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“Meaning you’re going to The Library. Who is the contact?”
“Marianna Sonnita.” I couldn’t help but smile as I thought about her.
The fiery-tempered Italian knew how to have a good time. She ran the Sonnita Vineyards in Tuscany, which meant she led the Sonnita crime family. And just because she wasn’t busy enough, she kept her hands full as a senior intelligence officer in Italian Interpol.
Tonight, we would play some cards, share some laughs, and target the first of three European-based Circle of Ten fuckers. If all went according to plan, she’d have him on a flight to Rome by the early morning hours without incident.
“Do you remember the last time you two got together? We had to call a cleanup team to clear the damage from the beatdown you gave the perp.”
Oops. I forgot about that.
I hoped things went according to plan.
I shrugged and said, “I wasn’t going to let him jump us. He dealt with the consequences.”
“Can I assume your King isn’t the one in the house tonight?”
“I don’t have a King.” The quick way I responded to that statement revealed way too much.
When Marianna suggested The Library for the location to tag our suspect, I’d gone out of my way to ensure Sam wasn’t the brother scheduled to oversee the club this week. The last thing I wanted was to have him screwing with my concentration, especially after that last night we’d had together.
Sam made me weak. Distance was the best thing for me. Then I’d finish my plan and move on with my life.
“Which of the brothers is on duty tonight?”
“Kir, obviously.”
I’d recruited Kiran King as a liaison for Solon over a decade ago. Since then, we’d worked in trading favors here and there.
All the Kings were aware of our association but never the depth of our business dealings. Kir aided in a gambit of ways, from introduction to the right members of various political organizations to brokering deals with high-level members of the underworld.
“Good. He knows your triggers and will handle things if they go south.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence.”
“I’m being realistic. Two women with the same personality type and a history of volatile behavior. What could go wrong?”
“Go get on your plane and let me handle my business.”
“Remember—” Neil’s chiding tone had me lifting a brow, “—when I get back, you’ll tell me all the details about your snooping adventure. You’re keeping something from me on purpose. All I need you to do is confirm what I suspect you’ve found.”
* * *
I entered The Library,feeling the weight of the attention of numerous eyes on me. They were those few members of New York’s elite lucky enough to garner an invitation from the King brothers to enter their underground poker club. These few individuals had passed a strict level of scrutiny, from their financial and personal interests to every dirty little secret they kept. Most owed the Kings a favor in one way or another.
They also understood the rules of the club. Never speak of who one met or what transpired within the walls of the building. If anything leaked, the person committing the infraction suffered dire consequences. The Kings doled out punishments not by their hands but through those who owed favors.
Occasionally, they got their hands dirty, and those situations required major cleanup.
Everyone knew the brothers kept their word, and the people they called their own were protected and cared for like family.
No one fucked with them.
Therefore, the loyalty they harbored remained solid as ever.
As I passed through the body scanners, I nodded to the club’s general manager, Amir.
His black eyes sparkled. His mouth quirked at the corner in a knowing way that said he damn well knew I had things strapped to my body.
