Maksim cocks his head to one side. “Maksim Garin.”
“Ah.” The single syllable hangs in the air, dropping the temperature a few degrees. “And here I thought we might make some new friends tonight.”
“You used to be a man with many friends,” Maksim counters, his tone lightly mocking.
Nero shrugs. “Things change.”
“I suppose they do. You’ve only recently returned, right? For a while, word on the street was that you were dead.”
“I know. I helped start those rumors.”
Maksim chuckles. “But you discovered life’s charms once more?”
“Something like that.” Nero takes a sip out of the tumbler in his hand. “Although this isn’t quite the life I imagined I’d return to,” he says under his breath.
My heart picks up speed. He’s just thrown the bait.
Maksim’s smile remains frozen, but his eyes narrow. “Things change quickly in New York. We heard you’ve got a new boss now.”
“It’s no secret,” Nero says easily. “I was…reassigned.”
“Ferraro’s known for holding grudges.”
Nero’s response is a tight smile. He’s playing this perfectly. He can’t seem too eager to complain, or it will be obvious.
Maksim lets the silence linger for a few moments. He wants to see if Nero will volunteer something else. Vita’s advice rings inside my ears.“Don’t let them coax things out of you. Say your part, and then shut up.”
“Well, life can’t be too unpleasant with such a magnificent wife by your side,” Maksim says finally, breaking the tension with a nod in my direction.
Ekaterina sighs dramatically, rummaging through her tiny purse for her phone.
Nero draws me closer. “She does make even the most difficult situations bearable.”
“I’ll bet—”
“Maks, Angelica and her husband are here,” Ekaterina interrupts, her tone laced with impatience. “We have to go say hello.”
“Of course, Kotik.” Maksim clears his throat. “Well, enjoy the rest of your night.”
“You too,” Nero says, watching them retreat into the crowd.
I wait until they’re far enough away that they won’t overhear, and I turn to Nero. “Do you think that worked?”
His gaze is glued to the back of Maksim’s head. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
CHAPTER 18
NERO
I’m in bed and drifting in and out of a fantastically explicit dream featuring my wife, when I get a call from Gino the next morning.
“Well done last night.”
The sound of his voice makes my dick deflate instantaneously. I swear I can hear his fountains fucking gurgling in the background. I don’t know how he lives like that. I’d have to piss all the time.
I sit up against the headboard and rake my fingers through my hair. “What happened?”
“They put eyes on you this morning.”
