Page 56 of Red Fury

“Holy fucking shit, it’s Cristal,” Thompson breathes as the waitress pulls the bottle, then immediately looks embarrassed. “Sorry. It’s just that I…I’ve never had Cristal before.” He shakes his head.

Webb laughs, some of his nervous energy bleeding away. “Neither have I. This is definitely a first.”

The waitress expertly opens the bottle with a soft pop, the cork flying out in a perfect arc. She pours three flutes.

“Can I get you gentlemen anything else?” she asks, placing the bottle back in the ice bucket with a crunch and setting a leather-bound drink menu on the table.

“We’re good for now, thanks,” Webb replies, already reaching for his glass.

“If you need anything, I’m here. I left the menu.” She winks at me and then leaves.

“Well,” Webb says, raising his flute, “here’s to new business relationships and expensive-as-shit champagne. I could get used to this.”

“Me too, and cheers to that,” Thompson agrees, clinking his glass against Webb’s.

I toast them both and then lift my own flute and take a sip. The champagne is smooth and crisp. But I’d rather have a beer. Give me something simple and straightforward over this fancy stuff any day.

“God damn,” Thompson says after taking a generous gulp. “That’s incredible. How much do you think a bottle like this costs?”

“You don’t want to know,” Webb replies with a laugh.

I nod and make appropriate sounds of agreement, but my attention keeps drifting back to that diamond-shaped window. Still no sign of Kozlov himself, which is starting to make me antsy. What’s the point of inviting us here if he’s not going to show?

“Excuse me.”

I turn to find a woman standing beside our table. She has long dark hair and olive skin.

And she’s looking directly at me.

“I couldn’t help but notice you from across the room,” she says, her voice smoky and confident. “I’m Carla.”

“Damien,” I reply automatically, trying to inject some warmth into my voice.

She slides closer, one perfectly manicured hand coming to rest on the back of my chair. “You’re new here. I would remember seeing someone like you.”

“First time here,” I tell her.

There’s an invitation in her voice, in the way she’s positioning her body. Under normal circumstances, I might have been interested.

Instead, all I can think about are green eyes and a lush-as-fuck smart mouth that challenges me at every turn.

“I might let you buy me a drink,” she tells me in a husky voice.

“I would.” I smile. “But I’m here on business tonight. Maybe another time.”

The disappointment in her eyes is brief but unmistakable. She recovers quickly, though, flashing me a smile.

“Of course. Business first.” She trails one finger along my shoulder as she steps away. “Maybe once you’re done, you can come and find me.” Then she walks away.

“What the hell are you doing?” Webb demands, leaning forward in his chair. “Do you have any idea what just happened?”

Thompson nods vigorously. “Dude, she was perfect. Absolutely perfect. And she was totally into you. I would give my left testicle for a night with that.”

“That?” I raise my brows. “Don’t you meanher?”

“Of course.” Thompson chokes out a laugh. “You know what I mean.”

I nod once. “Wearehere for business,” I tell Webb, taking another sip of champagne. “Once we meet with Kozlov, maybe I’ll go and find her like she suggested.” I shrug.