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“He sent you alone?”
I give him an impatient stare. “No. I have guards. Do you have it or not?”
From his desk drawer, he withdraws an envelope. Without a word, he passes it. I flip it over, seeing the wax seal across the enclosure. “Very trusting.”
“No one sees that but Finn.” Shen makes a shooing motion with his hand.
“I’m Finn’s proxy.” I wedge my finger under the seal. “He won’t mind.”
“I mind.” Color rises to Shen’s cheeks. “I mind he sent you. That he mocked my first offer. That he’s wasting my time.”
“Must be terrible, having to bend over and take it.”
His face fills with outrage. “Finn will put you in the ground for screwing up this deal.”
“Doubtful.” He might bury me in the ground, but the reason won’t be this deal.
“Someone needs to put you in your place.”
I laugh. “I know my place, Mr. Zhang. It’s well above yours.” I walk backward to the doorway and then knock on the doorframe. “It’s been a pleasure.”
“Someday it will be. You’re not making friends today.”
“Your value as a friend is questionable. Let’s see if you’re any good as an enemy.” My heart picks up its tempo in my chest.
Before I left the house earlier, Finn asked me to piss off Shen. So much for respecting Chinese culture. His motives are a mystery. I hope Finn’s plan isn’t going to get me killed.
Shen sputters as I leave. When I stroll through the open bar area, I avoid looking at Malik. My heart is racing from what I said to Shen but also from my conversation with Malik.
It’s not until I’m sliding into the SUV my heart starts to return to normal. Someday I fear my heart will beat right out of my chest.
“Got it?” Antonio starts the vehicle.
I wag the envelope, the seal flapping open. “You bet.”
Once we’re driving, he looks at me out of the corner of his eye. “You broke the seal.”
“I did.” I meet his gaze. “Finn’s orders.” That’s not quite true, but it’s close enough. Opening the contract let me piss off Shen and makes it easier for me to take pictures before giving the contract to Finn. This evidence helps Malik as much as me.
Antonio’s jaw tightens a fraction.
“Say it.”
“Finn’s pissing everybody off lately. He’s gonna get me killed.”
My lips quirk up into a partial smile. “You’re only worried about your own ass?”
“Yeah. Who else would I worry about?” His hands flex against the steering wheel.
“Embrace the fear. It’s never going to go away. You might as well enjoy the adrenaline rush.” Boston zooms by out the window, one mile at a time.
“Adrenaline rush.” Antonio gives me a disgusted look. “You’ve already been in their house too long.”
“You don’t like it, leave.”
He shakes his head. “You don’t get it. You don’t leave. There are only two ways out—death or jail—Lorcan and Finn are serious about that.”
“Which are you hoping for?”