The corner of his mouth curls cryptically before he’s gone. He’s turned the corner and left me standing alone in the middle of the corridor.
I stare after him, using the moment to decipher the suspicion prickling through me. It niggles away at the back of my neck like some sixth sense.
Dad’s always got something up his sleeve. Some angle he’s working that he doesn’t share ’til it suits him.
Whatever he’s got cooking tonight, I have a feeling I won’t like it.
But I’ve got my own problems to deal with. Starting with the woman waiting for me down the hall.
Chantal’s event is everything I expected it to be and nothing I’d want to deal with.
But I’m not thinking about the pretentious art or the haughty laughter of Manhattan’s elite as they mingle in their designer threads.
My mind’s on Simone and how fucking gorgeous she looks even while hating my guts. She barely let me escort inside the gallery by the arm. She’s kept her distance from me as she chats with her best friend, hair pinned up to expose the delectable column of her throat.
The lighting in the gallery’s supposed to be atmospheric, yet the only thing it does is highlight her bronze complexion and make her look like a fucking dessert to be consumed.
I’d gladly follow if I didn’t think she’d smack me across the face again. And she would anyway if tonight wasn’t also weighed down by the revenge my guys are carrying out.
I’m supposed to be focused on what’s happening with Dren, not hyperaware of how my wife makes my cock hard without even trying.
I bite down hard on my jaw and sulk as Chantal squeals about Simone’s cute outfit and they exchange other tedious compliments.
Her best friend introduces us to her date for the night, a hedge fund manager by the name of Gregory LaMalfa.
I’m more than a little familiar with the guy. The white-haired prick is in bed with the Ferreras, frequently doing business with La Cosa Nostra and lining their pockets. He’s had people disappeared, including a reporter who had started poking her nose in his financials.
He might be a suit-and-tie wealthy man with a so-called respectable job title, but he’s a lot like Malcolm Langston in that way—men who are chameleons and present themselves as civilized in front of one crowd while being anything but in the shadows.
When LaMalfa goes to shake my hand, I keep mine buried deep in my pockets. And when Simone bitches me out about being rude, I let her know her best friend’s dating a guy who’s no better than I am.
A man who I’d argue is a lot worse for hiding what he really is.
The evening drags on.
Simone and I wander the gallery in strained silence, our security detail trailing behind us. I check my phone every few minutes, waiting for an update about the operation at Dren’s compound.
Killian gets the latest before I do, stepping up on my right side with a grim expression.
“Just heard back from Sean.”
Simone takes the opening to wander back over to Chantal while me and Killian break off for a private word.
“It went sideways,” he says. “The compound was empty. Dren and his family were gone. They must’ve got the jump on us somehow and evacuated before we made it on.”
“How the fuck’s that possible?” I question in a growl. “We kept our plans close to the vest. Only our guys knew the details.”
“Which means somebody told—or Dren’s somehow overheard. Either way, the entire premises was abandoned. Not even his employees were there.”
My mind races, piecing together what this could mean. If Dren knew we were coming, if he evacuated his family ahead of time, then he’s aware we’re on the offense. A headstrong asshole like him will carry out his own counterattack.
“Fuck, you know what this means, don’t you? He’s going to hit back. Possibly tonight. We need to get ahead of this. Fionn can take Simone home. You and I will regroup with the others.”
Eddie’s been hovering close enough to catch what’s being said. He edges even closer and says, “I’ll go too. Make sure she gets there safe.”
Normally I’d scold him for interjecting when his ass should know his place, but I’d rather have him with Fionn on a simple task like escorting Simone home than taking part in whatever else goes down tonight.
I give a curt nod and start for the exit. Fionn and Eddie escort Simone out the door with me as she protests.