Page 153 of The Wicked
I pressed my lips together, checking my reflection one last time before I responded to him. “I don’t like it either. But to study your enemy, you’ve got to get close to them.”
“He already gave us a deal.” Devil uncrossed his arms while leaning away from the wardrobe door. “We signed a contract. We don’t need to cross their path any more than we already have. This whole dinner thing makes absolutely no sense. Why did you even agree to it? When did you two talk?”
Thankfully, Milk appeared in the doorway, brushing past Upper with a jewelry box in her hand. “This goes perfectly with the dress.”
“Zahra,” Devil’s voice called, sharper this time.
I breathed out sharply and pinned him with a frown. “You know him more than anyone, Devil. You know what he’s capable of, and you also know he is a man without morals, a man who doesn’t honor loyalty. Do you think a piece of paper will guarantee our freedom out of here or the promise of a hundred million dollars, which, mind you, they just agreed to give us on a whim? No negotiation? I am going to make sure he sees us as business partners and not pawns on his chessboard.”
“That’s why you’re leaving without any disguise? You want people in his political setting to see you both together? And then what? You accompany him to other business dinners?”
“I think Zahra’s right,” Milk said as she helped me put on the earrings and necklace. “It’s not exactly safe to go anywhere with Marino, seeing as we don’t know his intentions, but don’t you think it’s stupid to believe that when all this is over, and we find the gold and his flash drives, we’ll be free to go? Just like that?”
“It never happens that way in movies,” Upper supported. “The bad guys always find a way to fuck the good guys over. It’s the bloody rule of heroes and villains. You ought to earn the villain’s respect if you ever want them to trust you enough to let you go when all is said and done.”
“Thank you, Upper,” I said with a sigh of appreciation before my gaze settled on Devil, who still looked very uncomfortable. “It’s going to be fine. I have my phone with me; Upper installed a tracking app earlier. If by chance the app stops working, I have Dog on speed dial.”
Almost as if I had summoned him, Dog popped his head behind Upper. “I’d probably leave you to die. You should really stop calling me first when there’s trouble. Also, Casmiro is out front waiting for you—and why the fuck is that purse shining?”
“Glitter, idiot,” Milk muttered in annoyance. “You’re good to go, Zahra.”
“Thanks.”
Because I knew Devil was still frowning and fuming with disapproval, I didn’t say anything as I exited my room and the house. And, of course, they all followed behind me like ants.
I took in the car parked outside the building; Casmiro was leaning against it, a stern frown on his face as he waited.
Adorned in a gray fitted suit, with hair combed to perfection, he screamed dangerous wealth and annoyance. An emotion I was certain came from the fact that I was going on this trip with his boss, who hadn’t come to fetch me himself.
Why did I think he would be the one standing here and not Casmiro?
I brushed the thought of Elio from my head and focused on the car. It was the same Lamborghini I had watched drown over a month ago.
Someone brushed past me, and I didn’t have to look to know it was Upper.
“Holy bloody fucking shit, I thought you said it drowned!” Upper threw an accusatory glance at me.
We reached Casmiro, and I eyed the car and then him. “Yeah, it did. Did you get a new one, Cassie?”
Casmiro straightened his suit. “I don’t see how that’s any of—”
“Oh my God, please, can I touch it? Just one graze,” Upper cut in with haste, staring with pleading wide eyes at Casmiro, who eyed him like this was the first time he was seeing him.
“This motherfucking princeling ’bout to get nuked,” Dog snickered, earning an elbow blow from Milk.
I wanted to cut in when Casmiro did the honors by asking, “You like cars?”
“Are you joking, mate? I’m obsessed.” He looked from Casmiro to the car. “This is—she’s bloody beautiful,” he gushed.
There were literal stars in Upper’s eyes, and I watched Casmiro’s gaze travel up and down the length of his body; it was subtle, but I caught it, and Upper probably did too because he was clearing his throat, taking a step back from the Lamborghini, cheeks turning bright red.
“Sorry,” he said nervously. “I lose myself when I’m—when there’s a beautiful car around me.”
“That’s no crime, Upper. Maybe you can take her for a spin when I get back from the airport.”
Upper’s jaw dropped. “What—seriously?”
It was slow, but I watched how amusement grew in Casmiro’s eyes. I’d only ever seen him frown, so it was pretty strange… to see him lose some of his guard just because Upper wanted to touch his car.
