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“And that problem is?”I raised an eyebrow as I waited.
“Valentina,” he said, pressing his lips together.
“Oh.”I nodded in understanding.“Your wife?You think she’s stepping out on you?”
“My wife?”Hamilton frowned and then started laughing.“Valentina is not my wife … she’s my daughter.”
“Oh, I see.”I stared at him, not seeing at all.“And what’s Valentina done?Stolen from your safe and run away?”
“Stolen from my safe?”Hamilton rubbed his forehead and started laughing again.“I give her everything she wants.She doesn’t need to steal from my safe.”
“I see.”I waved Sergio and Santino over to join the conversation.“So what happens to be the problem, then?”
“She’s dating an idiot.”Hamilton let out a huge sigh.“I need one of you lot to date her.”
“We’re not a dating agency.”I shook my head.“Sorry.”
“I don’t want you to marry her.”He sneered.“I heard you boys were good-looking, and I heard right.I just need one of yous to flirt with her, so she’ll dump the loser she’s dating.Then, when the time is right, you’ll dump her, and I’ll introduce her to Connor.”
“Connor?”I wondered if the man was high or something.
“Connor Butler.He’s a hedge fund manager, and I want him to be my son-in-law.You following?”
I stared at Stefano, who was trying not to laugh, and I nodded.“So you want one of us to date your daughter to get her away from a schmuck?”
“Yeah.”He nodded.“No funny business, though.No sex.Nothing like that.I suppose a kiss is fine.”
“Hmm.”I was about to tell him no.
“I’ll pay your agency a hundred grand for the job,” he added smugly as if he knew that would grab our attention.
“A hundred grand?”I raised an eyebrow.I had a feeling that Valentina Ford was not a looker.But the case seemed easy.Any one of us brothers could do it in our sleep.And a hundred grand?Well, that would keep us going for a while.
“The job would start tomorrow,” Hamilton added and then looked at Stefano as if he expected Stefano to be the one to pursue his daughter.
“I can’t do it.”Stefano shook his head and looked at me.“You know I’m focused on the championship right now.”
“I know.”Sergio and Santino were looking away from me, and I knew they didn’t fancy taking the job.“I’ll do it.”I held out my hand to Hamilton.“We need fifty percent of the payment up front and fifty percent on completion.Exactly how long do you expect me to date her?”
“The problem will be getting her to date you.”Hamilton sighed, and I laughed.Was he joking?Every woman in New York wanted to date my brothers and me.“I know you’re very attractive, Mr.Valenti, but my daughter, well, she doesn’t go for looks.”
“Oh, I guess ’cause she’s had to get by on her personality?”I inquired, and his eyes narrowed as he processed what I’d said.I didn’t want to offend the man, but he seemed smart enough to know if his daughter was lacking in the looks department.It didn’t mean he loved her any less.
“Something like that.”He nodded and looked around.“Where is the server?I still haven’t been able to order a drink.”
“Don’t worry about it.”I pat him on the back.“What do you want?A Guinness?”
“That’ll do.”He smiled and sat back down.“And whatever you’re having, of course.”
“Of course.”I made my way toward the bar and saw Bruno staring at me with interest.
“Who’s the suit?”he asked while wiping down the countertop.
“New client.”I grinned.“Gimme two of your finest Guinness.”
“He a fed?”Bruno was suspicious.He still didn’t totally trust me after I’d joined the police academy.Turned out it was not such a smart move to try and become a copper when your entire community walked on the other side of the law.
“He’s not.”I looked back and studied Hamilton’s face.I didn’t know if he was fed or not, but it didn’t matter.My family had been clean for years now, and our business was legit.I made sure of that.
