Total pages in book: 24
Estimated words: 23667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 118(@200wpm)___ 95(@250wpm)___ 79(@300wpm)
I try to school my expression. I know one rule of Mafia families is that you never let the enemy see your weakness, but instantly my thoughts go to last night when I accused Robert of cheating.
Victor catches the fleeting look on my face, and his eyebrows rise. “Oh. Problems in the Kingston household?”
I just lift my chin at him.
He reaches across the table and stops right before touching me. I’m glad he doesn’t because if he did, my husband would kill him. I know he would, even now with our marriage in turmoil. Maybe not because he cares about me, but he wouldn’t like Victor touching something that he considers his.
Victor continues. “I heard you left him.”
I just glare at him.
He chuckles. “I heard you moved into the apartments on Grand Avenue. Third floor. Apartment 3C.”
I try to keep any expression off my face. I don’t know why I thought I could do something without Victor knowing about it, but I guess I thought I wasn’t a top priority for him.
He laughs again, obviously pleased to see the discomfort on my face. “I guess you figured out what kind of man you were married to. He thinks he’s better than me, but I never cheated on my wife when she was alive.”
I just stare at him.
The waiter comes and sets the bag of food on the table. I pick up my purse, but Victor stops me. “I’ll take care of it. I mean, I can take care of you if your husband won’t.”
I pull my card out and try to hand it to the server, but he refuses to take it. I don’t blame him. Not many people would want to get caught in the crosshairs with a Sterling. Especially not Victor himself.
I stand up, and Victor follows.
“I’m leaving now,” I announce.
He picks up the bag of food and holds it out to me. “Don’t forget your lunch.”
I shake my head, not taking the bag. “Keep it. I don’t want it.”
He laughs again. “You came here wanting something. Maybe it was just to see how the better half lives.”
“I’m going to leave now, Victor, and I suggest that you and your goons don’t try and stop me.”
His eyebrows lift. “Goons?” He looks over at the men in suits. “Did you hear that? Eleanor Kingston just called you goons.”
The two men are not amused, to say the least. They both glower at me.
My heart is racing, and I can feel the sweat pouring down my back, but I’m trying not to panic. I lift my chin at him. “Victor, you know if you touch me, my husband will kill you. No questions asked. He won’t care that I walked into a restaurant that you were already in. He will come after you.”
His face turns to stone. He knows I’m right. Victor may be evil, but my husband protects what is his no matter what.
He takes a step forward, and even though he doesn’t touch me, I can feel his hot garlic breath on my face. “Are you threatening me, Eleanor? And after I was playing nice. I was offering to take care of you since your man obviously can’t.”
I just glare at him, not backing away. “I’m leaving now.”
I take a step back from him and get to the door where the goons are blocking my path. I glare at each of them, but they don’t budge.
I turn and look over my shoulder. “Can you please call off your men?”
Victor is facing me, arms crossed over his chest. “I would love to hear you beg.”
I grit my teeth. “I won’t be begging you for anything.” I reach into my purse and pull out my phone. “I guess I’ll call my husband and have him come down here. Is that what you want?”
There’s a gasp from the patrons because they know what that means. You get Robert Kingston and Victor Sterling in a room together, there will be bloodshed.
When Victor doesn’t say anything, I start dialing my husband. Shit, what will I do if he sends me to voicemail? I’m about to push the green button to call when Victor nods at the two goons. “Let her through.”
The men instantly part for me.
I lift my chin and walk out of the restaurant. I don’t look back, too afraid that someone is tailing me. Not that it matters. Victor made sure I understood that he knows exactly where I live.
I get back to my apartment, and as soon as I’m inside, I turn the deadbolt.
I should probably call Robert and let him know what happened, but I decide not to. No reason to tell him. I’m sure he’s going to hear all about it.
CHAPTER 4
ROBERT
I’m wrapping up at the hotel, and as soon as I leave, I dial Eleanor’s number.
Of course it goes straight to voicemail.