“What business do you actually do, Toni?”
“Shipments. Mostly.”
“Of what?”
His eyes sharpen. “You sound suspiciously like the police.”
“I just want to know what Warren is involved in,” I say quietly. “Before I get in too deep.”
“Deep?” he repeats calmly. “Ambitious, when he’s just paying your wage.”
Footsteps crunch behind us. Warren and Anthony round the corner, faces tight with panic, stopping short when they see us.
Toni turns slightly toward them. “She sounds like the police,” he calls out mildly.
Warren strides closer. “Don’t be ridiculous, Toni. She works for me.”
“And you checked her background?”
“Of course.”
“Because when you consider where she comes from—”
“What does my background have to do with anything?” I cut in. “And how do you even know about it?”
Toni doesn’t look at me. He’s locked in a stare with Warren now, who steps closer, subtly, protectively placing himself almost between us. And suddenly, the beach doesn’t feel peaceful anymore.
Toni’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “Strip.” The word lands flat and final, carried on the sea breeze like it’s nothing more than a suggestion.
I laugh once, sharp and disbelieving. “Excuse me?”
“If you are police,” he says calmly, “you will be wearing a wire. Or a tracker. Something small. Clever.” His gaze drags over me, clinical now, not admiring. “Take off your clothes. We will see.”
Warren stiffens beside me. “No,” he snaps instantly. “That’s not happening.”
Toni doesn’t even look at him. “Then we have a problem.”
Anthony shifts behind Warren. I can feel the atmosphere change, the beach suddenly feels too open and exposed.
“This is insane,” I say. “You can’t seriously be asking me to—”
“Warren,” Toni cuts in softly, finally turning his head. “You brought her into my world. You sat her at my table. Now she’sasking questions.” His voice remains calm, almost bored. “If she is clean, this ends. If she is not—” He shrugs. “We deal with it.”
Warren steps closer to me, his body a shield. “She’s not police,” he growls. “I checked her.”
“And checks fail,” Toni replies. “Especially when emotions are involved.”
Silence stretches uncomfortably. I look at Warren. His jaw is locked so tight I can see the muscle jumping. His fists are clenched at his sides.
“You are not doing this,” he says again, but this time, there’s less certainty in it.
Toni tilts his head. “Unless you would prefer I have my men do it for her.”
My stomach drops.
“Don’t,” Warren snaps. “Don’t you dare—”
Then Toni steps closer. Just one pace. “She is not leaving until I know for certain.”
