Page 99 of Chaos Kills

His voice is gravelly like he smoked too many cigars in his lifetime, but he looks kind. There’s no malice in the way his gaze descends on me, and he genuinely looks pleased to see me.

“I’m Lorenzo Black.” He places a hand between us, and even though Dad did teach me some manners, I don’t return it.“You don’t remember me, but I remember you vividly.”

Creepy.

I stare at him, but don’t return the handshake or his subtle kindness. “I’m not sure if the pleasure is mine yet.”

He chuckles lightly then drops his hand because he must have a knack for reading the room properly. Apparently, hecould teach Emilio a few things. “I wouldn’t think so. I’m not on the best terms with South Shore.”

“I wonder why.”

He bows his head. “I’m sure you have a million questions?—”

Yeah, fuck this.

“I’ve got to go,” I divulge right into his politeness because this isn’t happening. I’m done with Emilio’s generation of assholes, and I’m not getting involved with anymore. “Thanks for stopping by and saying hi.”

Lorenzo isn’t put off by my blunt retreat, making no effort to stop me when I walk by him.

But I’m only three steps toward the door when I see Ozzy standing there, already gaping at me like he always does.

What is this? An ambush?

“Oz,” Lorenzo calls out. “Thank you for stopping by, son. I have everything you need in Cairo’s office.”

Okay, maybe not.

Ozzy bows his head, but his dark blues don’t leave me.

They never do.

We still haven’t talked about me leaving South Shore, and I’ve left that one for last. I feel as though I need a gun with me when I do.

“Miss Astor, I’d love to invite you and Ozzy to dinner. My wife has been dying to meet you.”

“Can’t,” I deadpan as I continue to hold Ozzy’s gaze. “I’m unavail?—”

“Thank you,” Ozzy cuts in, his voice barely audible if I wasn’t already paying attention to him. “We’ll be there.”

I quirk an eyebrow at him because, for one, he pushed me somewhere I don’t want to go for the first time, so color me confused. And two, this isn’t a real anything.

There is no me and Ozzy.

“Wonderful,” Lorenzo beams from behind me. “I’ll expect you Saturday at six.”

“I didn’t agree,” I rebuke as calmly as I can. “And things don’t work out well when I’m conned into something.”

“No one is trying to make you do what you don’t want to do,” Lorenzo replies simply. “Feel free to change your mind, if you want. The place setting will be there for you if you decide to come.”

This guy.

Striding toward the exit, I send Ozzy a glare before passing him and almost pulling a Nessa by taking the door off its hinges.

The fuck is happening right now?

TWENTY-FOUR

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