Chapter 6 #2
An instant jolt of current settled into my nervous stomach. His voice was richer than I’d thought, the deep baritone providing a sense of a soft blanket rubbing against my naked skin.
“I’ll be fine,” I answered to my men. “I doubt Mr. Torres wants his lovely white furniture to be permanently stained red.”
Emiliano issued yet another growl, but nodded and backed off, one of the guards closing the door.
I took another step inside as my host chuckled.
“Did you have any issue finding my home?” he asked.
“I’m pretty good with GPS coordinates, la parca . Or would you prefer I call you el carnicero sangriento ?”
My distaste for him was instantaneous. There was no reason other than because he so obviously lorded his wealth over everyone.
“Bloody butcher. That name always pleased me. What I prefer I cannot often have, Madame Morales, or would you prefer I call you Daddy’s little girl?” He slowly turned around and despite my anger and his obvious amusement, we both registered instant recognition, our eyes opening wide.
I took several steps closer, my heels tapping against the tile floor as I allowed the horrible images of the night before to trash my mind.
Blood.
People running.
Tables being knocked over.
And a man with controlling black eyes and lips meant for long nights of kissing. A man so handsome my heart had ached the moment he’d touched me, my breath stolen when he’d dared kiss me.
That’s when I knew what had happened, the comprehension that he’d been inside the restaurant for a reason jerking my anger to the surface.
“You fucking bastard. You killed my father. Now, I’m going to do everything in my power to destroy your entire world and in the end, I will put a knife through your cold, black heart. ”
My voice had increased enough the door was flung open, footsteps heard from behind me.
Jago threw up his hand, shaking his head. “There is no issue, Benito. We are just beginning our discussion.”
“You’re certain, Mr. Torres?”
“Absolutely. We’re fine. Aren’t we, Genevieve?”
His use of my first name infuriated me even more. The audacity of the man was outrageous. However, my outburst wouldn’t bode well for my reputation or determining what in the hell the man wanted.
“We’re perfectly fine.” My answer was succinct and I did my best to suck back my rage.
“Do not interrupt us again,” he told his soldier.
The door was once again closed and Jago took a step closer. It was difficult not to flinch. When he continued crowding my space, the same electricity I’d felt outside in the hallway of the restaurant tingled my skin.
He was taller than I’d remembered, at least six foot four. I don’t know what I’d expected, but seeing him in charcoal linen trousers, a lighter shade matching suit jacket with the sleeves rolled up, and a tight white tee shirt that accentuated his incredible muscular chest floored me.
His forearms were covered in dark swirls, the ink continuing to his upper hands. I also noticed scrolled black lines resembling vines extending from the thin collar of his shirt, encasing the thick cords on both sides of his neck. Wearing loafers and no socks, he was stylish with a dangerous twist.
The man was sexy as hell.
But I refused to allow him to see a single twitch in my facial expression.
There was no doubt he was waiting for it, studying me with the eyes of a snake and the desire of a vicious predator.
“I did not kill your father, Genevieve. I respected the man.”
“Bullshit. If you want this meeting to continue, you will not lie to me.”
“I’m not used to being called a liar, certainly not inside my house.”
“I guess you’ll need to get used to several things you don’t like.”
He scowled at first, his eyes flashing as his temper flared, but he managed to disarm me when he smiled.
“You’re very formidable just as your note suggested.
Why don’t we start over? Then you can burn a cross into my forehead with your accusations.
I’m Jago Torres. Welcome to my home. Would you like something to drink? Wine, perhaps? Champagne?”
At least he was the one who stepped away first. And so the game began. “Something stronger. Whiskey if you have it.”
“Ah, whiskey. A woman of discerning tastes. Yes, I do.”
He turned toward the bar, which allowed me to glance around the room. I also slipped my hand down to the inside of my thigh where I’d hidden a sheathed knife. If anyone thought I’d come to a meeting of this nature without being armed, they were crazy.
“How did you enjoy spending time in New York?” His question surprised me, which is what he intended on doing. He was making a point there was nothing about me he couldn’t discover.
“Beautiful in the spring. I enjoyed the food, but the people were horrific.”
“And Broadway?” he asked as he turned around. “I’ve always wanted to catch a show on Broadway. It’s on my bucket list. I’d be curious as to what’s on yours.” His eyes were pinned on mine, his strong jaw clenched, which made the dark stubble seem sexier.
His aura exuded power and as he walked toward me, he allowed his gaze to fall far too slowly. He wasn’t just sizing up an opponent. He was undressing them.
Damn the man.
“I was far too busy with school and my internship to truly enjoy what the city had to offer.” I accepted the drink and our fingers touched, shooting another wave of electricity through me. My body tensed in reaction, and his dark chuckle enveloped my system.
“Do I frighten you, Genevieve?”
“No, is that what you’re attempting to do, Jago?” Two could play the name game.
“What I’m attempting to do is to simply enjoy a nice conversation followed by what I hope you’ll find to be an excellent dinner with very enjoyable company.”
“Dinner? With you?” I’d been right about the room. He truly believed if he couldn’t coerce me into selling, he’d wine and dine me. What a jerk.
“I assure you my chef hasn’t poisoned the food. But if you’d prefer, I’ll taste yours to ensure there is no rogue enemy hoping to kill you inside my house.”
I had to laugh. “You are an arrogant son of a bitch.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment coming from a woman attempting to fill the shoes of a ruthless man.”
“I’m not attempting anything. I will handle his business from here on out.”
He lifted his glass, almost in appreciation. “I stand corrected. However, I will warn you that there are many outside this room who will stop at nothing to take what doesn’t belong to them.”
“Besides yourself?”
“You only recently returned home. Yes?”
There was no reason to lie to him. “Two days ago.”
“I’m so sorry your homecoming wasn’t what you’d hoped. What you may or may not know is that things are entirely different than when you left years ago.”
“How so?” I might as well learn as much as I could about the landscape of monsters.
“There are dozens of factions from other countries, inside Spain. They handle everything from drugs and illegal arms to slave trading. They are fighting amongst each other, almost in a feeding frenzy to gain more territory. They will see your father’s murder as an opportunity they can’t pass up.”
I stared at him, trying to keep my hand from shaking. “You’re really hoping I’ll believe you didn’t have anything to do with my father’s death.”
“I didn’t.”
“Then why were you at the restaurant at the same time? I find it curious that you managed to leave just minutes before all hell broke loose.”
“A fortunate occurrence, likely because my meeting didn’t go as planned.”
“And meeting me? That was simply an accident?”
He grinned and rubbed his jaw. “A very pleasant one. I had no idea who you were.”
“So you just randomly kiss strangers.”
“I was drawn to you as you were to me. You can’t lie to me and tell me you didn’t feel the explosion we shared.”
“I felt nothing but contempt as I do right now.”
Every time he laughed, another shiver danced down the back of my legs. “You’ll need to forgive me if I don’t buy what you’re saying. I am a man, after all.”
“Yes, you are. A dangerous, arrogant man with a desire to be king of Spain.”
“I’ll just accept the prince’s position.”
He was infuriating, so much so I could easily lose my cool around him. “If you didn’t have my father killed, then who did? I have been away from my father’s world for several years. Why don’t you share your insight with me? Men talk. They can’t keep their mouths shut.”
“That’s what I’m hoping, but honestly, at this point I don’t know.”
“But you have your suspicions.”
“Yes, but I’m not ready to talk about it until I know for certain.”
I decided to crowd his space this time, but as soon as I did, I caught a strong whiff of his aftershave. Just like everything else with the man, the scent was pure power and raw animal magnetism. I licked my lips without realizing what I was doing and he caught the gesture, narrowing his eyes.
“Let’s just say I give you the benefit of the doubt; what is the offer you’re prepared to make me?”
“Such a businesswoman. I thought we could get to know each other better first.”
“This isn’t a social call.” I glanced into my glass, suddenly wondering if he had spiked it with anything. What would be the point? Keeping me locked away so he could burn down my house? The thought brought a slight moan up from my throat.
“Relax, Genevieve. As you said, this is a meeting. It would do me no favors to hurt you.”
I took a deep breath. “Tell me what your offer is.”
“My suggestion is that I give you a fair price for your father’s business holdings. You can keep the estate, of course, as I won’t be needing the property.”
“And my men?”
“Your father’s men will be provided with exit money, but they are of no use to me.”
“No use to you. Of course not. I’m certain you discard men right and left, women too.”
“I don’t employ many women in my organization.”
Was he saying this just to get a rise out of me?
I had to admit it was close to working, but I refused to be conned by a man who flaunted his murders.
He had no respect for life and obviously no conscience.
I laughed in spite of the tense conversation.
“I get it. You can’t handle a woman being in a position to challenge you.
Tiny little balls to match a minuscule dick? ”
The flash returned in his dark eyes, amusement quickly following. “I have a figure for you. Would you like to hear it?”
I allowed myself to take a sip of the drink, savoring the flavor by closing my eyes. I might as well provide him with the sense he didn’t bother me. “Why not?”
“Fifty million dollars.”
“Fifty million?” I couldn’t have heard him correctly.
“That will go a long way in ensuring your family has an amazing life.”
I had no idea that he’d thought me so damn stupid. Or maybe he was actually cunning enough to think I’d throw out a number, which would provide him with a more accurate glance at what the business was actually worth.
Which was at least ten times what he’d tossed on the table like trash.
“Yes, it would.” I was able to keep a smile on my face and even found the chutzpa to take another sip of my drink without launching into him as I wanted.
I carefully placed the glass on one of the tables and squared my shoulders when I faced him.
“I realize you’re not used to dealing with smart, successful woman given your Neanderthal status, Jago.
I can understand and even somewhat appreciate the fact you have no couth because you were simply never taught any manners, so I’ll make this as easy for you as possible.
I’m not interested in your pittance or your pity.
I am my father’s daughter, which means I’m a merciless businesswoman who will have no issue wiping the floor with you if necessary.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, this meeting is over.
Thank you for the opportunity and for the whiskey.
Delicious. As for the company? I’m afraid I can’t say the same. ”
With that, I headed for the door.
Just before I walked outside, I heard his throaty laugh, the sound creating a flutter in my stomach.
“Make no mistake, Genevieve. You’ve crossed me. Not a good thing for you to do and I assure you that your punishment will be harsh. And very, very personal.”