Page 128 of Lavish

Her favorite daughter?Hmph.

“I think for myself, Dante,” I told him.

His lips curled. “You have potential, then.”

Maybe Dante being was a good opportunity to get another perspective on my current situation. “Dante,” I began, watching him sip from his glass. “You ever have someone in your circle who…outlived their usefulness?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “You mean a problem? Don’t tell me you want to get rid of Miles already.”

“I mean someone who doesn’t know when to quit. Someone who thinks they’re smarter than they are.”

He chuckled, smooth and amused. “Darlin’, that’s most of the people I know.”

“Can you tell me what you know about Jenese Delacroix?”

Dante’s face dropped. “Jenese? How do you know her?”

“I found a picture of you two online. And I asked you the question first.”

“That’s not how we’re going to do things, Serena,” he said, shaking his head. “That’s a very specific name to ask about, and you don’t seem like the type that should know a person like her. So I’ll ask again, and be honest. How do you know her?”

“She was my…mentor.”

“Mentor?” Dante repeated like he didn’t believe me. “Your mother is Yvonne King.”

“I know who my mother is,” I said. “I met Jenese six years ago after Laurene first left. She taught me things about business. But now she’s back and threatening me.”

“I thought I saw her at the cigar lounge, but I hoped my eyes were deceiving me,” Dante murmured, and I watched his face flicker with emotions.

“Don’t tell anyone this.” I lowered my voice. “She’s writing a book. I’m in it. With some incriminating evidence.”

Dante looked more intrigued.

“I need a favor,” I said finally.

Dante’s smile was immediate. Hungry. “Now we’re speaking the same language.”

“I need to get rid of Jeneseandevidence,” I told him.

“And what happens after I give you what you want? What do you plan to do with the address?”

“That’s not your concern.”

“See,” he said, wagging a finger, “that’s the part that makes me nervous. My term is ending soon. That means reelection. I can’t jeopardize that, you understand.”

A ripple of cheers rolled through the crowd, followed by the thundering of hooves thundering across manicured grass.

Despite the helmet and dark sunglasses, I recognized Jasper Crewe instantly from Jenese’s picture. The sun glanced off his polished boots, his frame bent low as he urged his mare into a gallop, rumbling toward the ball.

A collective gasp swept through the crowd as his bat connected with the ball, sending it flying in a clean, sharp arc across the grass; his teammates surged forward as one.

“You think I’d come to you if I had options?”

He didn’t answer right away. Just took a long sip of his drink.

I rolled my eyes. “If I can find out some more dirt on Jenese, what she’s been doing these last few years, maybe she’ll be willing to scrap the book and leave me alone.”

“Oh, I’ve heard about her. She’s definitely dirty. I’ve got stories from my interactions with her and some…close friends of mine.”