Page 94 of Dangerous Intent

“Fine.” She sat up. “I’ll call Ricardo and tell him I’m getting a tattoo.”

“I’ll make this up to you.” I extended my hand and helped her off the counter, then said to Lorenzo, “I’ll be right there.”

Lissia blew out an exaggerated breath. “Lorenzo’s timing might be worse than Milo’s.”

“I won’t be long.”

“Take your time.” She kissed my cheek before grabbing the prosecco bottle and her glass. “I’ll be waiting in the bedroom.”

She swayed her hips as she sashayed across the room topless, taunting me with each step. I cursed Lorenzo under my breath.

Once she disappeared into the bedroom, I answered the door.

“This better be good,” I said.

“Am I interrupting?” Lorenzo entered the villa.

“You could say that.”

“Hmm…” Lorenzo bent down and scooped up Lissia’s bikini top. “I am interrupting.” He tossed the bathing suit at me. “I’ll make it quick so you can get back to your wife.”

“Thank you.” I draped her bikini top over the chair by the patio doors.

“Are you enjoying the accommodations?”

“You didn’t come here to show off your customer service skills, did you?”

“No.” He laughed. “The details are in place for tonight. There will be a brief meeting between you and the two top cartel members. It will be informal.”

“What does that mean? Are we meeting out in the open?”

I didn’t like playing by someone else’s rules. I should have taken this meeting on my own turf and forced these people to my demands.

“These men don’t trust easily. They want you to know they are in control.”

“I fucking run New York City.” I slammed my hand on the counter. “I don’t need them. They need me.”

“That’s why they want the upper hand.” Lorenzo gazed out at the beach. “They know who you are and what you’re capable of.”

“Well, then I’m at a disadvantage, because I don’t know much about them and what they want from me.”

“If you can make this work, we’ll all benefit. They don’t want to waste anyone’s time. After a conversation tonight, you’ll both know if it’s beneficial to move forward.”

“I’m here to work out a mutual partnership,” I said. “They can trust me, but I need to know I can trust them. They are going to have to prove that.”

“I’m sure you’ll work that out with them. It’s casual, and you’re meeting on neutral territory—my territory. I want you to feel comfortable.”

“Why wouldn’t I feel comfortable?”

“All of the men you’re meeting with, I vetted, except for one.” Lorenzo handed me a file he had been holding. “He was a last-minute addition.”

“Who is he?”

“Diego Medina, an influential businessman from Havana.”

“What’s he doing here?” I flipped through the file.

“He traveled with the representatives you’re meeting with,” Lorenzo said. “I couldn’t find much on him other than his family is very wealthy and they’re involved in some shady operations.”