Page 15 of Immoral (Park Avenue Kings #3)

BENOIT

Location: Luxury Train, Prague to Destination Unknown

I ’D DONE MANY things in my life. Gone everywhere. Seduced many a man. Been accustomed to more private jets and chauffeured cars than I could count. But Dimitri was giving me a first I’d never even considered: traveling across Europe on a luxury train.

I took to exploring while Dimitri met with Omar in the back lounge. Always private business with those two, and Omar had stared me down until I finally left the room.

No matter. That was what the recording device I’d planted in the lounge was for.

I strolled toward the bar and ordered a cognac, then scanned the occupants of the car as I waited.

There were a few unfamiliar faces, but others I’d seen around the castle in Prague briefly.

From what I could tell, Dimitri’s entourage took up the majority of the train’s accommodations, and though I was tempted to ask one of them where we were heading, I’d wait to pry that info from the man himself.

“Your cognac, sir.” The bartender set the snifter in front of me, and though it was still relatively early in the day, I took a long gulp of the good stuff. Hell, time didn’t matter on vacation?—

I stopped short, drink halfway to my mouth, and set it back on the bar top.

I wasn’t on fucking vacation. Though everything about this trip so far had felt like it, I was here for a reason. The job was the most important thing.

“Is Hennessy not to your preference, sir?” the bartender said. “We also have a stellar Courvoisier I recommend that?—”

Shaking my head, I waved him off and took another sip for his benefit. “This is perfect. Merci .”

He nodded and moved on to the next guest as I felt someone come to stand on the other side of me.

“You are French?”

I glanced at the man who had a good twenty years on me, but the twinkle in his eyes gave him an attractive edge.

With the alcohol encouraging my playful side, I grinned. “I am. Though I could be a good many things for the right man.”

He threw his head back, laughing. “Definitely a Frenchman.”

“Benoit Olivier,” I said, holding my hand out for him. He obliged by planting a kiss there. “And you are?”

“Oskar Krüger. It’s very nice to meet you, Benoit.”

“It is, isn’t it?”

That earned me another laugh, along with a round of drinks, courtesy of my new friend.

I didn’t necessarily need another glass, but then again, my mission was accomplished for the day, or at least until I needed to remove the device I’d planted, so what could it hurt?

“Is it too bold to ask where you’re heading?” he said, and then added, a little hopefully, “Maybe we’re getting off at the same stop.”

“Now that’s a great question, Oskar. I’m not actually sure.”

He looked puzzled at that, and I couldn’t blame him. How many people boarded a train with no known destination? I wasn’t even sure of the stops along the way, given the way my cell service kept cutting out every time I did a search for the itinerary.

I leaned in close, as if to impart a secret. “Apparently it’s a surprise. Romantic, isn’t it?”

“Oh, I see.” The disappointment in Oskar’s tone was clear, but he gave me a small smile anyway. “Warum sind die schonen M?nner immer vergeben?”

Without thinking twice, I responded in fluent German, “Keine Sorge, auch du wirst dein Glück finden, Hübscher.”

Oskar had started to reply when his gaze traveled over my shoulder and his smile fell.

I turned to see who had interrupted our little tête-à-tête and was surprised to find Dimitri standing there, an unreadable expression stamped across his face. That was nothing new, though, and if there was one thing I was becoming good at, it was distracting Dimitri from whatever was on his mind.

“Well, would you look who finally stopped doing business long enough to indulge in something a little more pleasurable.” I held up my glass and dangled it between my fingers. “Can I tempt you into joining me, mon monstre ?”

Dimitri’s sharp eyes shifted over my shoulder to where Oskar stood, then back to me, as he slipped a hand in his pocket and moved to stand beside me at the bar.

“I didn’t realize you spoke German.”

A frown pulled between my brows at his response, until I realized my mistake. I’d gotten so comfortable with Oskar that I’d naturally slipped into speaking one of the many languages I knew well.

Putain.

I laughed and placed a hand on Dimitri’s arm as I made a quick pivot. “Not fluent. Just enough to get by.”

Dimitri’s brow rose as he looked to where Oskar had disappeared back into the crowd. “Enough to flirt with the other passengers, don’t you mean?”

Oh thank God. He was just jealous , not suspicious of the fact I knew the language. I could work with that. A jealous beast was much easier to tame than a betrayed one.

“Aww.” I smoothed a hand up his arm and squeezed his bicep. “There’s no need to be worried . I know where I’m laying my head tonight.”

Dimitri’s eyes fell to my lips, and I licked them, just to make sure he was thinking about kissing me.

“You better. I don’t take kindly to others touching what’s mine.”

I sidled in close enough that my body was flush against his side, then whispered by his ear, “Then perhaps you should stop working so hard so I don’t go off wandering…”

Dimitri took hold of my chin between strong fingers, then leaned in until his lips brushed over the top of mine. “Or maybe I should just put a leash on you and keep you close.”

“Kneeling at your feet?” I asked, and batted my lashes. “Only if you promise to pet me and treat me like a good boy. Maybe even throw me a bone…er.”

Dimitri growled and took my lip between his teeth, snaking a hand around my waist.

Mission accomplished—beast tamed. Or at least distracted.

“So.” I put a hand to his chest and gently pushed him back. “You never did say—would you like a drink?”

Dimitri’s fingers brushed over my ass as he shook his head. “No. I wanted to come and see if you’d like to get something to eat with me before our next stop. After that I have business to attend to and will be otherwise occupied.”

I feigned a pout and ran my hand down his chest. “All work and no pleasure makes one a grumpy boy.”

Dimitri took my hand and drew it further down his body. “Does this feel like I’m not taking time for pleasure?”

I curled my fingers around him and groaned. “Not when you’re going to make me wait.”

“But good things come for those who wait.”

I chuckled but released him before draining my drink. “Then alas, I will wait. Because I definitely want you to come for me.”

Dimitri smirked. “Good boy.” My mouth fell open at this glimpse of playfulness from him, then he took a step back and said, “Join me for lunch?”

And I knew I would’ve said yes, job or not.

FINE FOOD, FINE wine, and an even finer man to share them with made for a delicious meal, so I tried not to be offended that our time together didn’t last long.

The meeting was more important, and getting a direct account of what went down during those talks, and whom they were with, was far more important than leaving me to my lonesome.

I could definitely find ways to fill my time.

I walked Dimitri back to the lounge, relieved that he was using the same location for this meeting that he had for the one with Omar.

Otherwise, I’d have to fish the recording device out of the flowers and get it to the next location somehow, and honestly, what a pain.

I liked my missions with as few obstacles as possible, thank you very much.

Omar was already in the lounge, as was one of the bodyguards. The other had been silently trailing us, as was always the case whenever I was near Dimitri, and it was something I had to keep top of mind.

Dimitri cracked his neck from side to side and peered out the window.

“ETA five minutes,” Omar said without looking up, his attention on the screen of his tablet. “Client is there and waiting to board.”

“Good.” Dimitri turned away from the window. “Let’s get this deal done.”

Omar lifted his head, looked pointedly at me, and said to Dimitri, “Boss.”

Clearly, he didn’t want me in the room, or even hearing a whisper about any deal, which made the satisfaction I felt at getting his real opinions on the record even better. I couldn’t wait to hear what that guy said when he thought no one was listening.

Dimitri drew me in for a kiss that made me want to linger, but then he pulled back and said, “I’ll find you later.”

The dismissal was clear, and I gave him a cheeky smile as I backed away. “Don’t take too long, or someone might scoop me up.”

He growled in the back of his throat and started toward me, but I laughed.

“No need to worry, mon monstre . Enjoy your meeting.”

Dimitri narrowed his eyes, but unbuttoned his suit jacket and took a seat in one of the lounge chairs by Omar. His second-in-command sneezed twice and then cursed under his breath.

“There a problem?” Dimitri said.

“These fucking flowers.”

“Well, get rid of them.”

My hand was already on the door, and their words had me pausing. Surely they didn’t mean get rid of my flowers, because… merde .

I whirled back around to see Omar reaching for the bouquet on the table, and no, no, no , he couldn’t get rid of those. He’d ruin the whole damn plan.

Panic kick-started my heart as I strolled casually back toward them.

“Oh, darling, let me,” I said before Omar got his hands on the vase. “If you’re allergic, you really shouldn’t touch them.”

He glanced up at me, the first eye contact he’d made with me for days, and gave a curt nod before sitting back.

“He can do it,” Dimitri said.

I waved him off. “It’s no problem at all.

Truly.” Inside I was screaming, because this was giving me nothing but problems. I needed a reason to come back here after I fished the damn device out of these flowers so I could plant it somewhere else before their client boarded.

Which, judging by the way the train was already beginning to slow, would be happening any minute now.