Page 60 of Lucian

Jordyn tipped her chin up, a defiant glimmer in her gaze. “Hearing and not telling of a crime makes me an accessory, doesn’t it?”

Lucian snorted under his breath. “No one said anything about a crime happening, sweetheart.”

“You didn’t say it wasn’t, either.”

“No, I didn’t. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

Jordyn rested back into the chair. “I think I’ll stay with you.”

Inside, Lucian’s confidence in this woman might have swelled more. “Good. I want you on this side of the table with me, then.”

She was slipping in beside him without any more encouragement.

Lucian took the next ten minutes to call the head chef of Cazzo back into the dining room. The table was cleared of the tray and leftovers, the dessert menu sorted, and a request for two tumblers of Grey Goose and red wine ordered to be brought out when his guest arrived. Lucian’s attention was back on Jordyn for the short time they had left alone.

As expected, Lucian’s guest was on time as the man always was. Punctual to a fault, Frank Deveroux was never late. Like their arrangement always had been, the chef let the man in through the back entrance to minimize Frank being seen walking into a restaurant owned by a known Mafioso. In his early fifties, Frank didn’t look a day over forty-five, as he was fit, tall, and always smiling. It was why the public liked him as much as they did. It was hard to find fault in a charismatic man.

Lucian stood to greet him, keeping his hand firmly seated in Jordyn’s to urge her up with him. “Frank, it’s good to see you.”

“Lucian.” Frank grinned, shaking the hand Lucian offered. “You know you’re my favorite of all the Marcello boys.”

“Liar. Gio is, and we both know why.”

“Well, he does know how to provide a good time. Who’s this lovely thing?” Frank asked, sticking out his hand to Jordyn.

She took it immediately.

“This is my Jordyn,” Lucian said. “And she is quite lovely, thank you.”

Jordyn waved the compliments off, smiling. Lucian could see it in her curious stare, though. She recognized Frank, but it wasn’t clicking straightaway. “Hello.”

“Sit, yeah?”

Frank nodded, pulling off his suit jacket before joining Lucian and Jordyn in their seats. The city pin on his tie glinted under the lighting, and Jordyn noticed it immediately. While the chef brought out the tray of drinks Lucian asked for earlier, Jordyn finally seemed to pick up on just who exactly this man standing across the table from them was. She squeaked low under her breath like a little mouse, her hand in Lucian’s tightening in her surprise.

“Jordyn, meet the Mayor of New York City.”

Jordyn took a moment to speak, glancing between the two men watching her inquiringly. “I think I missed something here.”

Frank chuckled. “No, I can assure you that you have not.”

Lucian did say the man was a high ranking city official.

You couldn’t much higher than the Mayor.

Lucian gestured towards his guest. “Frank has just about everyone in his pocket that he can. Judges, city officials, high-profile families, NYPD Captains all across the city. His family has a long legacy in New York, they’ve long been involved in the shipping district, and own a great portion of it. That helps in certain aspects of our business, needless to say. We’ve found while working together what works for us, often works to his benefit as well. We fund certain campaigns, help to keep the city out of debt, and in return, Frank keeps us … well, kept. It’s a good arrangement.”

“That it is,” Frank agreed, resting into his chair, vodka in his hand. “So, time for business, then?”

“Fun is over, unfortunately,” Lucian replied. “I know you’re running short on time, here.”

“I’ve got a half an hour or so. They watched me walk into a restaurant two blocks away, but they didn’t see me slip out the back and into a personal car. We’re good. Let’s get it done.”

Lucian mimicked Frank’s easygoing pose, but as he leaned back, he pulled Jordyn’s legs up into his lap, resting his hands on her crossed ankles. He stroked her calves while he spoke. She didn’t seemed to mind, and the new position kept her facing him while she sipped on red wine and listened to the conversation.

“The city is about to propose the new budget for their construction plans next year for the older government building renovations, yeah?”

Frank nodded. “Should be crossing the committee next week, actually.”