Page 105 of With This Kiss
“This is Eric Murphy,” Dad said. “The police captain of good old New York City.”
Ah.
A police captain would be a big catch to have in his pocket. I frowned. I had heard the name Eric Murphy before. Caine had talked about him, and it wasn’t pleasant. Wasn’t he in bed with the Bratva? So what was he doing now, having lunch with Dad in Manhattan?
What was up with everyone switching sides?
“Will you be joining us?” he asked.
I shook my head. “No, sorry, I was just passing by. I heard my dad was going to be here, and I thought I would say hi.”
Dad nodded, offering a small, soft smile.
Caine was wrong to betray him with the Bratva, wasn’t he?
“I’ll leave you two to it,” I said. I was about to walk away when a group of three men approached us. Dad noticed them before I did, his body tensing. Behind him, I could see his bodyguard becoming alert when he saw them.
My eyes focused on the man in the middle of the three. The other two were obviously his bodyguards. But I didn’t need to know that to recognize that this man was important. I already knew who he was.
Ilya Mahankov.
Reign’s father.
The pakhan of one of the most ruthless crime organizations in New York… and Dad’s sworn enemy.
“Mahankov,” Dad greeted coldly. “Can’t a man enjoy his lunch in peace without having to see your ugly mug?”
Ilya cackled. “Enjoy your lunch in peace? How peaceful could it be when you’re in bed with my whore?”
Ilya looked over at Eric, and much as Eric had done to me just moments before, Ilya wrapped his arms around the man and pulled him in close. “Isn’t that right, son? You whore yourself out to me, and now you want to be in bed with the Caparellis? Don’t you know these fuckers are known for their savagery?”
Eric didn’t say anything, but his face had turned an unusual shade of gray.
From the corner of my eye, I saw a familiar black car pull up to the curb.
Fucking great.
It was now a fucking party, considering Reign had just arrived.
I subtly shook my head, hoping he would get the hint and just stay in the car.
How did he even find me?
I didn’t feel like I was breathing properly. Especially when Ilya turned his attention to me, the lewd look in his eyes making me feel sick. It didn’t help that Reign looked so much like him.
“I see you brought your daughter to this lunch. So the rumors are true.”
He let out a mean, ugly laugh, and I shivered from the sound.
What rumors?
My eyes moved back to the car to see Reign stepping out of it.
I was half thrilled and half filled with dread. He made his way over to us with purpose, his eyes not straying to me once. I got that. It didn’t stop me from wanting to run right into his arms and stay there. Surely I would be safer with him than right here… feeling like a small bunny in a field, with hawks circling above, just waiting for me to let my guard down.
“Dad,” Reign said as he approached.
Ilya barely glanced at Reign before turning his attention back to me. Reign moved between us, blocking his view of me. I focused my gaze on the back of his neck, hoping that would keep my nerves from fraying out of control.
