“That’s different. She’s paid to do it. Imean, I’ve never had anyone cook for me just because they wanted to,” he clarifies.
I don’t know what to say to that. “You’re welcome. So, why Milan?”
“There’s a church I saw once, and it’s the perfect place for you,” he says. “Fit for a queen.”
“I’m not a queen, E.”
“Yes, you are,” he argues.
Then I remember what I told Rachel. I promised I wouldn’t run off and get married without her. Shit. “Um, can we invite friends to Milan?”
“We can take whomever you want.” Emmanual shrugs.
“Just Rachel and Charlotte.” I don’t have any family to invite. Those two girls are my everything.
“I will make sure that they’re there for you.”
“I’ll call Rachel… when we know proper dates. She might not be able to make it with her work schedule.”
“Evie, if you want to go back to Georgia and get married there, so your friend can attend, then we can,” Emmanuel says.
“It’s just… after Charlotte got married in Vegas without her, I promised Rach I wouldn’t just run off,” I explain.
“So we nix Milan and go for Georgia.” Eshrugs again.
“Let me talk to her first,” I tell him. She might be able to swing it.
“Okay,” he says around a mouthful of pasta. “This is fucking delicious, by the way.”
“Thank you.” I smile.
Who would have thought I’d love cooking for a man so much? Certainly not me.
Chapter Forty-Four
I’ve been busy before. There’s always something or someone to deal with in my line of work. At the moment, though, it’s fucking insane. Not only am I crossing names off the list I obtained from Evie’s mother, I’m also looking for the rat bastard Enrique and that fucking agent who beat the shit out of Paz and approached Evie.
Paz was able to find the agent’s homeaddress but the asshole hasn’t shown his face there yet. We’ve got men stationed on his street waiting for him. He has a wife and a ten-year-old son—pawns I would usually use to my advantage—but I promised Evie I would avoid the killing of innocent people where I could.
And then there is the whole getting married thing. Which, believe me, I fucking want to marry that woman. I just can’t fly out to Milan or Georgia or wherever the hell we’re getting married right now. I need to deal with these threats before we can do that.
The plan is to use Evie to draw out this agent. I know assholes like him. He’s watching her, and as soon as he thinks she’s alone, he’s going to try to approach her again. When he does, I’ll fucking be there. First, I have a meeting that Paz and Alejandro set up. One that can’t be missed.
I just left Evie at Louie’s. She’s talking to Charlotte and Rachel about the wedding. Really, I just wanted her somewhere with someone I could trust to look out for her. Not that I haven’t left twenty guys around the Royal. If she leaves that penthouse, she will be surrounded. Everyone protecting her like the queen she is.
As soon as I walk into the conference room, the faces of the six men sitting at the round table pale. Ismirk. I like having that effect on people. One of the men goes to stand. I hold out a hand and then someone else is pushing him back down in the chair.
“Please, don’t stand on my account,” I say.
“Who are you?” another asks with a bravado he really shouldn’t have.
“Watch your fucking tongue. I’m the one asking questions here. Not you.” I point to him.
“Why would I answer anything you have to say?” he sneers at me.
My fist connects with his jaw. The asshole goes flying backwards in the chair and then he’s on the floor. “Get him up,” I tell my men, and two soldiers drag the guy to his feet.
“What the fuck?” the asshole cries out.
