Page 31 of Traitor
“That’s not what I’m worried about, if you’ll allow me to speak my mind.”
My gaze held his. “You have permission.”
He turned around to face me. “What makes you so sure this isn’t a trap?”
I smirked. “What makes you so sure that I haven’t already planned for that?”
“I just want you to be safe, Mr. Emiliano. I know I’m not on your security team, but when you’re in this car with me, you’re my responsibility.”
My memory hit me. “By the way, when we get back from this meeting I want to see you in my office.”
He paused. “Have I done something wrong?”
I crossed my leg over my knee. “On the contrary, I want you to sign off on business paperwork. It has to do with your raise.”
His eyes lit up. “I appreciate that, Mr. Emiliano. I’d love to meet with you about it.”
I grinned. “After this meeting. Now, let’s get out of here before we’re late.”
I watched the vineyards pass me by as we took the backroads toward Lorenzo’s place. I didn’t want Ronnie catching any sort of wind that his brother and myself were in bed together, so to speak. Because what I told Lorenzo was true: I wanted to take that bastard down for good.
What he didn’t know was that once Lorenzo’s job for me was complete, I’d kill him, too.
Before eradicating his entire family from this island like the scummy little virus they were.
“Time for a big dose of Clorox,” I whispered.
“What was that, Mr. Emiliano?” my driver asked.
I pointed. “That driveway there. With the yellow blinking light on the fake mailbox.”
My driver took a sharp left and slowly drove us down the gravel driveway. And when three of Lorenzo’s massive men came out to escort me from the car to the back door, I waved my driver off. He honestly didn’t need to worry. This would be a simple in-and-out meeting.
Until I saw Char greet me at the door.
“Good afternoon, Mr. Emiliano,” she said.
My eyes canvassed her and clocked the raunchy outfit that bastard had her in. The fishnet stockings paired with black boots had always been nothing but tacky to me, and the leather shorts she had on clung to her every curve. They slid up her waist and allowed the swell of her ass cheeks to hang out, and I had to fight every single part of me that wanted to toss my suit coat over her exposed body.
But, it wasn’t the shorts or the fishnets, or even the sparkling red bikini top she had on.
It was the fact that she kept her eyes to the floor.
“Char,” I said softly.
She swallowed hard. “May I escort you to your seat, Mr. Emiliano?”
Lorenzo appeared behind her. “Isn’t she a beauty?”
My eyes snapped over to his. “What the hell is she doing here? I was told you and I were meeting in private.”
He nodded. “And whatever you have to say you can say in front of her. After all, she’s already got intimate knowledge of how your life works. This won’t add too much more to her plate, don’t you think?”
The second he placed his hand on her back I made a vow to dislocate every knuckle on it. I saw Char flinch and it boiled my blood, but I tried not to think about the things he’d already done to her. The marks he had left behind and the bruises I’d never see.
I’ll slaughter your family anyway, you sanctimonious son of a bitch.
“Sweetheart, aren’t you going to offer a drink to our guest?” Lorenzo asked.
