Page 20

My arm shoots out to stop her sauntering past me, and I lean in close, watching her watching me. “The ‘heel’ thing was cute the first time. Not the second. You’ve had your joke—but I’ve been nothing but respectful to you, and I don’t appreciate being called a dog.”

She flushes, a quick and deep mottling of her décolletage and neck. “Fine,” she says stiffly. “I’ll play nice.”

I drop my arm and she moves past me, the scent of her perfume beckoning me on. I follow, aware of the eyes that track our movement across the casino floor. She’s putting on a show, and every person in this place is her audience.

I get it, now. Brie was right. Thisisher job. That golden gown? Just a uniform. She’s playing a role here, just like any other service provider in this casino. Her role justlooksa little more glamorous.

We enter the casino’s high-end rooftop restaurant and the maître d’ appears as if by magic, leading us to a booth set on a dais, with a view of the whole restaurant.

And the whole restaurant has a view of Brie Colombo.

My first instinct is to ask for somewhere more secluded, but at least here I’ll be able to see anyone approaching. As we settle into our seats, I can’t help but notice how her goldendress makes Brie’s green eyes pop, how it catches the light with every subtle movement, how it dips low between her breasts, beckoning my gaze in…

“See something you like?” Brie’s voice is teasing, a smirk playing on her lips.

What the—? I force my eyes away, reminding myself that I’m here as her bodyguard, not her date, and reach for the menu. “Just doing my job. Assessing potential threats.”

“Are my tits a threat, Nik?” she asks, leaning forward slightly.

Before my brain can formulate a response, a waiter appears at our table. Brie orders “the usual” and I ask for the same, because I can’t take in a single word of the menu.

My mind is on the golden goddess opposite me.

And itshouldbe on our surroundings.

As we wait for our food, silence settles between us, but it’s not entirely uncomfortable. I find myself studying Brie, trying to reconcile the shrewd woman I’ve seen go toe-to-toe with Eva Novak, with the vulnerable widow I saved from assassination, and now this glittering, larger-than-life figure before me.

“You have questions,” Brie says suddenly, breaking the silence.

“A few.”

She takes a sip of sparkling water, her lipstick leaving a perfect imprint on the glass. “Ask away. But for every question you ask, I get to ask one in return.”

I weigh my options. Information is crucial, but so is maintaining professional distance. Still, Eva will reward me for anything Imight glean. And besides all that, curiosity wins out. “How did you end up here? Married to a gay mob boss?”

“The short answer? Survival. I grew up with nothing, and I swore I’d never go back to that life.” She swirls her water, lost in thought for a moment. “Your turn. Eva Novak’s guard detail. That’s quite a position for someone your age.”

“I’m the lowest on the pole. Hell, I’m not evenonthe pole, not yet. This is the first time she called on me.”

“So why’d she pick you?”

I shrug, keeping my face neutral. “I’m good at what I do.”

“And what exactly is that? Besides insulting Mafia widows in Russian, of course.”

She’s really not going to let that go. “I enjoy taking bullets meant for other people. And what about you? What are your reasons for playing figurehead for a Family that’s not really yours?”

Her eyes flash. “Who says they’re not mine?” For a moment, I think I’ve pushed too far. Then she laughs. “Let’s just say I have my reasons. Just like you have yours for taking this job.”

The corner of my mouth twitches. “Okay.”

“Your father,” she says abruptly, and I go stiff all over. “I’m sorry about what happened to him. Juno Bianchi told me.” She pauses. “And I hear you got vengeance on his killer, too.”

“I did.” She opens her mouth to ask another question but I hold up my hand. The last thing I’m going to do is talk about my father with this woman. “My turn. What makes you think you can trust me?”

“I don’t trust you,” Brie says, pushing her barely-touched plate away. “So. Whydidyou take this job with me?”

“I was ordered to.”