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“Because we’re only half related, as I said before.”
“That’s unfortunate for him because you’re the better-looking man.”
I didn’t crack a smile at that. “You think so?”
“He’s too thin for my taste.”
I turned my gaze back to her. “So, you like a mountain, huh?”
She gave me a flirtatious smile. “I like to be under a mountain.” She finished the last few drops of her champagne and walked off to the bathroom, putting the empty glass on a passing tray as she went.
I watched her nectarine ass until it stepped off the stage. My eyes turned back to my brother afterward, seeing him speak to Camille off to the side. She must have said something interesting because he smiled, something my brother hardly ever did.
Seeing them together infuriated me, but I knew my revenge would come. Once he saw that I’d moved on with someone else, a woman infinitely sexier than Camille, he would lose interest quickly. Camille would see that I was right, realize what she had with me, and once she came crawling back, I would slam the door in her face.
I grabbed another drink before I headed across the room.
Camille spotted me first and tugged on Cauldron’s arm to get his attention. She positioned her body slightly behind his, as if I intended to grab her by the arm and drag her out of there. My eyes were only on my brother. “How long are you going to pretend you don’t see me?”
“I pretended nothing,” he said. “Just working. See the necklace she’s wearing? Just sold it for ten million.”
“Nice to see you do so much for the kids.”
“The charity is for kids?”
I shrugged before I took a drink. “I don’t know what the fuck it’s for.”
Camille shifted her gaze back and forth between us as we talked.
“How’s business?” Cauldron asked.
I nodded toward an empty table. “Let’s take a seat.” When I looked at Camille, I silently commanded her to disappear. She’d lived with me long enough to read my looks plain as day. She walked off exactly as I wanted, probably just to get away from me.
Cauldron didn’t seem to care. We took a seat at the nearest round table that was unoccupied. Music played overhead, and the sound of conversation filled the entire room, so there was no chance of being overheard.
Cauldron pivoted his body toward mine as he looked into his glass. “So?”
“I have a couple of leads.”
“Yeah?”
“Georgio seems to be his biggest nemesis.”
“Georgio Scadoni?”
“Yes. I think he’ll be the first I interrogate.”
“I asked around, and it seems like Roan hates him even more,” Cauldron said.
“Roan from Croatia?”
“Yes. With Karl out of the way, he’d have unchallenged territory in Paris and Eastern Europe. I think it’s more likely that he’s the culprit.”
“He’s got a big crew. He doesn’t need to hide in the shadows.”
“But why do things the hard way when you can do them the easy way?” Cauldron asked. “It’s smart, if you ask me. Plus, it throws off suspicion because of the reasons you just said.”
“I suppose,” I said. “So I capture Roan and get him to confess to Karl?”
“Not a bad idea. You could get Karl to do the dirty work.”
“No. I want to get my hands dirty this time.” Roan snuck into my ranks and set me up for both death and ruin. Retribution would be vital.
“I say we move quickly. Karl has a target on your back.”
“You don’t need to get involved in this, Cauldron.”
He held my gaze. “I know I don’t. But it’s part of our deal, isn’t it?”
“Our deal was to be brothers again. Not you risk your life for my bullshit.”
“If we’re brothers, I think it’s one and the same.” He stared.
I stared back.
“We’re a lot more formidable if we combine our forces. Right now, it’s two-on-one. Let’s make it two-on-two.” His eyes shifted behind me as if following someone across the room. His gaze shifted past my shoulder, directly next to me.
Tight fingers moved across my shoulders then down my back. Her perfume gave away her identity, jasmine on a summer morning. Her hands slid down my chest as she cupped my body with hers, giving me a hug from behind. “I’d recognize that back anywhere.” Her hands slid away, and she sat in the chair beside me, her toned legs crossed, her dark hair a beautiful curtain of softness. “You must be Cauldron.”
Cauldron looked at me momentarily before he extended his hand to hers. “And you are?”
“Elise.” After she shook his hand, she was back to being all over me. “What are you boys talking about?” Her arm was through mine, a bit of hair on my shoulder.
“Business,” I said.
“Oh…then I’ll let you get back to it.” She pressed a kiss to my cheek and walked off.
Cauldron watched her leave before he looked at me again. “You bounced back quickly.”
