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Jane’s expression hardened to uncompromising, but when she spoke her voice was as cool as frost on a junebug’s ass. “Cut to the chase, bitch. No games. I have something you want, and you have something I want.”
Holeeeeee shit, but I wanted to jump up and cheer. How the hell had I not seen how amazingly strong this woman was? Her normal manner was so laid-back refined it was easy to underestimate her. Now I understood how she handled herself in Washington so well.
Nicole’s face flushed red and went to stone. Hot and angry stone that was super pissed she’d been outmaneuvered. No more advantage of surprise for her. She took a sip of her water then carefully set the glass back down. “Very well,” she said, voice brittle. “You have something I want.” She leaned back and did her best to look relaxed, but the jiggling of her leg betrayed her tension. “Deliver the contract to Saberton.”
Jane tilted her head slightly. “Or what?”
Now Nicole’s smile turned nasty. She reached into her purse on the floor and pulled out a small box—the kind that might hold a tennis bracelet, though I had a gut feeling there weren’t any diamonds in there. She placed it on the table, then pushed it toward Jane with one finger.
Jane dropped a brief and dismissive glance to the box then returned her gaze to Nicole’s face. “A toe? A finger? His balls?” Jane said without making any move to take or open the box, cool demeanor not slipping a smidge. She tilted her head in my direction. “I have an expert advisor on what you can do, have done, and will do to zombies.” With one finger, she pushed the box right back to Nicole. “What is your threat?”
Nicole shot me a furious look, clearly livid that her grand gesture fell flat and that once again she’d been caught off guard. She snatched at the box and shoved it back into her purse, though the disgust on her face told me that, whatever piece of Pietro that was, it was going to end up in the first available dumpster.
“Simple,” Nicole snapped out. “You go call in favors, exert influence, spread rumors, and do whatever you have to do to get us that contract, or I’ll deliver a hundred boxes like that.” Her eyes glittered with contempt. “I’m sure your expert advisor can tell you those creatures still feel plenty of pain.”
Jane didn’t even flinch. “No, darling,” she replied smoothly. “It doesn’t work like that.”
I snagged another breadstick. This shit was good.
Nicole blinked. “Excuse me?”
“I may be new to Washington, but I’ve made my mark,” Jane said, tone still pure silk. “It’s why you chose me to coerce. You thought I’d be cowed by your threats, and I’d go off as ordered and use what influence I have to get you what you want.” She paused, leaned back as casually as Nicole had tried to do earlier. “But I’m not cowed. And here’s my promise.”
Nicole’s mouth worked soundlessly before she closed it with a sharp snap. Her right hand clenched into a fist on the table.
“You harm Pietro in any way, and I will take your teetering corporation to the ground, then bury it,” Jane said, exuding power and confidence. “This isn’t the only contract that matters to you. And, before your little mind moves to taking me out to cut your losses, you should know I didn’t get much sleep last night. Burning the midnight oil to set up failsafes in case I meet with an untimely accident or disappear.”
The blood left Nicole’s face as Jane spoke, then her cheeks flushed hot, lips white as she spoke. “If you think I’m simply going to turn him over to you and get nothing in return, you’re sadly mistaken.”
“I never said you would get nothing,” Jane replied. “I said I will ruin you if you harm Pietro. Not the same thing. I will consider supporting this contract if you meet my conditions.”
I munched breadsticks and watched Nicole’s internal battle to keep from telling Jane where she could shove her conditions.
“Go on,” Nicole finally managed.
“First off, after the contract is awarded, Pietro is released to me—unharmed in any way.”
I glanced at Jane, surprised that she wasn’t asking for Pietro to be released immediately, then realized Jane knew damn well the answer to that would be No. Nicole wouldn’t give up her ace in the hole before she had what she wanted, and Jane had no desire to lose ground by asking for the impossible. Damn, I felt as if I should be taking notes.
Nicole’s nostrils flared. “What else?”
“Second, within three hours from now you will make arrangements for us to see and have complete freedom to speak with Pietro, including physical contact.”
Nicole gave another stiff nod, her hand clenched so tightly it surprised me that blood wasn’t trickling out from her nails on her palm.
“And you tell us who the insider is,” I put in.
Nicole shot me a scathing look. “For all I know, you’re the insider.”
I regarded her with suspicion. It was possible she didn’t know, but I didn’t trust that calculating look in her eye. Then again, “calculating” could be a permanent part of her expression.
Jane eyed Nicole, then glanced toward me. “Anything else, Ms. Crawford?”
“Yeah, she and her thugs can stay the hell away from me, my dad, and my Krewe.”
Nicole’s eyes remained on me for a moment more before returning to Jane. “Anything else?”
“I believe we?
