Three dangerous people
Chapter 36: Three Dangerous People
The restaurant had never been quieter.
Not when politicians visited.
Not when celebrities arrived.
Not even when rival crime families accidentally ended up in the same room.
Nothing compared to this.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Lorenzo Vitale stood beside the table.
Motionless.
Silent.
Terrifying.
The king had arrived.
And everyone knew it.
Victoria Moreau smiled.
Amara looked mildly annoyed.
The contrast was fascinating.
One woman looked like she'd been expecting him.
The other looked irritated he'd interrupted her coffee.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Lorenzo's gaze settled on Amara first.
Always first.
The realization didn't escape Victoria.
Interesting information.
Very useful information.
Dangerous information.
"Are you alright?"
Silence.
The question came immediately.
Without hesitation.
Without preamble.
Without acknowledging Victoria at all.
The audacity.
The complete audacity.
Amara looked up.
Then sighed.
Immediately.
The universal sound of a woman dealing with an overprotective man.
"I'm having coffee."
Silence.
Lorenzo nodded.
Slowly.
Like he'd heard her words but wasn't entirely convinced.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Only then did he turn toward Victoria.
The temperature dropped.
Immediately.
The specialist noticed.
Of course she did.
She'd spent years studying powerful people.
And Lorenzo Vitale was dangerous in a way few people truly understood.
Not because he was violent.
Not because he was wealthy.
Not because he commanded loyalty.
Because when Lorenzo decided something belonged to him...
He became relentless.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"Victoria."
The name sounded like a warning.
Victoria smiled.
"Mr. Vitale."
The greeting sounded amused.
Neither offered a handshake.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Because predators didn't shake hands.
Predators assessed threats.
The silence stretched.
Longer.
Longer.
And somehow longer.
The restaurant collectively suffered.
Immediately.
Finally Victoria broke first.
A strategic choice.
Not surrender.
Never surrender.
"I was just getting acquainted with Dr. Queen."
Silence.
Lorenzo's expression remained unchanged.
Which somehow made everything worse.
"What do you want?"
The question landed like a brick.
Heavy.
Direct.
Dangerous.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Victoria leaned back.
Comfortable.
Relaxed.
Confident.
The confidence irritated Lorenzo immediately.
Good.
Excellent.
Outstanding.
"I wanted to meet her."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
The answer sounded truthful.
Which made it more concerning.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Lorenzo stared.
Then stared harder.
Because somehow...
That answer bothered him more than a lie.
"What."
Victoria smiled.
Again.
The traitor.
The complete traitor.
"I was curious."
Silence.
Amara nearly laughed.
Immediately.
The irony.
The complete irony.
Undefeated.
Because apparently everyone in Chicago had become curious about everyone else.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Victoria looked toward Amara.
Then back toward Lorenzo.
Then smiled.
Dangerously.
"I understand now."
Silence.
The king didn't react.
Not visibly.
Not noticeably.
Not to normal people.
Unfortunately for Lorenzo...
Both women at the table were exceptionally observant.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"What do you understand?"
Victoria's eyes shifted toward Amara.
The answer came softly.
Honestly.
Dangerously.
"Why she's important."
Absolute silence.
The restaurant stopped functioning.
Immediately.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Amara adjusted her glasses.
The movement small.
Precise.
Controlled.
A warning sign.
Victoria noticed.
Of course she did.
Lorenzo noticed too.
Unfortunately.
Because that specific adjustment meant Amara was about to say something concerning.
A recurring problem.
A very recurring problem.
The surgeon looked directly at Victoria.
Then smiled.
The wrong smile.
The terrifying smile.
The smile that belonged in medical textbooks under the phrase Proceed With Caution.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
"You're smarter than Romano."
Silence.
Victoria blinked.
Once.
Slowly.
Because that wasn't an insult.
It wasn't a compliment either.
It was an observation.
And somehow...
Those were always the most dangerous things Amara said.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The specialist tilted her head.
Curious despite herself.
"What makes you think that?"
Amara picked up her coffee.
Took a sip.
Completely unbothered.
Then answered.
"You're still alive."
Absolute silence.
A waiter nearly walked into a wall.
Immediately.
Reasonably.
Very reasonably.
Victoria stared.
Then laughed.
Actually laughed.
The sound genuine.
Warm.
Unexpected.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
For the first time since arriving in Chicago...
The specialist looked genuinely entertained.
And that worried Lorenzo more than anything else.
Because Victoria wasn't supposed to like Amara.
She wasn't supposed to respect her.
She wasn't supposed to enjoy talking to her.
This was becoming unpredictable.
Dangerously unpredictable.
The realization settled heavily in his chest.
Then Victoria stood.
Slowly.
Gracefully.
The movement elegant.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
She looked at Amara first.
Then Lorenzo.
Then smiled.
One last time.
"I think we'll see each other again."
Silence.
Immediate silence.
Amara's response came instantly.
Without hesitation.
Without mercy.
"I certainly hope not."
The smile widened.
Immediately.
The traitor.
The complete traitor.
Victoria laughed again.
Then turned and walked away.
Leaving the restaurant.
Leaving the tension behind.
Leaving questions.
Many questions.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
The moment she disappeared through the doors, Lorenzo sat down.
Immediately.
Amara looked at him.
Then at the empty seat Victoria had occupied.
Then back at him.
Silence stretched between them.
Finally...
Lorenzo spoke.
"What did she want?"
Amara considered the question.
Honestly.
Carefully.
Then sighed.
Immediately.
The universal sound of a woman who had reached an annoying conclusion.
"I don't know."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Lorenzo blinked.
Once.
Slowly.
Because Amara always knew.
The realization was deeply concerning.
Very concerning.
The surgeon stared toward the restaurant entrance.
Thoughtful.
Focused.
Dangerous.
And for the first time since this started...
She realized something.
Victoria Moreau wasn't trying to destroy them.
Not yet.
No.
The specialist was studying them.
Learning them.
Understanding them.
Which meant the real game hadn't started.
Not even close.
And somehow...
That made everything much, much worse.
End Chapter 36