Cruel Paradise - A Mafia Romance Chapter 87

He raises his eyebrows innocently. “This is business, of course. I would pay.” “For what?”

“I want to book out Alcazar for one night next week to host an exclusive event.”

I humor him. “Booking out Alcazar will cost you half a mil. Excluding food and beverages.” He shrugs. “I’ve got the money.”

“You also have a club of your own,” I point out. “Hosting your event there would cost you nothing.” “As you’ve pointed out numerous times before: despite my best efforts, my club doesn’t seem to have the same appeal that yours does.”

There’s definitely a trap in place. I eye him carefully, but he is the picture of innocence. “What night are you looking at?” “The thirteenth of August.” I grit my teeth.

The next day I believe in a coincidence will be the first. In my world, there’s no such thing—there’s just plans in motion and fools too stupid to see them tightening around their throats.

Because the thirteenth of August is the date of the full-scale Venera launch. And there isn’t a fucking chance in hell that Adrik doesn’t somehow know that.

Outwardly, I play it cool. “Unfortunately, booking Alcazar for any kind of event requires at least three months’ prior notice. I’m afraid your date isn’t available.”

“I figured that, since I know the owner—”

“You figured wrong. We’re booked.”

He eyes me over his whiskey. “Oh? Big event?”

I keep my face calmly apathetic, even as I daydream about throttling this bastard here and now. “Every event at Alcazar is a big event.” I get to my feet. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have meetings to get to.”

Adrik remains seated. He doesn’t seem miffed that I’ve denied him the use of my club, which is making me even more suspicious.

It’s a relief that lunch is over but I’m also hard-wired to sense when something is not right. Right now, all my senses are blaring red alert.

Kirill is in the foyer of the Bane skyscraper when I walk in. He makes a beeline straight for me. “What’s this I hear about a lunch with Adrik?”

“Just managed to get away.”

He narrows his eyes. “What did the bastard want?”

“He wanted a venue for some event. Alcazar on the thirteenth of August.”

Kirill’s scowl captures exactly how I’m feeling. “That can’t be a coincidence, can it?” I shake my head and his scowl deepens. “If it’s not a coincidence, that can mean only one thing.”

“Yeah,” I snarl with a grimace. “Adrik knows too much.”

61

EMMA

“I cannot get over this look!” Phoebe declares as she follows me into the living room.

The kids are already asleep so we’re both talking softly and walking slow. Well, I’m walking slow. The three-inch Prada heels I’m wearing weren’t exactly made for running.

“And, wow, not to bury the lede here, but your ass looks amazing from back here.”

I spin around for her benefit. The truth is, I feel pretty dang good. And not just because of the sequined Valentino mini I’m wearing. Tonight is my club date with Ruslan and I’m all squidgy inside with excitement.

We’re actually going to be out in public together—a couple for the world to see.

It’s about freaking time.

“If only I had a camera on me. We need to memorialize this moment so that you can look back forty years from now and remember what a hot bod you had.”

I roll my eyes. “Don’t you worry. I’ll have a hot body forty years from now, too.” “Ooh! I like the confidence. This new Emma is definitely an upgrade.”

“New Emma?”

“Oh, brand spanking new.” Phoebe wags her eyebrows at me. “Let’s face it: you’ve transformed these last couple of months. You went from a stressed, tired, worried little caterpillar into a confident, happy, sexy sequined butterfly clothed in designer like it ain’t nothin’.”

I cringe. “He keeps buying me expensive clothes—”

“And you need to keep accepting them. For my sake, if not for yours. I’m borrowing this dress when you’re done with it, by the way.”

I laugh. “No prob—”

I stop short when I see Ben’s shadow come up behind Phoebe. She steps to the side with distaste, making no secret of the fact that she barely tolerates his presence. That makes two of us.

His eyes land on my dress. “The fuck’re you going?” “Out,” I snap shortly.

His eyes veer to Phoebe. “What’s she doing here?”

“She is staying over to look after your kids,” Phoebe retorts before I can answer.

Ben doesn’t even acknowledge her. I wonder if he forgets that Phoebe was Sienna’s friend, too. That she lost Si, just like he and I did.

If he does remember that, he shows no sign of it. He just refocuses his glare on me. He’s been a little extra abrasive since the night Ruslan threatened to cut his hand off, though he’s kept his distance.

“I need to talk to you,” he growls.

“I’m about to leave, Ben.”

“Well, this is important. I need—”

The knock-knock-knock at the door has his mouth clamping shut. Phoebe gives me a satisfied smile. “Ruslan has excellent timing. Another point in his favor.” She wiggles her fingers at me. “Have an amazing time, Cinderella.”

She shoots me a wink and disappears down the hall towards my room. I walk over to the door but pause before I open it. “What did you wanna talk to me about?”

He scowls. “That him?”

“Yes.”

He blanches and backs away towards his room. “We’ll talk later then.”

Suppressing a smile, I open the door and walk right into Ruslan’s arms. I drop a kiss on his lips and, when I turn to close the door, Ben’s already disappeared.

“You look sexy as hell,” Ruslan rumbles as he curls an arm around my waist. “I might have to get a taste of you right here and now.”

“Right back atcha.” I finger his open collared shirt as I lean close and add in a seductive whisper, “But if you think I’m letting you get me naked in this roach-infested hallway, you’ve lost your mind.”

He laughs and nips at my neck, then we make our way out of the building and out into the heart of the city. I really must look sexy because he doesn’t take his hands off me. With the exception of getting in and out of the SUV, he has at least one palm on my waist at all times. You’d think the possessiveness would be claustrophobic, but I can’t stop smiling.

His club is understated on the outside. I particularly love the dark tunnel adorned with black and whites of old New York City. But the moment we enter the body of the beast, it feels like I’ve stepped from the past into the future.

Neon. Bass. Roving lights, dancers on high pedestals, so much to see and hear and smell in every direction that I don’t even know where to begin.