Right to my cock. “Aw, that was mean,” I state.
She fights her grin and doesn’t look up at me as she moves over to the register to ring me up. I hand her the money and swipe the cupcake box.
“What are you doing tonight, Francesca?”
She looks a little nervous now, but maybe a little excited, too. “After work? Nothing, really.”
I nod, watching her. “Yeah, me neither.” I let a few seconds pass, noting that she’s waiting for me to ask her out, then I flash her a smile. “Well, see you around, Francesca.”
I notice her smile slip, but I turn and walk out of the bakery without looking back.
I can’t help smirking to myself a little as I walk down the sidewalk back toward my car. My smugness falls away and I remember why I’m actually here when I see Adrian sitting in a white sedan, watching me.
That guy gives me the creeps. But here I am, so I might as well see what he wants.
Adrian rolls his window down as I approach. He looks like he’s in a bad mood. That might just be his norm, though. Working for Mateo has to be a tough job.
“So, what’s with the meeting?” I ask casually, bracing my arm on the top of his car door and leaning in.
Without preamble, he asks, “You know there’s a video of your sister going around?”
I lose my humor, straightening. I’ve seen the fucking video. About lost my lunch. “Yeah, I know.”
“It’s fucking circulating,” he states again, like maybe I didn’t understand. “It doesn’t just exist in the world, it’s being passed around like a fucking Youtube video.”
“What do you want me to do about it, Adrian?”
He pushes the car door open and I take a step back to make room for him. He holds out the car key for some reason, expecting me to take it.
“What’s this?” I ask, confused.
“A guy in the trunk says he’s seen Tito.”
My eyes widen and I glance at the trunk of the car. “There’s a guy in your trunk? Alive?”
“Of course, alive,” he says, rolling his eyes. “What good would he do you dead?”
“How did you find him?” I’m still pretty damn confused. It’s been a long time since I met with Adrian and Morelli about this, and I hadn’t heard anything from Adrian since.
“There were some guys skulking around outside the bakery a couple nights ago. Mateo’s sister works here and they made her uncomfortable, so I checked it out. Low level guys, no one that mattered, but this one just happened to know Tito, so I thought I’d pass him on.”
“What about the other guy?”
Adrian replies simply, “He didn’t know Tito.”
I smile a little. Too bad for that guy, I guess.
“Why were they skulking around here?” I ask.
“No reason that would concern you.” He misses a beat. “I still work for Mateo. I just think this shit with your sister is fucked up. If I can help in my downtime, I will.”
That’s no small thing. Adrian’s highly coveted in our line of work, so I give him a nod of acknowledgement. “I appreciate that, Adrian.”
Adrian nods, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, that’s all. I’ll get in touch if I have anything else.”
“We probably shouldn’t transfer this guy to my trunk in the stark light of day,” I point out.
Rolling his eyes, Adrian says, “Ya think? Take the car. Drop it off at Mateo’s shop when you’re done with it.”
“I sort of already drove a car here,” I point out.
Smirking as he walks up the sidewalk toward the bakery, Adrian says, “Have the guy you sent ahead to check the place out come back for it.”
Chapter One
I’m out with Vivian, but I’m bored. It’s not her fault. She’s fine. I mean, physically she’s always on top of her game, and she’s trying to be interesting, telling me about her latest travels, but I’m so goddamn bored.
I wish she wouldn’t have gone blonde. She was a brunette last time I saw her, and this light hair bullshit really isn’t working for me. I also forgot she was such a picky eater. I would’ve taken her for drinks instead of dinner if I’d have remembered, but it’s not like I have a file folder for each woman I’ve been involved with.
“It was really meaningful,” she says to summarize, placing a hand on my thigh. I fix my eyes on her, anchoring my drifting gaze. Gotta at least try not to be an asshole. I dragged her out tonight, not the other way around.
“Yeah, sounds like it,” I say, though I have no earthly idea what she just finished saying to me. Some animal retreat or some fucking shit? Save the rhinos? I don’t fucking know.
“Anyway, enough about me,” she says with a smile, her hand sliding inward, caressing me through my slacks.