Page 15 of Pretty Plaything

Chapter 6

IT DOESN’T TAKE LONGfor Orlando’s call.

We meet at a bar in no one’s territory.

Orlando watches me carefully as I approach him. His dark eyes don’t reveal anything. His graying dark brown hair is perfectly combed, and his suit is impeccable.

Everything about Orlando screams power and pride. He can’t be too happy about being forced to be here, but I’m sure he’ll try to make it seem like he’s doing me a huge favor and not that he’s here because he needs something from me.

He gets to his feet, extending his hand with a big gold ring with his family crest on his finger.

“Mr. Bellini,” he says. “Thank you for meeting me.”

I shake his hand, inclining my head. “Mr. Lionetti.”

“Please sit.”

We settle at the table. His guards are lurking at the end of the room, far enough away not to invade our privacy, but still close enough to act in case something goes wrong.

My guards are on the opposite side of the room. I usually don’t need them, so they’re here more for show than to protect me.

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to get straight to business,” Orlando says. “I think you and I can reach a mutually beneficial agreement.”

I lift my eyebrows. “I appreciate your offer, but I’m not looking for a business partner at the moment.”

Orlando licks his lips, which turn up into a small smile a moment later. “Then allow me to convince you otherwise. I know you got your hands on something very valuable.”

“Is that a threat?”

“No, of course not.” Orlando waves his hand in dismissal. “What I’m offering you is a great opportunity. With your new acquisition—”

“Let’s just call it by its name. You want H-376.”

Orlando smiles. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you plan to distribute H-376 across your territory, probably under a better name.”

I only let the corners of my lips twitch up.

“That’s a very good plan, but soon, you’re going to attract enemies. People will want what you have and you’ll have to defend it with everything you got. And it’s not only that. Imagine how much more you could earn if you shared the recipe with someone like me. Our territories are close enough that we can protect our mutual interests, and we can cover a much larger area together. I own a few factories that can speed up the production of the drug, which means more profit for both of us.”

Orlando snaps his fingers, and one of his men approaches with a file in hand. He gives it to Orlando, who offers it to me.

“Take a look at the numbers. They don’t lie,” he says.

I open the file.

Someone has really done a good job at calculating all the potential profits. There’s even a pretty colorful graph.

It’s nothing I don’t already know, though.

“And there’s more. My daughter, Sienna. You’re the only living Bellini at the moment, and I’m sure you’ll want to have heirs as soon as possible. She’s young and healthy. If you marry her, it will show everyone how strong our union is.”

I don’t say anything.

He’s offering exactly what I want, but I’m not going to show him that.