AllFreeNovel
Share Us
My gaze flits over the private room, scoping it for any other exits, but I don’t notice any. There’s an armed tango standing in the shadows, most likely his bodyguard, and I immediately spot the pistol hanging in a holster under his arm.
“Benvenuti nel mio club del fuoco,” he greets us, his attention sliding over to Lake and eyeing her in a way that makes my skin crawl. My opposite hand clenches into a fist.
I fight to keep myself relaxed, forcing a smile and playing the role. “Grazie,” I respond. “I’m Gregory Mancini and this is Leia.” The name just slips out and I lift her hand to my lips and press a kiss to her soft knuckles. Our gazes lock and a jolt of heat passes between us. “Amore mio.”
I lower her hand, still holding it, and turn back to Caruso. Well, that’s about the extent of my Italian. I could speak better Arabic right now. Or even Russian. But learning a European language wasn’t high on my priority list when I spent most of my special forces career navigating my way through dusty hellholes over in the Middle East.
“Un piacere, bella,” he says and smiles at her.
A pleasure.Yeah, I’m sure. Stifling a snort, I watch him turn and pour two glasses of wine and then hand us each one before picking up his own.
He begins babbling in Italian and I think he’s giving a toast because he lifts his glass toward us, but then he starts talking too fast and I’m lost. I slant a glance at Lake who smiles and nods. Then she responds in flawless Italian and I don’t know if I’ve ever been more turned on in my life.
Well, other than when I first saw her in her little club outfit which got my fantasies and dick raging.
They speak back and forth for a minute and I can tell she’s charming him—and it’s working. Caruso throws his head back and laughs, clearly impressed with her, and my possessive side kicks in hard. I release her hand and slide my arm around her waist, pulling her against my side. I have no idea what possesses me, but I lean down and press a kiss to her temple.
You’re just making sure to put on a good show for Caruso.That’s all.
Caruso’s eyes narrow slightly and he switches to English. Time to stop flirting and get down to business. Lake probably told him my Italian sucks so when he starts speaking English, I know he’s ready to make a deal. I can’t blame him for being jealous, though, because I’ve got my arm around the most beautiful woman in this place.
As we follow him over to a purple velvet couch and sit down, I ditch my wine glass. I can’t help but notice that Lake is enjoying her wine thoroughly.
“So,SignorMancini, what is your offer for the T-Force?”
Sitting back, I cross my leg over my opposite knee and smirk. “I’d like to see it first.”
“It isn’t here,” he informs me coolly.
Convenient.“Are we talking about the ingredient list or a sample?”
“I’ll be able to get you the exact recipe to create Tantium Force very soon.”
“So you don’t even have it? Are you wasting my time?”
“No,” he assures me, a little too quickly. “I’m very close to obtaining it.”
“And how do I know you won’t turn around and sell that recipe to multiple parties? I’m only interested if I’m theonlyparty,” I inform him nonchalantly and pick a piece of lint off my midnight suit.
“I’m a man of my word and if you offer the most money then you’ll be the only one in the world to have access to the T-Force. For one full year. After that, I can’t be responsible if the ingredient list were to, ahem, get out.”
“Mmhmm,” I murmur, not committing one way or the other yet. “Did you know Mila Ward is missing?” Though I keep my voice casual, I notice a coldness settle over Caruso’s face.
For a moment he doesn’t say anything. Then he nods and takes a sip of wine. Killing time before he answers.
“My bet is the Russians. They’ve been wanting the Tantium Force formula for a while now. Anton Petrov probably believes she has it.”
“Petrov?” I raise a brow.Liar.His answer confirms what I already suspect. The Russians have the Tantium Force. They were probably trying to smuggle a sample into the States, through Lake, to someone who could break it down and figure out its makeup. “Does Ward’s daughter know what the formula is?”
Caruso waves a dismissive hand. “She doesn’t know anything. Don’t worry,SignorMancini. Its recipe will be yours and yours alone for one entire year. If you have the highest bid.”
He doesn’t have shit,I realize. Well, except for Mila Ward.
I’ve accomplished everything I set out to do, so I nod and offer Caruso a ridiculous amount of money that I never plan to pay. Lake is setting her empty wine glass on the coffee table in front of us and I can’t help but notice the way her eyes widen at the figure I toss out.
“That seems like a fair number,” Caruso says carefully. “But I have other meetings and will get back to you if I decide to accept your offer. Now, enough business. I want you and the lovely Leia here to go down to the V.I.P. section where a bottle of champagne awaits. Drink, dance and enjoy your evening.” He stands up to indicate the meeting is over.
“Thank you,” I say, also standing, and shaking his proffered hand. “I look forward to hearing from you.”
