“Many don’t,” he said. “If you’re not from the U.K., then where?”
“Born in Singapore, though spent most of my school years in England.”
“Ah, that’s the other part of your accent.”
She smirked. “When I’m relaxed, you’ll hear my full Singlish coming out.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Do you, now?” she said, eyebrow raised.
“Is that where your mother is from?”
“She is.”
“Her mother is a long-serving member of the Singaporean parliament,” Viv said.
“Is that so?” Stone said.
“Twenty-one years so far,” Tamlyn said.
“You must be very proud of her.”
“Both my father and I are.”
Once they had finished eating,Stone said, “Can I interest anyone in a nightcap at my place?”
“Sorry, Stone,” Viv said. “I have a conference call with our Seoul office in…” She looked at her watch. “…forty-five minutes. Which means Dino and I need to be leaving.”
“I guess you know my answer,” Dino said.
To Tamlyn, Stone said, “Please tell me you don’t need to be on that conference call, too.”
“I don’t,” she said. “But this is only my second night here, and I’m still adjusting. Plus, I do have an early meeting tomorrow, so I must also pass.”
“While I’m disappointed, I completely understand.”
Smiling, she said, “I will take a rain check, however.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
She eyed him playfully. “Please do.”
Chapter 3
Several miles away in Queens,Ricky Gennaro was polishing off his penne arrabbiata when his sister Rosa entered the dining room, crossed her arms, and scowled.
“What?” he asked.
“Snapper and Jimmy are at the gate.”
“Already?” He hadn’t expected to hear from them for another hour or two.
“You think I’m making it up?”
“What? No. That was rhetorical.” His sister could be a real pain in his ass sometimes. “Just let them in.”
A minute later, the two men lumbered in, sans Rosa. Both were tall and beefy, which was why they made decent enforcers.
