I’d fallen for Katia Riivik the first moment I saw her, swirling around a pole on the stage in Michael’s club.
And she’d...well, she’d fallen for Michael.
She’d spent years in his bed, running his books by day and loving him at night. My jaw clenched as I tried to push away the image of any man touching her, even the one I considered a...friend? My features drew together as I contemplated. I wasn’t sure if Michael was a friend, necessarily, but we had an understanding that I shared with few people, and that wassomething. He’d claimed Katia years ago, and I’d buried any feelings for her so deep they’d never see light again.
I’d always believed that if a man lived with dignity, he’d reap the rewards of living a just life.
Until the woman I was obsessed with fell in love with the rich-as-shit mafia boss.
And damn if that didn’t just fucking suck, but hey, no one said life was fair.
I was honest enough with myself to admit it was a blow to my pride, but life went on, and I accepted their relationship.
They were together for a few years before their sexual relationship ended. I never asked why, and I pretended not to care. After all, Katia was beautiful, and I was sure she’d move on to someone else with gobs of money who would give her the world.
Strangely, she hadn’t dated anyone that I was aware of, but I wasn’t near her enough to know the intricacies of her life. Hell, for all I knew she was dating someone at the club. In the end, it didn’t really matter. I had too much pride to ask, and I didn’t want to play second fiddle to Michael. She’d chosen him, and that was that.
But I still cared for Katia and would certainly do my best to help her if I could. We’d had a nice interaction the last time I met with her at the Gilded Cage. Over the past few years,she’d pretended to give me private dances so we could exchange information without me having to meet directly with Michael. It offered good cover and allowed me to spend a few moments with her while I drowned in those translucent green eyes and inhaled that fucking scent of hers that drove me nuts.
I finished filtering through my emails and noticed a new one come through titledMeeting with Daniel Kelly. I opened it and accepted the calendar invite for later that afternoon. Rising, I shrugged on my suit jacket and stuffed my phone in my pants pocket.
My heart beat in tandem with my footsteps as I walked to the parking garage. I vowed to keep it steady as I met with Katia, reminding myself that my heart had nothing to do with my interactions with her.
Sliding behind the wheel, I started the car and prepared to meet the woman who took up way too much space in my head.
Chapter 3
Katia
Istepped into Bloom Café a few minutes early and bought two black coffees. I stopped by the stand to put some cream and sugar in mine before finding a table by the window. Leo entered, his broad shoulders encased in a dark suit jacket although he didn’t wear a tie. He wore sunglasses, which made him look mysterious, but quickly removed them to search the café. I lifted my hand in a little wave, and his piercing blue eyes lasered in on me.
God, he’s so intense.
The words filtered through my head as he strode toward me. I’d met many gruff, stoic men in my day, but Leo was on another level. The man put the “brood” in brooding. I’d always felt terrible knowing how uncomfortable our meetings in the club made him, but we both understood they were the most inconspicuous place to meet to share confidential information.
But I couldn’t very well give a fake private dance at ten in the morning, and I hadn’t wanted to wait until evening, so here we were in the light of day.
Leo sat across from me, his stubble showing a few gray hairs, and I remember him telling me he’d just turned forty-two. His jaw seemed...firmer in the daylight, somehow, and his features just a bit more angular. For the first time, I noticed how long his eyelashes were.
In the light of day, Leo Stabler looked...different. More professional.Sexy.
“Am I late?” he asked, glancing at his phone before setting it face-down on the table. “Sorry.”
“No, you’re good. I got you black coffee, but there’s a stand over there if you want cream or sugar.”
“Black’s good.” He lifted the cup and took a sip. “So, this is what you look like when you’re not pretending to dance.”
Laughing, I nodded. “It was kind of refreshing to not have to wear two-inch heels. Those things kill my feet.”
He glanced under the table, noticing my practical sandals. “Those look comfortable.”
“And you seem more comfortable here than in the club,” I said, grinning. “I get it. You’re too refined for that place, although Michael and I do try our best to keep it classy.”
He studied me as he took another sip, and I cleared my throat to ease the tension.
“Thank you for meeting me,” I said, straightening in my chair. “I have a meeting with Michael at one o’clock today, and I want to show up with as much information as possible.”
Leo nodded. “Okay.”