple laughs surrounded me as a swell of people gravitated towards me, and Diamon grinned unsuspectingly. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Theo tilted his head back with his signature sneer, and a malicious satisfaction rippled up my sternum. “So, how has business been lately?”
“It’s been fine. I’ve had some contention with my father, but I doubt his stubborn ass is going to keep over any time soon.” To her credit, Isabel didn’t push and shove her way over, but her slinking through the dozen or so people around me arguably was better for me. Theo watched her like a hawk, waiting for her to get a little too close, and I nodded as her brother opened his mouth to continue. She stepped over the imaginary line, and Theo stepped between us when she reached for me to grab her wrist and twist.
Isabel’s horrid, shrill shriek almost burst my eardrum, but I didn’t bother containing my wince to hide my smirk. She sunk to the polished floor, holding her broken wrist, and her long, silky black hair fell over her shoulders. For a heavy moment, no one did anything, and I had to admit, if she kept her mouth shut, she was very pretty.
If she kept her mouth shut and her head down, so no one had to see the ugliness of her expression ballooning with self-righteous entitlement.
“How dare you!” Her head snapped up, and Isabel’s mascara streamed down her face even as her lip curled into a nasty snarl. Narrowed, blue eyes focused on Theo, and one of her cronies came rushing over to help her to her feet. Illya appeared out of nowhere and just smacked Theo right in the face, and my brows rose in surprise as Diamon hissed beside me. The ex-Marine seemed to grow, and a fraction of a second slid by on pins and needles as they glared at each other.
“You’re gonna pay for that.” Watching them, knowing they weren’t fighting their anger as everyone else thought, I almost laughed as Illya spat the threat. Her eyelid twitched in agitation, and she turned on her heel to help Isabel to the corner of the room.
I guess . . . it was their party, so the Italians didn’t expect anyone to try anything?
“Go to the car.” Dismissing Theo just as planned, I waved a hand at him, and he frowned darkly. “I’ll deal with you later.”
He whipped around and stalked off, and I turned back to Diamon as Illya walked a crying Isabel out a side door. That bitch’s bitch brother started laughing, and I shook my head at how simple stealing her was turning out to be.
“Man, you’ve got no idea how many times I’ve wanted to do that over the years. At least I got to watch.” A cautious look flickered on Diamon’s face, and he gestured me to follow him away from the crowd a little. “To be honest, Carlyle, I didn’t believe for a second that you’d taken my father’s offer, but it did worry me. Why did he offer it in the first place? Why Isabel, when no one can stand her? Why not make a deal for myotherwhiny little sister that might actually have a chance?”
“I hadn’t thought about it, Diamon. Why do you ask?” Shit, not more layers of intrigue . . .
“You’re obviously aware of what happened with Wren Lockhart. He was one of you. He and Isabel were in ‘love.’” Scoffing uncontrollably, I pursed my lips and clenched my jaw hard even as Diamon rolled his eyes. “Trust me, I know. The point is, ever since he disappeared, Isabel has been whispering in our dad’s ear, trying to get into your operation. I’m pretty sure that’s what Wren’s job was supposed to be, but, obviously . . . ”
“I didn’t know he disappeared? Last I was aware, he was nursing his pride in a stable of million-dollar horses.” Either way, Wren was inconsequential. I didn’t need him, and he’d proven himself to be unreliable at best at covering his tracks. If that desert snake could uncover dirt on him, who knew what else was floating around about him. Nodding firmly, Diamon seemed to think on what to say next, and I frowned under furrowed brows. “What, Diamon?”
“I had heard Isabel talking to someone about him, and how was she supposed to get information about you and your operations now that he was gone. I know my sister and I really, really doubt she’s some mastermind, even if she thinks she is. I tracked the phone number to southern Texas.”
“Texas? What the fuck does Texas have to do with any of this?”Apparently, that snake and I have more to talk about than I thought.Covering my mouth to hide my frown, I nodded gratefully to Diamon, but he was a fucking idiot, extending this kind of olive branch at me. “Give your father my regards. I’m leaving.”
Before he could continue, I turned on my heel and shouldered through people unabashed, and I pulled out my phone to text Theo not to do anything too bad.
This simple killing was now an interrogation, and I didn’t usually get personally involved, but . . .
Isabel messed with— and Diamon trusted— the wrong man.
