“Did Sergei ever hint at where he was staying? Or when he might pick the diamonds up?”
“No. But I have several emails from him that I could trace,” she smiled. “The bank was on East Avenue. I still have the key and the box number.”
“All of that would be especially useful, Mila. Thank you,” I answered.
She gazed back at me with increasing curiosity. “If you have all of this money at your disposal, why are these diamonds so important to you?” she asked pointedly.
I didn’t say anything, but I liked the way her mind worked. It made me fall for her even more. I reached for my coffee and took a long sip before I cleared my throat and began to tell her about my current position.
“While it is true that I am the kingpin of the infamous Montagna mafia family, I was never meant to be in the traditional line of succession. I was put in this position by a close and trusted friend,” I explained.
Her eyes narrowed as she assessed my story, cocking her head slightly as she did so. Her brow furrowed and I had to make sure not to react because it was especially cute.
“What friend?” she pressed.
“Cyrus Holt,” I answered simply. I noticed no flare of recognition in her eyes.
“I take it he’s pretty powerful to put you in charge of an entire mafia criminal organization.” Her bluntness was refreshing. I often worked with men with which my relationships were tenuous at best. My world was one of shifting alliances and slippery agreements full of double meanings that truly never slept.
Mila was an invigorating change of pace from all of that.
“He is,” I nodded.
“So, what comes next?” she asked. Her eyes stared back at me, full of hope and fear and something else that I couldn’t quite identify.
“You will remain under my protection. I think you know what will happen if you fight me on that,” I warned, and she shifted in her seat. Her cheeks pinkened slightly. I thoroughly enjoyed the way her nervous tension rolled through her. I’d bet money that she was still wet for me too.
“I’m also going to need to figure out a way to take our diamonds back and return them to their rightful place,” I continued.
She drummed her fingers on the table. She searched my face in silence as I sat back and sipped my coffee.
“I’m going to need to hire someone with a very particular set of skills,” I said nonchalantly, lightly placing my mug back down on the table.
Her face lit up at my meaning.
“I might know someone, but she’s going to want to negotiate your payment terms,” she sassed.
“She’ll take the deal I give her unless she wants a very sore bottom when it’s finished,” I smirked.
“I’m sure we can come to an agreement,” she blushed. I cracked my knuckles and she glanced down at my hand nervously.
“What are your terms, little girl?”
She grinned so wide that she was practically glowing.
Fuck. She looked so beautiful when she smiled like that. I wanted to see it again and again. For the rest of my life.