Zeke pulls his gun from his pocket, but instead of laying it on the table, he gets up and walks to me.
He hands it to me. I take it hesitantly. He doesn’t speak, but I can read his eyes easily. Take it, stay safe; this is my forgiveness. This is all I’ll do to help you.
Then the men start filing out. Leaving me seated at the table by myself.
I stare at the ring one more time, memorizing it as I try to formulate a plan in my head. I’ve lived my life with nothing. No money, no car, nothing.
I stare down at the ring I could easily sell to give me all those things now in order to assist me this round and the rounds after.
No, I won’t sell it. Only if my life depends on it. It means too much to Enzo. I could never hurt him like that. I still don’t understand his compassion when he gave me the ring, but I know I have to keep the ring safe until he accepts it when I return it to him.
I can find a way to make this happen. I’ve spent my entire life with nothing and I more than survived.
There is a library a couple of blocks from here. I’ll research everything I can on him and then form a plan. But I already know what that plan will have to involve. Milo Wallace is a man. I’m sure he’s a powerful, rich man. There is only one way to ensure I can get close to him. Use my body to seduce him. It makes me sick to my stomach to think about flirting with a man after I just had a different man in my bed, but what choice do I have?
I don’t know if I want to win. I don’t know if I want to become Black. But if I lose, I’ll end up with nothing. If I win, I’ll have an entire empire at my disposal. If I win, I could change things. If I win, I could stop another woman from being sold. If I win, I could end the pain.
20
Enzo
Kai could win this.
And it scares the crap out of me. I’ve worked too hard, for too long to give her a chance at winning a single round. Everything would be destroyed if she won. I can’t let it happen.
I sit in the passenger seat, while Zeke rides in the back, already on his computer looking things up about Milo Wallace. Langston is usually better at surveillance, but Zeke is too hurt to drive. And I need to be free to focus on formulating a game plan.
Zeke starts rambling everything we know about Milo, “He’s wealthy—a one billion dollar fortune. He got all his money selling weapons. He’s single, a perpetual bachelor. He lives in France but loves to sail his yacht. He’s actually in Miami; he’s throwing a big party tomorrow night on his yacht.”
I take in all the information Zeke just gave me. In some ways, it would have been better if Milo was in France. Kai has no money to buy a plane ticket, and by the time she came up with the money to buy a ticket, I would have already flown my private jet to steal the stupid ring and be back.
But he’s not in France, he’s here, on his yacht. That’s the second best news. Kai is afraid of yachts and the water. She won’t go near him. That gives me an advantage. I’m not sure if he’s the kind of man to step foot in Miami, or if he prefers the luxury of his yacht. I can’t imagine a man like him ever leaving his yacht. So if she wants to win, she will have to face her fears.
I smirk. I know she’s capable, but she might stall. Waiting him out to see if he will come to land first. That will give me a day’s advantage.
“Where is he now?” I ask Zeke.
“He’s anchored a few miles off the coast. They won’t dock until tomorrow evening just before the party. He’s a paranoid guy and feels safer on his yacht than on land.”
I smile. Perfect.
I can easily get an invitation to this party. If I weren’t already so focused on this game and Kai, I would have probably already ensured I had an invitation. This is the kind of man I want control and power over. I would have learned everything, found his weakness and exploited it until I was sure I could control him. That’s what I do.
My mind spins with ideas of what I should do. But I know there is only one fool-proof way to get Milo alone—a woman.
If I was allowed a gun, I could easily persuade him to talk to me, but I’m not allowed one. Something I’m very pissed about. Kai should have never allowed that stupid penalty. I don’t care about my life, but I will not put my men in danger.
“What’s the plan, boss?” Langston asks. I share everything with him, and he’s usually more involved in the planning and plotting process, instead of being stuck behind the wheel.
“Get an invite to the party tomorrow night,” I answer.
“Already done,” Zeke says.
I grin. Maybe Zeke is as good at plotting as Langston and I are. I just always think of Zeke as brute force, instead of brains.
“Then make sure I have the hottest date on my arm so Milo will want to talk with me. If for no other reason than to steal my date.”
“Good plan, but then what? Do you know how to steal a ring without him noticing you are taking it?”