Get a fucking grip.
I block the vision, and stride away, into the building. The lobby of the theater is big and packed with people. They haven’t opened the doors to the auditorium yet, so everyone is milling about in this space.
I look around. There’s expensive art on the walls and marble beneath our feet. I have plenty of money, and I can afford nice things. But I can never understand this decadence. It’s so over the top. I always feel out of place in an event like this, like everyone can see my money comes soaked in blood.
Lily’s a different story. She slips right into character, proving my point about how good she is at lying. She’s a lady who lunches, walking around and greeting people that she hasn’t seen in ten years as if they’re close friends. Lies about where she’s been are told so convincingly that even I almost believe them.
I despise her in this moment. I’m also impressed.
I tag along in her wake, trying to keep my eyes on the prize, even though I don’t see McKenna anywhere yet, but I do see someone else. A man who doesn’t quite fit into this crowd, loitering in the back in a cheap suit and tie.
He’s watching me.
I turn away. Feds, maybe, or a man from a rival organization. I’m used to the attention, and normally, I wouldn’t think twice, but I can feel his gaze on Lily, too, and somehow that makes me want to go throttle him with his cheap tie.
She’s off-limits.
“Time to take our seats,” Lily says brightly, finishing up chatting to some older couple about the opera. “So lovely to catch up. Babe?” she prompts me, fluttering her eyelashes.
“Sure thing, Princess.”
I fake a smile, and follow her into the luxurious hallway, leading to the auditorium. I don’t give a shit about ballet, but at least it will be a break from all this fake social bullshit.
“Well, what have we here?”
A smug English accent announces a new arrival. It’s Sebastian Wolfe, a corporate raider, looking like he belongs here with an expensive brunette on his arm.
“Nero Barretti, at the ballet? Now I really have seen everything,” he smirks.
I meet his gaze, steely. “Wolfe,” I say shortly. “You’re still in town? I’m surprised. Considering.”
“Considering what?” the brunette asks, clueless.
“Wolfe here lost out on a big acquisition.” I say. “Sterling jewelry company. Dropped out of the deal. But that wasn’t the only condition, was it?”
I meet his gaze, and Seb’s smile falters. I was the one who made him quit the takeover.
Me, and my Colt .85.
“I’m leaving for London tomorrow,” he says, hatred burning in his eyes. Men like him hate to lose.
But men like me don’t give a fuck.
“Good.” I reply. “You won’t be missed.” I take Lily’s arm and keep walking.
“What was that?” she hisses in my ear as soon as we’re out of earshot.
“Nothing. Just a business acquaintance.”
“Right. Friendly.”
I give her a glare. “What do you expect, Princess? I’m not a Bible salesman. You know what I do in my line of work.”
She recoils, and I’m both relieved and stung. Yeah, she might like to think she’s so much better than me, but we’re both part of the same rotten empire now.
We find our seats with the help of an usher and get settled. I’m growing impatient, knowing that the show is about to start, and we haven’t even seen McKenna yet. He’s the whole reason we came.
“Can you sit still?” Lily whispers, her satin dress touching my thigh. She’s pressed close, and her scent is so damn distracting, I want to bolt.