But he had warned me about Nervosa. He’d made it a point to give me a long lecture on all the alleged crimes Nervosa had committed over the year, all of them bloody and gruesome. From that angle, I could see where Nervosa was coming from—my brother might see only danger and act accordingly.
“You need me to soften the message.”
“That’s right. I need you to be my little emissary. I want you to speak to your brother about what Silvano and Liam are planning, and in return, I’ll introduce you to your uncle.”
My eyebrows shot up. “Introduce me?”
His smirk returned. “I mentioned that I know him. I didn’t tell you that he’s a client of mine.”
“Client?” My head reeled. “You’re kidding me?”
“He’s involved in some interesting ventures, some of which needed funding. I am that funding.”
I leaned back, stunned. Nervosa truly owned everyone out here, including my own family. I wanted to know my uncle more than anything in the world, and here sat a man that could give me exactly what I needed.
All I had to do was be a good messenger.
It seemed too simple.
“Why?” I asked finally. “You could find another way to approach my brother. Why drag me into this? Why bring me to that meeting?”
He touched his lips with his fingertips. “Because I’m curious about you. Why would an Oligarch girl come to Stanford, when Blackwoods is waiting to give her all the opportunity she could dream of and more? Why the obsession with your uncle? You have my interest, Melanie.”
I fidgeted in my seat. I liked the way he said my name and that sent a chill warning down my spine. This man was dangerous and he wasn’t giving me the full picture, and if I got involved with him, I’d come to regret it.
But it was too tempting. My uncle was the target, and my research mattered more than Oligarch politics. I didn’t give a damn what Nervosa wanted with my brother. They could deal with it themselves once I made the introduction.
“I’ll play along,” I said. “But I’m not doing whatever you want. I’ll talk to my brother and that’s it.”
“That’s all I ask.”
“Good.” I slid out of the booth. “I’m going home now.”
He followed and waved to Galeno on the way out. On the sidewalk, he pulled me into the shadows of an overhang, tugging me close. I stared into his eyes, mouth opening, ready to shout and punch him in the throat, but the look on his face stopped my anger. He squeezed my hand then yanked me against him, wrapping his arms around my body and kissing me.
I let out a strangled, shocked yelp. His grip was iron. I couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe, and those lips, god, those lips. I’d imagined them as ice-cold and hard as rock, but they were supple and warm and delicious, like cotton candy. His breath was hot and fast and I wanted to scream but I lingered instead, lips brushing his, tongue against his tongue, taste flooding my mouth, legs on fire. He pulled back, gaze suddenly sharp as he looked over my shoulder.
I blinked three times and came back to myself. “What the hell was that?” I asked, yanking my wrist away and slamming my palm against his chest. It was like punching concrete.
“Stop,” he whispered. “Wait.” Nothing more. Just two words, both a command.
I clenched my jaw, but obeyed, as much as it killed me.
A few more seconds passed. His grip loosened and he moved his lips down to my ear.
“Look over your shoulder. Wait, hold on. Okay, turn now.”
I turned. I didn’t see anything but a few cars parked by the curb, some traffic in the street—and two men walking shoulder to shoulder, both wearing large black jackets and hurrying away.
“Those two were watching us. I saw them when we parked. They were waiting when we came out.”
“Who are they?” I asked, feeling my throat catch.
This was exactly what I wanted to avoid.
Oligarch drama. Cloak and dagger bullshit. Spies waiting in the street. Games within games.
“If I had to guess, I’d say Silvano’s men. I suspect he knows who you are now.”
“He won’t be happy about this meeting then.”
“No, he won’t.” He released me. I stepped away, trembling, but not from fear.
From something else. Something I’d never experienced before. I studiously avoided his gaze, lips numb like he was poison.
And he was. All of him would wreck me if I let him in any further.
What the hell was I thinking, getting involved with this man?
But he had something I wanted.
“Keep Palmira close,” he said, drifting past me and heading toward the parked Range Rover. “Make sure she understands the situation. I don’t know how far Silvano’s willing to go.”
I let that sink in. Silvano might be willing to hurt me if it meant sparking his war.