His pale blue gaze narrowed onme.
“Tristan!” his friend called out, drawing open the door of a black chauffeuredsedan.
“I’m looking for Jarod Adler,” I said quickly, hoping the blue-eyed man could somehow helpme.
“What do you want with Jarod?” he asked inFrench.
“I’d like to discuss a . . .project.”
The man smirked. “What an interesting choice ofword.”
Was it? “Could you introduce me to MonsieurAdler?”
Tristan’s friend grumbled. “Bon, tu viens ou pas?”Are youcoming?
“Non,” Tristan responded, keeping his gaze on me. “I suppose I could introduceyou.”
When his gaze dipped to my breasts, I folded myarms.
“Well, I’m leaving,” his friend said and shut the cardoor.
“Is Jarod awake?” I askedTristan.
“Can’t host a partyasleep.”
A party?I supposed that explained Tristan’s fancy attire. “So, this isn’t a bad time to speak withhim?”
“Sweetheart, if Jarod doesn’t want to talk to you, he won’t.” My eyes must’ve gone a little wide because Tristan added, “Relax. He’ll definitely want to talk withyou.”
“What makes you socertain?”
“He likes pretty, softthings.”
Was he talking about my cleavage, which he was still ogling, or me as awhole?
He winked at me. “Come. I’ll take you into the devil’slair.”
A chill slunk up my spine. What had I gotten myself into? “I’m not really dressed for theoccasion.”
“Don’t fret about youroutfit.”
I raised aneyebrow.
“No one keeps their clothes on for very long beyond thesedoors.”
I gulped, which made the manchuckle.
“I, uh . . .” I clutched my cell phone harder. “I probably should come backlater—”
“Nonsense.” Tristan swung his attention toward an unmarked silver plaque—not a plaque, a buzzer into which he pressed hisfinger.
Asher. Celeste.I repeated their names inside my mind until they ran together like watercolors and formed a single one.Asherceleste.
Chapter 8
Isteppedover the raised threshold and into an enormous paved courtyard centered around a fountain that held the statue of a woman, draped in a one-shouldered gown, spurting water. It was pretty, too pretty, for a mafiosohaunt.
“You’re not here to murder him, are you?” Tristan’s voice made my gaze snap off thefountain.
