Gabriel snorts. “The Scheduler. He’s a stickler for dates and times, in case you can’t tell.”
The name tugs the memory from my mind. He was the man at the vault, and during the other night at the club, the Berishas mentioned him being against Gabriel. Something about an impending coup.
“Does he have a name?”
“He does.” His lips flatten. “But it’s not important. Some people are destined to be inconsequential and to do menial tasks. My family doesn’t like the spotlight.”
A pillar of heat materializes to my right.
“Caruso,” Elias’s voice cuts in, tight and deadly, “what are you doing with my wife?”
The wiseass shrugs and steps back. “Keeping her company. A doe like her will be devoured in minutes. A gentleman wouldn’t leave the vulnerable unattended.”
His smile ices over when he looks at me. “If you ever need an ally, I’m one call away.”
He stuffs a card into my hand and walks away.
I gape, flabbergasted.
“What is it with you attracting motherfuckers who give you their numbers?” Elias snaps.
Indignation straightens my spine. “Maybe everyone senses this whole thing is a farce and they want to rescue me,husband,” I seethe.
I down my drink in one gulp and set it on the table. “I’m going to the restroom. Excuse me.”
I feel his gaze burning into my back as I walk away.
Den of wolves, my ass.
It’s a sea of sharks—each one smelling blood.
Chapter 36: THE HUNT
“That wasn’t very smart.”Sebastian sidles up to me at the refreshments table, where I’m currently drowning my anger in whiskey.
Gabriel, the Caruso heir, converses with his siblings, a bunch of good-looking motherfuckers. He arches a brow at me, flashing a taunting smile. I want to kill the bastard for flirting with my wife.
“You standing next to me isn’t very smart.” I scan the room. “Shouldn’t we pretend not to know each other?”
“That’s illogical. Everyone knows Elias Kent. It’ll be a red flag to pretend otherwise.” He chuckles under his breath. “And I’m anything but—”
“Illogical. Yes, I get it.”
“I told them I was scoping you out. Networking. They want a piece of you.” He clinks his glass against mine and lets out a fake laugh. “Those dirty secrets you hold make you the biggest target in the room.”
I glance at him. His slicked-back hair gleams under the candlelight. The fucking smile actually reaches his eyes, the damn psycho.
“Oh, the Berishas look uncomfortable. Edon might pop his artery. Then we’ll finally get some entertainment in this godforsaken place,” Sebastian quips before he belts out a louder laugh. “Or we can always talk about Sri Lanka. That’ll work.”
The psycho doesn’t need an audience. He’s a one-man comedy act, laugh track included.
I smirk. “You’re a manipulative bastard.”
“Human emotions are boring. Predictable. Now, lean in, whisper something in my ear.”
I restrain myself from rolling my eyes, but I don’t move. I have standards. I’m not whispering shit in anyone’s ear.
Sebastian sighs and twirls his penknife. His voice drops as he leans down and whispers, “Basement and first floor are cleared. Third floor’s under reno. That leaves the second floor. Two guards, no visible weapons. Aleksei’s looping the cameras at your signal. You have ten minutes.”
