Gray eyes dilate pitch-black, but we have to go.
“You don’t think I’m weird?” I ask.
He shakes his head, zipping up his jeans. “Camilla, you smell like my seed. You have no idea how fucking sexy that is.”
I walk out of the office a different woman, and I want to tell Lydia that I get it now.
Who runs the world?
We will.
The differences between Wilder and Talent are like this:
Talent looks Giovanni Coppola in the eyes and appears to have set their differences aside. He greets him not as the boss of a notorious organized crime operation, but as an old family friend. Shaking his hand, Talent welcomes him into the meeting room, gesturing to his seat at the end of the long table. He isn’t as friendly with Nicolai, and even less so to Luca, but it’s more than I could ever afford. It’s passable as polite, and on-trend with how naturally charming Talent is. And it’s worthy of an Oscar.
Wilder takes a more direct approach. It’s clear from the jump he’s not indifferent to the out-of-the-blue drop-ins or impromptu meetings. He’s a creature of habit, and incredibly protective of his family and his business, and the Coppolas are a threat to both. While he respects Giovanni’s position, recognizes the history he shares with Nico, Wilder shows no love to Luca. He’s a workhorse, timid, and the muscle behind Talent’s charisma.
It’s classic good cop and bad cop routine, and it’s why as capitalists, they’re unstoppable.
Talent brings in the business, and Wilder is the closer.
“This must be important if we’re here on a Sunday, Gio,” Wilder says, taking a seat between his father and brother on the left side of the table.
Nicolai and Luca sit across from them, and Lydia and I sit at the other end of the table to put as much space between myself and the underboss, who makes no secret of his admiration for me. I don’t so much as squirm under his devious stare.
But I know this much to be true:
Nicolai gives the monsters in the dark a face.
Luca Coppolaisthe darkness that haunts me.
“Your portfolio is moving like it’s supposed to. Everything looks legit. No red flags. I’d have something to show you, but I wasn’t given a lot of time to prepare. But I’ll make sure to pull it together before our next scheduled appointment in two weeks.” The implication in Wilder’s tone is as clear as Giovanni’s motives. The question is, who’s going to cave first?
We all know why we’re here.
While the men talk business, Lydia’s apparent amusement bubbles over. She laughs quietly at my side, pushing her sunglasses to the top of her head to pinch the bridge of her nose. There’s no color in her complexion besides the dark circles under her eyes, but she’s sitting up on her own and tolerating the bright fluorescent lights like she doesn’t have a hangover. This probably has everything to do with the heavy scent of whiskey on her breath.
“You smell like sex, Camilla.” She sinks into the oversized chair, shaking with hushed laughter. “It’s a wonder Wilder and Luca haven’t killed each other yet.”
“Shut up,” I whisper, pulling my bottom lip between my teeth to taste him.
“I tried to warn you.” She shrugs drunkenly, like a hiccup. “Good pussy makes maniacs out of men. Wilder Ridge must take that to a whole new level. He’s so fucking… barbaric.”
“That’s not true.”
“Bull. Shit.” Her smile is delirious, and we probably should have left Lydia at home. She picked one hell of a time to fall apart. “I bet Wilder is savage as fuck. He probably chokes you. Do you like it? You would.”
My jaw drops, and I slap her across the arm. “Oh, my gosh, that’s none of your business.”
“Of course it is. What’s the point of having a sister if we can’t share choking stories?” Lydia erupts into a fit of giggles that’s unlike anything I’ve ever heard from her. I should be concerned about the room full of gangsters overhearing our conversation, but I stopped caring about anything else after she called me her sister.
“We want to know what’s so funny.” Luca’s voice cuts in like a knife.
Reality hits like a head-on collision, fast and violent. But Lydia’s undisturbed by his interruption, or ours, depending on what side of the table you’re on. Talent fights a smile, and Wilder pushes his chair back, balancing on the sharp edge between composure and murderous rage. Luca may be the assassin, but Wilder will be there if he so much as steps out of line.
“We want to laugh, too,” Luca persists. He supports his elbows on the arms of the chair, showing his open palms.
Lydia ignores Luca completely, targeting her attention on Giovanni. “With all due respect, Mr. Coppola, I had a very long night, followed by a very hard morning. I’m exhausted. If you’re here to talk money with the Ridges, I’d like to excuse myself. If you’re here to discuss Hush, I’m all ears.”
