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“I thought we were on a first name basis now?”
He nods. “Alistair, then. Something you might not know about me is that I consider myself a bit of an expert when it comes to married women.”
I look pointedly at the lack of wedding ring on his finger.
“You mean women married to other men.”
He lifts a brow, shrugging as he sips his drink. “What can I say? The heart wants what the heart wants.” He turns to level a hard look at me. “Bu when it comes to your own preference in…shall we say, unavailable women?”
“Mr. Barone?—”
“It’s Carmy, and please, I’m not an idiot, Alistair.” He looks at me coolly. “Be careful.”
“Of?”
“Massimo.”
“I thought you were buddies.”
He laughs coldly. “Fuck no. But let him think that as long as he wants. My point is, Massimo might come off like a buffoon, but he isn’t nearly as stupid or reckless as he makes himself out to be.” He gives me a significant look. “I really mean that. It’s all an act. That fucker is way more calculating and devious than he lets anyone think. Be careful.”
“Mr. Black?”
The maître d’ materializes at my elbow.
“Your guest is expecting you.”
Carmy arches a brow. “You got balls, counselor, I’ll give you that. Dinner with the man whose…possessions you’re coveting?”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Well,” he nods as he finishes his drink. “Let’s hope Massimo doesn’t either.”
I won’t lie, I’m on edge when I step into Massimo’s private dining room after Carmy’s miserable attempt at a pep talk. But whatever tension I’m holding in my jaw melts away when I realize A, how drunk Massimo already is, and B, how much of a bullshit dinner this is going to be.
There’s no weird tension. No suspicion. The man doesn’t even mention Eloise or the fact that she’s been on a business trip with Taylor for almost four days. The “dinner to discuss business” truly is just that: talking business, drinking, and eating fantastic steaks.
It’s an odd sensation, sitting across from the man whose wife I’ve essentially claimed for myself. Even though they’re not a real thing, and even though this hardly constitutes an “affair” given that their “relationship” is purely transactional and has never once been physical, there’s still this rush of…something…in my veins.
Smugness, maybe. Triumph.
Mostly, I’m just ignoring him, with my thoughts squarely on Eloise.
…And all the ways I’m going to make her scream the second I get back to the hotel after this absurd meal.
My filthy thoughts and Massimo’s ramblings about trying to get a casino license for the city of New York—yeah, good luck with that—are interrupted by my phone ringing on the table next to me. Glancing down, I see Gabriel’s number.
I grin. My brother was submitting a petition to Judge Hawkins tonight to delay all proceedings, given the attempt on Roberto’s life. But that’s not the only thing Gabriel was delivering to Judge Hawkins. He was also submitting Valerie’s sworn deposition concerning her affair with Roberto, which also acts as his airtight alibi.
In all probability, even after she sees Valerie’s statement, Judge Hawkins would still go ahead with the trial. But she could decide that this is enough evidence to merit tossing the whole case out tonight.
“Mr. Carveli, apologies, I have to take this.”
He shrugs casually, deep in his whiskey. “Go ahead. I’m going to get that waitress with the ass back in here for another round,” he grins.
Yeah, you do that.
I step out of the dining room and slip around the corner before answering.
