Page 51 of Steal My Heart

She nods. “I’ll pass the phone discreetly to the duke man, they run it to Maks and IT guy, and once they’re done with the cloning stuff, the duke man runs it back to me, and I’ll return it to the mayor.”

“We can bring in Nic if we need to.” He’s the only family member I halfway trust.

“The man you threatened at gunpoint?” Remi raises an eyebrow.

“I’ll do more than threaten next time,” I warn her.

“What would Laurie say about that?” Remi challenges.

My jaw clenches. “Since she’s not my girlfriend, not a damn thing.”

“I must’ve missed something,” Maks comments, his head ping ponging between me and Remi.

“How would Nic even get into the party without an invitation?” Remi presses.

“I don’t know,” I admit.

“I can do it.” Al slips inside the room.

“Absolutely not! And you know better than eavesdropping on my business,” I chastise.

“I’ll tag along with you and Laurie to the party; no one would ever suspect little ole’ me. And even if I were to get caught, I’m just a silly teenage girl and a prank gone wrong.”

“Hate to say it, but I like the plan,” Maks announces.

“I don’t,” I snap.

Remi holds up her hands. “I might not even need a runner; it all depends. Honestly, I’d have a better handle on this if I could scout out the venue beforehand.”

“It’s too risky for you to be seen there before the party,” I warn her.

“But not us,” Al tells me. “We take a tour of the venue space, and I’ll record every inch. You know, to decide where I’m holding my big eighteenth birthday extravaganza.”

“I thought you didn’t want a big party,” I say.

“I don’t, but they don’t know that,” Al points out.

“I’m not sure when she became an evil mastermind, but I like it,” Maks says.

“I don’t!” Turning to my sister, I pin her with my hard gaze. “You’ve been visiting Fabien for months in prison; has his incarceration taught you nothing?”

She waves away my concern. “I’m still a minor. If our lawyer can’t get me out of a few underage charges, then what the hell are we paying him for?”

“You and I will tour the event space, but I’m not agreeing to anything else,” I warn Al.

She nods excitedly, hurrying out.

“Out,” I snap at Maks, and he slips out of the room.

I pour myself a finger of whiskey.

“Careful, Angelo. You’ve already had your indulgence for the week,” Remi teases.

“What you said earlier about us not trusting each other, you were spot on,” I tell her, needing to feel some semblance of control in this situation. “And as a businessman, here’s the bottom line. Betray me and my family, and I’ll kill you.”

Remi examines me with curiosity. “Who hurt you?”

Kicking back the whiskey, I welcome the burn. “Show me yours, and I’ll show you mine.”