Before they took things any further, I stepped into the light, making myself known. “Hey. What’s up, guys?” I asked loudly.
They immediately pulled apart, stepping back. Sofia snatched Ciro out of Jeremie’s hands. “Hi, Tier. Sorry. I didn’tsee you.” Her face flushed, but when I looked up to watch Jeremie, his eyes were threatening to kill me.
“Don’t worry about it.” I flung a dismissive hand her way. “Am I the only one who’s super drunk here? I bet I’ll remember nothing about tonight tomorrow morning. The hangover is going to be a bitch.”
I wasn’t drunk at all, but I wanted to assure them I wasn’t going to say anything.
Jeremie stared at me coldly. “Alex is already in the dining room. He is pleased to see you after all these years.”
I gave him an airy smile, but zero words. I didn’t like the Bratva, and I especially did not like the Rasputins.
“We were just going to send Ciro off with the nanny.” Sofia smiled awkwardly. “I’d do it alone, but Jeremie is helping me with the stroller and baby seat…”
“Those things look heavy.” I nodded, playing dumb. No stroller or baby seat was anywhere in sight. “Better hurry up, then, before Achilles comes out of the infantry room and starts playing with Ciro. You know how he is with kids.”
The look on Sofia’s face when she gave me a quick hug said “thank you.”
And the wink I gave her back said she was very welcome.
Sure enough, Achilles reappeared a second after Sofia and Jeremie took flight.
“Who were you talking to?” he asked, locking the door and punching in a code that activated another lock.
“Just Sofia.”
This was technically true. I hadn’t said one word to Jeremie. Achilles cupped my neck from both sides, studying my face. “We still have a few minutes before dinner starts. Want me to eat you out in the meantime?”
I coughed out a laugh. “That sounds lovely, but I actually need to go pee.” I didn’t feel like sex right now because I was tooon edge to meet with half the guest list. “Where is the nearest restroom?”
“You go back where we came from, first door on the right. Want me to walk you?”
I shot him a frown. “Please don’t pull a Lila. I am perfectly capable of peeing by myself.”
He smiled. “Okay.”
But I didn’t go to the restroom he directed me to. I took the stairs down to buy some time and allow myself to think.
Tristan Hale had spared my life.
He never had with any other victim—at least, none anyone knew of.
Why me? And why did he take the job if he hadn’t planned to finish it?
Aimlessly wandering through the dark corners of the establishment, I looked for signs of restrooms. I was now somewhere between one of the restaurants and the bar. The place was buzzing, with dozens of well-dressed people, mostly men. The silver sign for a bathroom finally twinkled from the other side of the venue. I headed in its direction into a narrow alcove, slowing my steps when I detected a large, muscular form standing by the door.
Squinting, I tilted my head to study the vaguely familiar face.
Relax. It’s not him. It can’t be
There wasn’t a chance in hell the Ferrante brothers would let this person walk into their establishment without a warrant. Besides, my luck wasn’t that shitty. Alex and Tristan Hale in one evening was more than enough without meeting this asshat.
But the closer I got to him, the more I was convinced it was Agent Tom Rothwell, his arm propped against the wall, waiting for someone to leave the restroom.
I stopped, shrinking behind a wall, and watched him.
I naturally assumed that if he was here, he’d be here for me, since I was the only person in the Ferrantes’ inner circle who ever gave him the time of day. But it appeared he was waiting for someone else.
The door unlocked from the inside, flinging open. Out came Enzo, dressed to the nines and pissed into oblivion. Their gazes clashed, and my heart jumped to my throat. Every small hair on my body stood on end. I couldn’t understand this reaction, especially as I had no skin in whatever game these two were playing.
