Page 47

“Leave that to me,” I countered. Granted, he had a fair point. Serena would need a good reason to work with us. But it was part of the challenge I relished.

“Let him have the apple if it’s so freaking important,” Serena interrupted. “It’s in the jeep.”

Atlas looked over my shoulder before returning his gaze to me. “You’re responsible for this mess. Don’t make me shoot you, Black Tide.”

“Have I ever given you a reason to?” I laughed, the sound lacking mirth.

“Plenty. I’m counting the days until you fuck up so badly I put you down.”

I grinned. “And yet I make that impossible.”

Atlas stepped to the side, but before he left, he slapped me hard on the back. The still tender muscles screamed, and I groaned.

“Enjoy your dinner,” he said as a parting shot.

I didn’t sit until he left.

Serena, hands folded on the table and her expression locked on me, watched me with a stare that refused to waver. It was a silent insistence that wouldn’t go away. She wasn’t the type to let things slide, not after the way Atlas had charged in and confronted us. Her eyes, full of questions, demanded answers I wasn’t ready to give. I felt the weight of them.

“Care to explain?”

“Nope,” I said, shaking my head as I picked up a fry. “Let’s eat.”

Serena opened her mouth, then promptly shut it. Something in my expression must have warned her that pushing would be futile. Instead, she reached for her soda, sipping it with deliberate slowness while maintaining eye contact. The challenge in her gaze was unmistakable, but she chose not to voice it—not yet anyway.

We finished our burgers in tense silence, the occasional rustling of wrappers the only sound between us. I watched her methodically eat her fries one by one, dipping each into a small puddle of ketchup with surprising precision. For someone who'd just committed corporate espionage and faced down a furious kingpin, her hands were remarkably steady.

“So that’s your boss?” she finally asked, keeping her voice low.

“Something like that,” I replied, not meeting her eyes. The less she knew about Atlas for now, the better.

She nodded, taking a long sip of her soda. “You two seem close.”

I snorted. “Like a crocodile and an alligator.”

“What happens now?” she prompted.

I rose, taking our empty trays to the trash. Her light steps followed me. Once we were outside, I answered.

“That depends on you, prinkípissa.”

That was only half the truth. It also depended on me. I lifted my face, testing the wind. It still blew the wrong way, of that, I was certain. Until it changed to a more favorable course, I would stay this one that we were on, keeping my distance but pursuing the chance the Fates sent.

Chapter 15 – Serena

It was incredibly exciting to be at my first bougie, girly party. I caught myself gawking at the guests, but I wasn’t as envious of their spring fashion choices as I would have been just the other month. No, I was free. Thanks to Penelope and her post-it note, I was free to travel. And I did so lowkey by not shopping and overdrawing my funds. No doubt Sandro had been monitoring my cards, and I hoped he was pleased to see my shopping addiction had been severely curbed. Who needed the latest designer bag when there were riverboat cruises, smoking mountains that looked blue in the early morning light, and forests to ramble through?

But there was something about this gathering of women that called to an intrinsic part of my soul. This was what I’d missed growing up. I wasn’t even allowed to attend baby showers of mob wives.

Now, dressed in a white dress shirt, black slacks, and matching vest with a black silk tie, I blended into the mass of caterers. So long as I stayed away from the manager, Markos assured me none of the other staff would look at me twice.

I mingled amongst the ladies, passing out flutes of bubbles—both juice and alcohol, depending on who asked. The girls, who were clearly too young to drink, took the flutes like it was second nature. There was a short pang in my chest to watch them drink underage. My one and only friend used to regale me with tales of how she duped the catering staff time and time again at such events. I always envied Annaliese and those parties.

“The office is clear. Now’s your chance,” Markos said through the earpiece.

My heartbeat doubled. This was like something on a cop TV show. Markos and his crony were in a non-descript white vandown the street. The mission was simple. Blend in, wait for an opportunity, and place a listening device in the home office. Simple.

Thrilling.