Dina nodded brightly. “Very much, Mr. Cortes.”
“I’m glad,” he said, smile tight. “That’s all that matters.” He paused. “Though, I noticed my DJ quit.”
Dina beamed. “I can fill in!”
I squinted at her. “Driver, DJ, and what else…?”
She purred. “Multitalented.”
Kian turned his attention to me. “You and I need to talk.”
“Wearetalking.”
“Alone.”
Dina slid off the stool and vanished with impressive speed. She was definitely not a girl’s girl material.
“Why alone?” I asked. “Do you have a mysterious disappearance planned?”
He didn’t blink. “If I wanted that, it would’ve already happened.”
I looked up and took him in. He appeared every inch the mafia boss in a suit that screamed money, control, and immaculate taste. Maybe my guard was down. Maybe it was the flamingo glasses. Maybe it was public karaoke in a backless dress.
I lifted my chin. “Talking tonight doesn’t work for me.”
He nodded once.
Then, without warning, he took my drink, set it on the bar, and threw me over his shoulder.
“What are you doing?” I squealed.
“Getting you out of here.”
Kian
Unfortunately, there was no cloak of night to hide us—at eight o’clock the sun still lingered, slipping lazily toward the horizon. Many onlookers threw curious glances our way as Sophie demanded I put her down.
The music thudded behind us until it was replaced by the steady roar of the sea. I adjusted my grip automatically, one arm locked around her thighs, the other braced across her back. She was lighter than she looked. Too light for the amount of trouble she caused.
“Put me down,” she demanded, breathless, fists beating uselessly against my back.
I kept walking.
The valet froze when he saw us. I didn’t slow down, didn’t explain. The car door was open before my name finished forming on his tongue.
Sophie finally stopped struggling and I set her onto the passenger seat.
She yanked her dress down the moment my hands left her, eyes flashing with annoyance.
“You’re insane,” she said. “And violent.”
“Boss, I can drive,” Amir offered, appearing at the curb.
“Listen to your sidekick,” Sophie chimed in. “I don’t want to be alone with the head of the Albanianmafiaand the Braziliancartel! He ends lives, I save?—”
I shut the door harder than I should have, but the woman was driving me insane.
Amir tried again. “Boss, let me?—”
