Chapter Eighteen #2
“Gone. Around. I have no idea. But Casmiro told me he would be retiring early.”
“And your security detail?” I looked around.
“Liberty night. I do not like them following me around. Besides, not many people recognize me like this. I like it.”
I grinned at his admission. “I told you, and you’re in good hands; Kareem’s security detail is pretty strong.”
“Hm,” he said, his hand caressing my naked shoulder as he pressed a light kiss there. “When do we leave?” he asked quietly.
“Soon,” I told him. “I was hoping to talk to you about something now that we’re partially alone.”
His gaze rose to meet mine. “What is it?”
I pulled back a little from him. “Well, nothing serious. It’s just about the painting.”
He watched me. “What about it?”
“I want Street back in your search.”
He drew back farther, his brows drawing down in a frown as he said, “There is no need for that.”
I sighed. “But we were in the game before you shoved us out, and we’re still on the quest. I just think it would be better if we work together.”
“I have it under control; if it is the gold you are concerned about, I have plans to get it to you and your friends without you having to work for it.”
“There’s the thing.” I didn’t take my eyes off his. “No one takes care of our business for us; we like the hustle.”
“And I have an easy way out.” His voice was straight. He didn’t like talking about this with me. “I am buying the manor.”
I paused. Blinking at him. “What?”
“Hm. Once I buy it, I buy everything in it. Security will be doubled, and no one will go there unless I authorize it. I will take a tour with Kareem himself and have him show me everything.”
“And how long will this whole buying process take?”
“A couple of weeks—”
“We don’t have that much time, Elio.”
His frown deepened. “Why are you in a hurry?”
“Because everyone else is in a hurry. Word is out that all the paintings found in that warehouse are counterfeits, and it’s only a matter of time until someone figures out where exactly the original is. We’re not the only ones searching for this thing.”
“I am aware.”
“Then why are you willing to wait weeks to actually have it with you?”
“Because my gut says so, and there is no way you are getting to tour that manor before I do; that being the case, there is no way for you and Street to get the painting before me.”
I watched him carefully, breathing out. “What if I can get a tour early, like, let’s say, the day after tomorrow?”
“Impossible; Kareem gave me his word,” he shot back, confident.
“But what if?”
“I would not bet on it.”
“Well, I would.” Sighing a little, I allowed a smile to stretch across my lips. “In fact, I bet I could go talk to him now and get myself that tour.”
Elio watched me with a calculated stare, trying to understand where this was leading.
“You would fail,” he said.
“I love a challenge,” I told him, straightening. “Let’s bet on it.”
“Zahra, this is un—”
“Come on,” I urged, “let’s bet on it.”
He sighed like he was only trying to indulge me. “Fine. What would you like to bet?”
“If I fail to get myself a tour,” I swallowed, “then I will sit back, swallow my pride, and let you do all the work for me.”
“I like that.”
“Yeah, I know you do.”
“And if you manage to get the tour?”
My lips curled at the side as I shifted closer to him again, letting my hand rest against his chest. “I get…” I drawled, “a onetime pass to take over in the bedroom.”
His eyebrows shot up. “Interesting…” Suspicion was in his eyes, but curiosity soon clouded it.
“What do you say?” I asked.
His hand came to rest on my waist. “I say we have a deal.”
I smiled, pressing a closed-mouthed kiss to his lips. “I knew there was a reason why I liked you. Why don’t we drink to it? Seal the deal.”
“I’ve had enough drinks for tonight.”
“Liberty night, Elio. We are dropping self-made laws, remember?”
He hesitated but then nodded. “Okay.”
I grinned, inching away from him before my gaze moved to the semi-distant crowd ahead of us. I found the waiter by the side and gestured him over.
When he reached us, I picked two drinks from the tray, which held four; I passed one to Elio and thanked the waiter as he went off.
“Ah, cheers to me winning again.” I clinked my glass to his.
“This ego of yours is a problem you need to address,” he said, bringing his glass to his lips. I drank mine in one go while he drank half of his.
“Ugh, it’s not even strong alcohol.” I grimaced. “Should I get another one?”
“It is fine; this is all right,” he said, setting his half-empty glass on the table and checking his watch. “It is almost midnight.”
“The party always starts at midnight. Look around; people are just arriving,” I told him. “Also, I still have a bet to win.”
He shook his head. “Maybe I should retire before you. I have a little work to get done and some papers Casmiro needs me to look over. And I should probably go speak to Kareem about a certain tour.”
I watched him as he straightened.
I laughed lightly. “Right … I’ll let you go.”
Something in my voice must have made him look back at me with a slight frown. He probably didn’t think much of it … until he moved to stand and stumbled back on the couch.
Then he blinked.
Once, twice.
I watched him swallow as he turned to meet my gaze, eyes unfocused but hard. “Did you…”
“Yes?” I asked, shifting closer and holding him to stop his swaying body.
“Did you … I don’t feel…” He blinked a few more times. “You fucking spiked my drink?” His tone was low and slow, dark and angry.
I held him close to my body. I could tell he was trying to get out of my hold, but he had no control anymore. Even though he was tense, he was mine to control.
My heart hammered as my fingers danced in his hair while my other hand rubbed his back.
“We made a bet. You didn’t say we couldn’t cheat,” I whispered in his ear. “Lesson for tomorrow, Marino, whenever you make a bet with me, discuss all the terms included.”
His forehead dropped against my shoulder, his breathing unsteady. “Zahra—”
“Shh,” I cooed, rubbing his back.
It took only a few seconds for his body to slump entirely against mine.
I closed my eyes, breathing and grinding my teeth hard before opening my eyes again.
Fear painted my insides red at the fact that I had managed to knock out Elio Marino, make him completely and totally vulnerable, at my mercy.
But relief eclipsed the feeling of fear when it dawned on me that I had managed to pull this off.
Before I orchestrated this, I knew it was nearly impossible to get him like this, especially when he saw through me, since he was never careless.
He trusted me. And the guilt raged because I knew I had just misused it.
I raised my hand a little and didn’t have to look before I heard footsteps rushing toward us.
I still held him to me, my hand still caressed his hair, and my heart was still pounding.
“Transport him safely to the penthouse. No one sees you. No one comes into the house. Full security. Await further instructions.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
When he was taken from my arms, I refrained from watching him get carried away as I gulped down the guilt I felt for removing him from the ship.
Letting out a breath, I flexed my shoulders.
One down, four more to go.
Time to get to work.