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"Don't," Tristan growls. "I'm not here to play games with you.”
"About what?" she asks playfully.
"I'll explain when I see you," Tristan insists. The strain in his voice betrays how uncomfortable this is making him, and. I have to grit my teeth to keep from making a snarky comment.
"I'm afraid that's not good enough," Sienna croons. "You know how things are out there these days. If I'm going to stick my neck out, I hope you can give me a...captivatingreason.”
Tristan turns to Theo, who thinks for a moment and then gives a brusque nod. "You're working with Lucas Emmerico," he says into the phone.
There's another pause, this one so long that I start to worry she's hung up on us. "And just where did you hear this?”
"That's not important," Tristan replies. "I just need to know if it's true.”
"What would you say if I didn't tell you?”
"Sienna," Tristan growls, "this isn't a fucking joke. Lucas is turning the city upside down looking for Vivian, and—"
"Oh, for the love of god, notheragain," Sienna interrupts. "Honestly, Tristan, I don't see why everyone in this town is so wrapped around that little girl's finger. What is she to you, anyway? She's beautiful, yes, but she's so... bland.”
Tristan grits his teeth, gripping the phone so hard it looks like he might crush it. "It's a yes or a no, Sienna.”
She gives a put-upon sigh. "Fine, fine. I've done some business with Lucas. Strictly professional, believe me. Now why don't you tell me what this is about?”
"An alliance," Tristan says. "I want you to cut ties with him and come work for us and Theo.”
"Is that so?" Sienna purrs. "And what would I gain from this?”
"Money, security, power," Tristan says.
"Come on, Tristan," his ex-girlfriend replies. "Enough with the table stakes. You know what I really want.”
I feel myself bristle with jealousy, and I have to force myself to relax. That's nothing compared to the way Tristan is reacting, though. He's glaring at the phone, his nails digging into his palms. "Will you or won't you?" he spits.
"I guess that will depend on how this little 'meeting' of ours plays out, doesn't it?" Sienna replies.
Tristan closes his eyes for a moment, drawing a breath. "Where can we meet?" he asks finally.
His ex-girlfriend clicks her tongue, clearly unaware that there are other people listening in. "What's the rush, darling? We've got all the time in the world, and all this talk of the future is making me feel... well, nostalgic. Care to reminisce with me?”
"Don't make me do this over the phone," Tristan threatens, and there's a tremor in his voice. "You've been hassling me to talk every day since I ended things. Now I'm giving you the chance. Where can we meet?”
There's another pause, and then all the coquettishness is gone from her voice. "I always forget how direct you are, darling,” Sienna purrs. How about you come down to the Diamond Lounge? That was where we first met, if memory serves…"
"Give me an hour to get there," Tristan says. "I'll be bringing my people. This isn't a social call.”
"Shame," Sienna replies, unbothered. "I'll just have to take what I can get.”
"One hour," Tristan reiterates. "And I'm not your darling.”
Sienna chuckles indulgently and hangs up the phone, as I’m brought immediately back to the way she went at me back at Lucas's place. Something verging on rage builds in my chest at the thought of that, but I force myself to take a few deep breaths.
"Guess that went as well as could be expected," Liam quips.
Tristan exhales, running a hand through his jet black hair. "I sure as hell hope so.”
"You think the Diamond Lounge is a good idea?" I ask, thinking back to my first encounter with Theo there, all those months ago. It's a place for made men, heavy hitters, and friends of the families, and right now it's bound to be crawling with enemies.
"It has to be," Theo replies, crossing his arms. "Everyone's armed to the teeth there. Bodyguards are common. We'll blend in.”
