Ruthless Spring

It’s a good question, and one I don’t have to think about for long. “Yeah, it’s better than where I was before I came here.”

“The service station.” His nose wrinkles and the expression makes me pause. It’s such an… odd look to see on Giovanni’s face. It makes him look a little more human, a little more normal. And it makes unease creeps back into my stomach.

He isn’t a good man and this isn’t a real date.

But somehow, I let myself forget that as we continue to talk. The conversation is light and completely focused on me, but Giovanni watches me, paying attention to every word that comes out of my lips in a way no one else has in a long time. And when the food comes out, I have to admit that the filet mignon was a great choice. The green beans on the side are filled with more flavor than I’m used to from the vegetable.

I find myself staring at the grilled fish on Giovanni’s plate and he catches my gaze. He cuts a small piece off of the fish and holds it out to me on the fork.

A flutter moves through my chest, and I shake my head.

“Eat it,” he orders, a little hardness creeping back into his voice.

I obey, leaning forward and wrapping my lips around the fork. He watches the movement and when his tongue comes out to lick his lips, it’s not just a flutter in my chest but a whole damn symphony.

His gaze is intense as he continues to watch me and I lean back in my seat, feeling overwhelmed.

The double doors fling open, ruining the moment. I turn, expecting to find the server entering the room but I'm surprised when it’s an unfamiliar woman. She has long blonde hair and she’s wearing a dark pants suit with a pair of flats. She’s beautiful and as her blue eyes move over to me, they narrow for a moment.

“Am I interrupting?” she questions, turning to look at Giovanni.

“Not at all, Cressida,” he says and he appears unsurprised by the woman’s arrival. He picks up his towel and cleans his hands. “Join us.”

I watch as the woman walks over to the table and it’s a bit awkward to have her hovering over us, no other seats in the room. As if knowing there’s something that needs to be done, Marco enters the room. He looks at the blonde woman before looking back at Giovanni. “A chair for the lady?” he asks.

“Yes.”

Marco takes our plates and a minute later he’s pulling another chair into the room. He pulls it to the empty side of the table between me and Giovani. Cressida takes a seat, her back to the doors. Her posture is relaxed but I don’t miss the hardness in her face.

“You called me here, so what do you want Giovanni?”

No wonder he wasn’t surprised by her appearance.

“First, you can drop the attitude, Cressida, or I can find you a replacement.”

My brows furrow. A replacement?

Cressida straightens in her seat, a scowl on her face, but she doesn’t offer a response.

“We need to talk about the Ramos Cartel.”

Cressida looks over her shoulder before she speaks. “I heard there’s been a bunch of shit between you and them lately.” Her gaze rolls over to me. “I also heard there was a woman heavily involved in this shit. I don’t suppose this is her.” the sarcasm in her tone isn’t lost on me.

‘That part isn’t important,” Giovanni tells her.

“What’s important then?” she asks.

“I figured I could do my civil duty and inform you of some things that I’ve… heard.”

“Who did you hear these things from?” she asks, leaning forward. She folds her arms on top of the table.

“Two little birds that you can find at the bottom of the harbor.”

A muscle twitches in Cressida’s jaw. “I could take that as a confession.”

“But you won’t, not if you want to hear what those birds told me and my brother.”

Cressida only stares at him for a moment before sighing. “Tell me.”