Page 38 of Lovely Venom

She drags the hem of her dress up with one finger, revealing a garter-style holster. My eyes trace over the black leather bands curving around her thigh, and something hot pulses through my veins.

The sight triggers my most primal instincts, two of which are currently at war. The realization that someone made her feel this unsafe fills me with a thirst for violence. But it also has the unfortunate effect of stirring a hunger I’ve tried in vain to repress.

I secure the blade back in its sheath, careful not to let my fingers touch her skin.

As I remove the dome from the tray and slide the table in front of her, an uncomfortable feeling lingers in my chest.

“Eat.”

“Why are you always telling me what to do?” She appraises me.

“Why are you always doing what I tell you?”

The faintest hint of a flush crawls down her throat before she turns her attention to the plate, her brows creasing in confusion.

“Strawberry waffles? Do you really have those on the menu here?”

I avoid that landmine by retrieving my phone and texting Angelo. A minute later, there’s a knock at the door, and I leave Chantel to eat while I join him in the corridor.

“We’re in business,” he says. “Henri has agreed to work with us.”

I nod, but something feels off, and Angelo seems to agree.

“It was suspiciously easy,” he says.

“Ares is definitely up to something,” I mutter. “There’s no way he’s not keeping tabs on Henri while he’s in Seattle. He wouldn’t let him walk in here tonight if he didn’t have a plan.”

“My guess is he’s making moves on the port itself,” Angelo says. “If he doesn’t get control over the distribution networks, it won’t matter when he can effectively eliminate us doing business there. We need to get Bastien onboard.”

Tension crawls up the base of my spine as I consider the fallout if this doesn’t go to plan.

Right now, the Cosa Nostra dominates the European market, but there’s been a major shake-up in the Corsican syndicate. Under Bastien’s leadership, the French have managed to secure control of port operations and Customs in Marseille. That port opens up opportunities for expansion, high-end logistics, and money laundering.

This is a pivotal shift in a previously untapped area, and every major Mafia outfit will be vying for the opportunity to secure it. But the biggest threat is the perpetual thorns in our side known as the Stavros family.

They met with Henri Vasseur yesterday, because as the supply chain tycoon of southern Europe, he’s another major piece of this puzzle. He controls key distribution channels and has significant sway with critical contacts. With the recent transition of power, Henri was vulnerable to outside pressure that could have forced his hand if he didn’t negotiate his own deal. He needed protection, and we made the better offer. But without securing an alliance with Bastien and the Corsican syndicate, this deal is worthless.

It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement. By aligning with the Cosa Nostra, the French will gain power in numbers, which will prevent competitors from challenging their control. They’ll also benefit from the Cosa Nostra’s global network and the international trade routes they don’t currently have access to.

The problem is it all hinges on a marriage contract to sweeten the deal. And if I don’t agree, there’s a good chance Ares will happily throw one of his five brothers on the sacrificial altar.

We can’t allow the Greeks access to those operations. If Ares gets one foot in the door, he’ll make aggressive moves to dismantle our trade routes in other regions.

Aligning with Bastien is a priority, and right now, I’m the only thing standing in our way. Angelo isn’t aware of the marriage stipulation yet, and I plan to keep it that way while I continue negotiations.

“How’s it coming along with him?” he asks.

“I’m handling it.”

He scrubs a hand over his face and sighs. “Just try to get it done. I don’t like giving Ares more time to come up with a scheme of his own.”

“I’ll let you know what we figure out.” I check the time on my watch. “I’m going to take Chantel home.”

“How is she?” He glances at the closed door.

“I’ll have Mariella check her over tomorrow, but I think she’s okay for tonight.”

“I’ll bring Abella by to see her in the morning,” he says.