Chapter 10
Delilah turned the page in the book she was reading and snuggled deeper into the couch. It was her first shift off in over a week, and she’d been looking forward to doing nothing. A local secondhand bookstore a few blocks away had given her plenty of options for a light read that didn’t force her to think too much.
With her eyes glued to the story, she reached out a hand, groping for the cup of tea on the table. Her fingers brushed the rim, and she lifted it to her mouth when there was a knock at the door.
“This had better be important,” she said, setting the cup aside and using her finger to keep the place in the book as she went to the door.
After checking through the peep-hole, she opened the door. “Hey.”
“Hey,” Luca said. “How are you?”
“Good. Is everything okay?”
“Yeah.”
When he didn’t add more, she said, “Was there something you needed?”
“Only if you’re not busy.”
She lifted the book. “I’m gonna say I am unless it’s urgent.”
“It is.”
“Oh. Okay. Come in.”
“I need a favor.” His eyes shifted around the room.
“Yeah. Anything—Wait. You have that look.”
“I hate to do this to you.”
Her shoulders sagged. “Then don’t.”
“I wouldn’t if it wasn’t important.”
She sighed, then folded the page in her book and laid it on the kitchen table, hoping this favor wouldn’t keep her long.
“Your mom would kill you for doing that,” Luca said.
“What?”
“Folding the page. Don’t you have a bookmark?”
“Are you stalling on purpose? Is this favor really that bad?”
“Samson’s here, and he doesn’t usually come in on a Thursday.”
“And that’s a problem because…”
“Because I didn’t expect him to be here.”
“I thought he was good for business.” She folded her arms, unsure where this was going.
Luca picked at his fingers.
“I’m afraid to ask,” she said. “But you’re going to have to spit it out.”
“I need you to distract him.”
“Samson?”
“Yeah.”
“When you say distract him, you mean…”
“I mean I need you to draw his attention to you so he’s not paying attention to anything else.”
Her jaw worked as she searched for the most fitting refusal she could think of. Finally, she said, “No.”
“Come on, D. You have to do this for me.”
“I don’t, actually.”
“I wouldn’t ask you if it wasn’t important.”
“What could possibly be important enough for me to give up my self-respect? And you’d better not say it has anything to do with Marc.”
“Does it matter why? How about doing a favor for your cousin?”
“It is Marc?” She turned away from him and walked across the room. “I don’t even know what to say to that.”
He sighed. “It’s not a big deal.”
“I can’t believe this.”
“D.”
“I should have seen it coming. When I found him in your office, I should have known this would all blow up.”
“You’re being a bit melodramatic, don’t you think? Nothing is blowing up. Or at least it won’t if you do this one small thing. I know you don’t like him, but I’m trying to be a good friend.”
“Marc is not your friend. He’s using you. Not to mention he almost got you killed.”
“D.”
“On several occasions.”
“That was a long time ago, and this isn’t like that. It’s a small favor.”
“He doesn’t know the meaning of a small favor.”
“Well, this is. It’s just a pickup. That’s it. Quick and painless.”
“If it’s no big deal, then why do you need me?”
“Because Samson sees everything. That’s why I’ve been doing these on a Thursday, ’cause he’s not usually here.”
“This is a regular thing?”
“It’s been a few times.”
“What does ‘a few’ mean?”
“A handful.”
“Give me a number.”
“I don’t know. In the past year, maybe a dozen. Samson has never been in the restaurant at this time before, and I can’t afford for him to see this. If he gets wind about what Marc is doing, I’ll finished.”
“That can’t be true. Marc can use this place as an exchange point without the owner of the restaurant knowing anything about it.”
When Luca didn’t respond, Delilah’s mouth dropped open. “You’re a part of it? Why would you let yourself be compromised like that?”
“I’m not mixed up in his gang anymore or anything. D, please. I owe him.”
“No. Whatever he did for you back in the day, that was a long time ago. Besides, you’ve paid enough of a price for anything he did when we were kids.”
Luca looked at the floor, and Delilah’s stomach tightened. “That visit the other night. When I found him in the office with you. That was more than a friendly visit? I was right? There was something more going on?”
“Whatever you might think of Marc, I couldn’t have started this place without him.”
“Don’t tell me that.” She groaned. “Are you insane?”
“I was going under. You, of all people, should know how that feels. If there was any way for you to save your company, wouldn’t you have done it?”
She had to pause and consider what he’d said. Would she have done anything? There had been some desperate moments when she’d looked for a solution that never came. But taking money from a guy like Marc was never worth the risk.
“There are certain lines I would never cross,” she said.
“Then I guess you’re a better person than me.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“Isn’t it? You used to be the successful one, and now I am.”
“You think I’m jealous?”
“I don’t know. Are you?”
She shook her head sadly. “I’ve been nothing but proud of you.”
“And now that you know my success is down to Marc? Are you still proud?”
“You’re the one who made this place what it is, not him.”
“Then help with this. Once I’ve paid my debt to Marc, he’ll be gone.”
“But you understand why I’m worried.”
“You think I won’t be able to get rid of him?”
“I would do anything for you, Luca. You know that. But I don’t want to be a part of putting your life or your business in danger.”
“The only danger is if Samson finds out. It’s just this one night. Talk to Samson. Keep him occupied. That’s all I need.”
“And what about the next time?”
“I’ll make sure there isn’t one.”
She rested her hand on her hip. “I can’t believe I’m actually considering this.”
“It will be the easiest job you’ve ever done.”
“You think so? What if Samson’s not interested in talking to me?”
“Are you serious? I’ve never seen him give any woman as much attention as he does to you. Give him what he wants. He won’t know what hit him. You said yourself that women are his weakness. I need you to take advantage of that weakness.”
“The last thing I want is for Samson to be more interested in me than he already is.”
“I don’t think that’s possible,” Luca laughed, and Delilah scowled at him. “I’m sorry, but it’s the truth, and you were the one who just said you were worried he wouldn’t be interested.”
“I lied.”
“You’re the only woman I know who doesn’t want to dazzle that man.”
“That is a ridiculous comment.”
Luca shrugged. “It’s true. Look, D, I’m proud of you for not showing an interest in a guy like him, but I need your help tonight.”
“Just one night.”
“Yes.”
She rubbed her forehead. This was going to cost her more than Luca realized. If Samson thought he had a chance, he’d push harder, and she was already struggling to keep her mind from dwelling on him. She couldn’t afford to put herself at risk by getting mixed up with a guy like that. After what happened with André, she couldn’t be vulnerable like that again. Especially not with a man like Samson.
“Fine,” she said.
“Thank you so much.” He hugged her, but she only gave him back a soft pat on the back.
“But I want you to promise me something,” she said.
“Anything.”
“You need to get out of this stuff with Marc. You have to find a way to end it.”
“I already am.”
“Good.” But she didn’t believe him. The only reason Marc would want to use the dining room of Luca’s restaurant to make an exchange was because it gave him power. He could use a million other places. If she wasn’t so worried about Luca being implicated, she would tell Samson herself and get Marc out of the way.
“If you can find a way to get Samson out of the building, that would be best.”
She put a hand up. “Hang on. You can’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Get me to agree and then up the ante at the last second.”
“I was just making a suggestion.”
“I hope so, because I’ll distract him, but I will remain inside the restaurant at all times. There is no way I will leave this building with that man. It’s embarrassing enough that people will see us together and gossip. But I won’t allow myself to be marked as one of his women.”
“Of course. I completely agree. I trust that you will have no trouble keeping his focus squarely on you for as long as I need you to.”
“So when’s this happening?”
He looked at his watch. “One hour. If you can get started on him at least fifteen minutes early, that should be enough time to draw him in.”
“And how long do you need me to keep his attention?”
“Another fifteen minutes at the most.”
“So I’ve got to flirt with him for thirty minutes? That’s a lot.”
“It will go by fast. Keep your phone in your pocket on vibrate. Once you’re clear, I’ll call you and let it ring twice, then you can come up here and iron out that page before Aunt Lindsey turns in her grave.”
“My mom would not be that worried.”
“If you say so.”
She shook her head. “You’d better get back to your customers. I’ll be down soon.”
“Heather’s on his table tonight. I can have her step out so you can move in.”
“Is he alone?”
“Is he ever alone?”
“That will make it tricky to keep his attention.”
“I’m sure you can figure something out. Invite him to a quiet corner to have a chat.”
She pretended to choke. “I hope you know how painful this is.”
“I do. That’s what makes you so amazing. In fact, you are the best.”
“I already said I’d do it. You don’t have to butter me up.”
“You won’t regret it.”
“I already do.” She grimaced. “I can’t believe I have to be nice to him.”
He slapped her arm. “You’ll do great. I’ll see you down there soon.”
After Luca left, she sat on the couch with her head in her hands, her mind warring with her heart. She should be full of disgust, but she wasn’t.
She shoved all her warm feelings aside. This was nothing more than a favor to Luca. After today, if Samson got any ideas, she’d make it clear that she had no interest in him.