“The logistics part of my work is the most concealed. Even some of my men don’t know about it.” He took a gulp of his drink. “There are established shipment businesses that move arms, drugs, and other things across countries. I don’t own any of these businesses, but I indirectly work with them. I have clients who always need to move things without declaring them.”
“I don’t assume these shipment businesses are legit….”
“The Mafia, mostly.”
“Wow. I’ve only heard of Mafias in movies,” I declared.
He smiled again before going on. “The galleries just exist to launder money.”
“You really are a big-time criminal. I wonder why I’m not scared.”
I raised my glass to my lips.
“You don’t look like the type to be scared so easily.” He leaned closer, our faces almost touching. “Another thing I like about you.” Then he kissed the corner of my lips.
“Well, I like how mysterious you are,” I revealed, my voice just above a whisper.
“I know, darling.”
“So, are you a Mafia boss or something?”
“I’m not under any Mafia. I’m with a Mexican cartel you cannot have heard of.”
Before I could say anything else, another bodyguard came to murmur something only he could hear.
When he excused himself this time, I decided to follow through on my plan to explore.
Not wanting to draw unwanted attention or make it hard for Lucien to find me, I stuck to the fringes of the event.
I wasn’t unaware of the admiring glances some men cast my way as I walked with my glass in hand. With my elaborate bun and a tiny-strapped, low-back silk dress, I knew I looked just as good as the other beautiful arm candies around, if not better. My eyes drifted to a man across the large room.
His eyes weren’t moving around like those of the other men. They weren’t on the show either. They were fixated. Fixated on me.
I averted my eyes from his unreadable face.
But then, something made me look again—and he was still staring at me. Creepy was an understatement. His unblinking gaze made me feel like my body was being memorized. His tall, broad frame didn’t move an inch. I felt myself shudder as goosebumps covered my skin.
I walked back to Lucien’s spot, and he returned shortly after.
Only to disappear again in a few minutes.
When he came back again, he wasn’t smiling.
Something is wrong.
“We leave soon. I just need to finalize some things,” he notified, his eyes flicking to the entrance doors.
“What? Your secret wife is on her way to catch you cheating?” I joked, chuckling.
Instead of a response, he took a large gulp of his drink.
“Your silence might make me think you’re secretly married,” I pointed out. When he still didn’t say anything, I curled into his side and whispered, “What’s got you so worked up?”
“I’ll be back. Don’t leave this place.”
As I watched Lucien’s retreating back, my eyes wandered across the room.
The man from earlier was nowhere to be found. He was probably just one of those people who didn’t know it was rude to stare.
