Page 91 of Contempt

“Like I said, he made some threats. I don’t like testing those. I don’t want to get into details, Lucia, but if there was any way I could do this without involving you, I would do it. He’s not giving me a choice.”

Fuck.

“I could leave—”

“It’s bigger than you; you’re just part of the demand. And it is only dinner.”

Right.

Only dinner.

“What time is the dinner?” she asked.

“Four.”

“Text me the address.”

“You got it, Lucy.”

She ignored the nickname.

Again.

Hanging up the phone, Lucia dropped it to her bag. Renzo was already beside her, then, and frowning.

“What now?” he asked.

Yeah, right.

Because it was always something.

• • •

“Pull over here,” Renzo murmured.

Lucia did as he asked, and pulled her rental to a stop about a block away from where she was supposed to have dinner with John and Christian. She didn’t know who else was going to be at the dinner, but she would soon find out.

Hopefully, a whole army of Marcello people to keep the other side in line. But who was to say?

Once she had the car in park, Renzo leaned over in the seat, and pressed a kiss to her lips. Fast and fleeting, she wanted to pull him back for another kiss the second he was moving away. He just gave her a wink, and reached for the handle on the door.

“I’ll walk the rest of the way, and then head in through the back,” he explained. “Keep an eye on things, and stay out of sight at the same time. Just know I will be watching, all right? Fuck all is gonna happen if I’m watching in the background, babe.”

Lucia nodded. “Got it.”

“You good?”

Was she?

Lucia didn’t know.

“I’m not sure,” she admitted.

Renzo smiled a little. “It’s just a dinner—you’ve had a few of them before.”

“Cute.”

“Just saying.”