Page 85 of The Villain

“It’s all right.” I pat his back. “Go see your dad maybe.”

Enzo’s expression tightens and he steps backward. “I’ll see you in the morning then.”

“Goodnight,” I say and lead Allegra out to the waiting elevator. The two men who accompanied Allegra ride down with us.

“Why don’t we bring Enzo too?” she asks me.

I raise my eyebrows. “YouwantEnzo to come?”

She nods. “Just for extra protection.”

“We’ll be fine.” And I’m hoping he’ll talk to Angelo, work out whatever is going on between them.

She nods. “Do you own the casino?” she asks a few moments later.

“No. My father and I own the land and the building. The Blackstones rent from us.”

“I’m not sure I understand.”

“It’s complicated. Sybil Blackstone, Jet’s mother, mystepmother, inherited her fortune from her parents so everything used to belong to her. That includes the club in Devil’s Peak. But Sybil is not the businesswoman she likes to think herself and a few years ago, when she was out of options, she came to my father to ask for a loan.”

“And they fell in love?”

I snort. “That’s a laugh. No, not quite.Theydid not fall in love. My father may have been besotted, but there was no love on her part, I can tell you that. Unless you count love of money, I suppose.”

“You don’t like her.”

“I don’t trust her. I make no secret of it.”

The doors open and I gesture for Allegra to step out. This is the Blackstones’ annual charity dinner and as usual, it’s sold out. The crème of the crop attends this evening’s soiree, a bunch of rich assholes I don’t want to rub elbows with. I’m not sure how my father could stand it as long as he did honestly.

“Come, Allegra,” I say, leading her down the softly lit, elegant corridor toward the ballroom where chandeliers burn overhead, and the carpet is thick beneath our feet. Two long bars line two of the walls and it’s standing room only while waiters circulate with trays of champagne to serve my stepmother’s guests. “My father infused cash into the Blackstone businesses when they were in trouble. We own a share of the club, but the casino is solely Blackstone owned. It’s better that way.”

“Because of money laundering and other illicit activities, the mob and casinos are known for?”

“Did you recently watch Goodfellas or something?”

“I did, in fact.”

“Well, getting your facts from fiction will get you into trouble, sweetheart,” I tell her, tapping the tip of her nose in a gesture that has her looking at me like she’s confused.

Familiar laughter comes from across the room, and my mood darkens. Allegra must sense it because her expression changes and her gaze follows mine to where I spot my stepfamily. That laughter is Sybil flirting. She’s a manipulator. Always has been. The older man standing across from her, the one whose tie she is straightening, must be her new mark. How did my father not see right through her?

“Fucking ungrateful?—”

“Cassian?” Allegra says, touching my arm, and I notice the couple who is approaching us. I don’t pretend to smile. I can’t.

“I need a drink,” I say and wrap my hand around the back of Allegra’s neck to lead her to the bar. “What would you like?” I ask Allegra.

“Um,” she starts, glancing at all the bottles behind the bar. “Aviation, please,” she says, and it surprises me.

“That’s strong, isn’t it?”

She shrugs a shoulder. “It was what my mom always ordered at parties.”

“Ah. An Aviation and a whiskey neat. Make it a double actually.”

“Yes, sir.”