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“Who says you would have a chance?”
Fuuuccck, this woman drove me crazy. “Guess I’ll have to take your word for it.”
Her father emerged from the house then approached the table where we sat. He was in dark jeans and a gray shirt, his body fit and tight from his workouts with his personal trainer. He was a handsome guy, and I knew he got pussy left and right. He just didn’t show it in front of his daughter.
“Do you mind if I have a word with Axel, sweetheart?” When he spoke to Scarlett, he was always genuine and charming, regarding her like the light of his life. He seemed incapable of the maniacal insanity he’d shown me last weekend.
“Sure.” She rose from the chair. “See you later.”
“See you later.” I kept my eyes on him as she walked away.
Dante took a seat, lit up a cigar, and his butler immediately came outside to cover the table with drinks and a small platter. Since he was hosting me like a guest, I assumed he wasn’t angry—unless he was trying to poison me.
Dante sat there for a while and enjoyed his cigar, watching me across the table.
I led the conversation. “I’m having some issues with our American distributors, but I’ll figure it out.”
“What are the issues?”
“They’ve suddenly increased their fee. I think they want a bigger cut now that they see how well the product is selling. Your stuff is superior to other shit on the market, and now they want to invest.”
“We made a deal,” he said calmly. “They get nothing.”
“I know.”
He gave a slight nod. “Good.” He gestured to the cigar placed in front of me.
I lit up and let the sultry taste roll around my mouth. There was nothing better than a good cigar and a stiff drink…especially after a hard fuck.
He gave no indication that he’d snapped at me last weekend. He acted like nothing had happened at all. But I knew it was all pretend. He wasn’t the forgive-and-forget type…but the grudge type. “Let’s talk about the other distributors.”
We got into the nitty-gritty of it. We both had access to the reports, but he liked to discuss everything that had already been presented on paper. Even when business was good, it wasn’t good enough. His sights were always set on the horizon.
“I have a question.” The discussion of business had concluded.
He let the smoke slowly leave his mouth, his eyes locked on mine.
“Do you think it’s wise to select your daughter as your successor?”
His eyes immediately narrowed at the question. “You wouldn’t ask me this if I had a son rather than a daughter.”
“Exactly.”
His elbow was propped on the armrest, the cigar in his relaxed fingertips.
“She’s a smart girl, but we both know the underworld is a horrifying place.”
“Let me worry about my daughter. You worry about business.”
“Knowing how to shoot a gun isn’t enough?—”
“I warned you to stay away from my daughter,” he said coldly. “Was I unclear?”
“But you didn’t say anything about caring for her,” I said. “And I do. She’s smart and capable, but her perception of what this life is like is very different from reality. I just think she needs the full picture before she commits to this. Ryan left her because she wouldn’t walk away from this life. Other guys have done the same thing. Before she turns down other opportunities, she should know the risks.”
He gave a quiet chuckle. “Opportunities…that’s generous.”
“I agree Ryan was a spineless prick?—”
