Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 72308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72308 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 362(@200wpm)___ 289(@250wpm)___ 241(@300wpm)
“How am I supposed to get her attention without him seeing me?”
I looked at the waitresses walking around, and a thought struck me. I grabbed a paper from the bidding table and scribbled the message before I handed it to the waitress along with a generous tip. “Give this to the woman in the pink dress.” When she walked away, I turned to Grave. “Wait for her outside the bathroom. Now.”
Grave gave an annoyed sigh. “This is far below my pay grade…” He walked off to meet her.
I watched Camille open the note and discreetly read it.
Bartholomew seemed too absorbed in the painting to notice. Or he just didn’t care.
Camille took the bait and walked off to the bathroom.
Showtime.
Bartholomew scribbled his bid for one of the paintings before he dropped the paper into the box.
I appeared at his side. “Where are you going to put it?”
He had no reaction at all, like he knew I was there the whole time or he was just that calm and collected. “In my study.”
He ran an all-cash business. What did he need a study for?
“You think I won’t pull out my knife just because this room is full of people?” He lifted his glass and took another drink, sliding his hand into his pocket like he was reaching for his blade. He pivoted his body, looking at me head on. “Because I will.”
“I have something you might want.”
The corner of his mouth quirked up in a slightly amused smile. “You got it bad, huh?”
“You turned down fifty million—so you got it bad too.”
He continued to look amused. “Cauldron, you like games?”
My eyes shifted back and forth between his.
“Because I do. You want to play?”
I suspected I didn’t have a choice.
“Here’s how it goes. Present your business proposition, and if I don’t like it, I cut your throat where you stand. If I do like it, the blade stays in my pocket. But there’s another option.” He held up his glass a little higher. “Walk away now, and we don’t play at all. What do you say?”
After a long standoff, I made my decision. “I’ll take my chances.”
“Ah.” He set the glass on an empty tray of a passing waiter. “I was hoping you’d say that.” Now both hands were in his pockets, one set of fingers no doubt gripping the handle of his concealed blade. “Go ahead.”
“Roan is your distributor to Croatia and Eastern Europe. He’s taking the risk by getting the drugs across the border, but he’s taking a big cut. Based on my information, he’s selling your stuff for three times what you sell it for here.”
I knew I had his attention when he cocked his head slightly, and his eyes narrowed like a sharper lens on a telescope.
“If Roan were removed, you could sell directly. Take over his distribution network and keep all the profits for yourself. Word on the street is you have your eyes set on Italy, so I know you’re looking to expand.”
Bartholomew’s eyes were so sharp, they were like the blade in his pocket. “Business advice? That’s all you have to offer me.”
“I’ll kill him for you.”
He didn’t blink. Didn’t take a breath. “You think I can’t kill a man myself?”
“I’m giving you plausible deniability. If people knew you stabbed your partner in the back, no one would ever want to do business with you. I’ll take care of Roan—and you give me Camille.” I laid it all out on the table. No going back.
Bartholomew stared and stared, as if I hadn’t said a word.
I kept my patience, letting him think this through. Since the knife stayed in his pocket, I assumed my throat was safe for now.
“You kill Roan, and I’ll let you sublease my contract.”
I did it. I fucking did it. “We have a deal—”
“For fifty million.”
It was greedy, but I wasn’t going to negotiate and push my luck. He could keep the money. “Deal.”
He slid his right hand out of his pocket.
My eyes immediately glanced down to make sure the knife wasn’t there.
He gave a slight smile. “Other hand.” He reached his right hand forward to shake mine.
I took it.
“You can have her starting tomorrow.”
“Tonight.” He didn’t get to go home and fuck her one last time.
“I need her for this event. Once we’re finished, she can go.”
What did he need her for?
“Besides, no money, no deal. You’ll need an hour or two to gather that amount of cash. Drop it off at the Catacombs. Once every bill is accounted for and my men confirm it’s not counterfeit, they’ll let me know the deal is done.”
“You drop her off at home and leave. That’s it.”
Now he looked amused again. “I might give her a goodnight kiss. But then, she’s all yours.”
21
CAMILLE
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I hissed once we were outside the bathroom.