Page 43 of Third Crime's A Charm
“I wouldn’t have missed this,” Truman said as he was pulled into a hug. “Happy Birthday, Marty. Have you met von Hessen?” he asked, gesturing at Matteo.
“Not this one,” Marty answered with a hearty laugh, offering Matteo his hand. “I know your cousin, Maximilian.”
“Marty, this is Matteo von Hessen. Matteo, Marty Lonsdale,” Truman said as they shook hands.
“Max speaks highly of you,” Matteo lied and smiled, relieved when he could let go of Lonsdale’s clammy grip. “And Truman tells me you’re his favorite client,” he added, leaning into Truman and sliding a hand over his chest and under the lapel of his coat. “Isn’t that right?”
Truman blinked down at Matteo, then nodded. “Of course,” he said and smiled at Lonsdale.
“I better be, as much as I pay the son of a bitch!” Lonsdale slapped Truman’s other shoulder, laughing.
“And yet, my mother doesn’t think you pay me enough,” Truman countered in his flat rumble, making Lonsdale laugh even harder. He began to hack and wheeze and was handed a handkerchief.
“Don’t forget to give Margot my love,” Lonsdale eventually told Truman before giving Matteo a once-over. “You’ve taken the city by storm, haven’t you? But I heard you weren’t worth much anymore. The story is you gave it all away but I bet it was drugs or cards.” Marty guessed, his lip curling as he studied Matteo. “You look like a gambler.”
Matteo reeled for a moment, stunned at Lonsdale’s crudeness. He should have expected it and decided to toss a grenade back at Lonsdale and make their introductionreallystand out. “You look like you haven’t peed standing up sinceObama was president. What’s your point?” Matteo snapped back and felt Truman’s hand tighten around his arm possessively.
Lonsdale laughed and wagged his unlit cigar at Matteo. “I see why he likes you. You got a fast mouth and you’re fancy enough, but you’re dreamin’ if you think Truman Tennyson’s your new sugar daddy.”
“Careful,Marty,” Matteo said with a withering look at the older man. “People might think you’re jealous.”
“Maybe if you had a sister,” Lonsdale returned, missing Truman’s warning cough. “He’s as pretty as everyone says he is but I bet he’s after your money,” he said to Truman.
“Have you lost your goddamn mind?” Truman ground out, his expression severe. “You don’t talk to him like that,ever.But you sure as fuck don’t do it in front of me. You’ll apologize right now or your ass will be back on a plane to Chicagotonight,” he said slowly and clearly. “And you will no longer be represented by Tennyson & Associates.”
The color drained from Lonsdale’s face. “Sure, Truman,” he said, his head bobbling rapidly. “I’m very sorry, Mr. von Hessen. I was just looking out for Tennys?—”
“I said that’s enough!” Truman barked, his voice cutting through the whispers and chatter around them and bringing the party to a halt. “Given the understanding between us, I think it goes without saying that von Hessen’s affairs are mine as well now. You’d be wise to watch how you speak to him.” He looked around to make sure that everyone had heard and rested a hand on Matteo’s lower back.
If that didn’t convince everyone they were serious, nothing would.
Matteo hummed silkily as he dragged a hand down Truman’s chest. “You’re so sexy when you show your teeth, Daddy,” he whispered loudly to Truman, then cut his eyes at Marty. “How much longer do we have to stay? Your friend’s rude and he’sgiving me the creeps,” he said and the hand at his back slid around Matteo’s waist, pulling him closer.
“I promise, Marty just lost his head for a moment and he’s going to watch what he says in the future,” Truman said to Matteo but the message was a warning for Lonsdale. Matteo had never been more turned on but remembered he still had a mission to do when Truman kissed his hand. “Why don’t you mingle and find something to eat while I have a word with Marty? You barely touched your dinner,” Truman suggested, clearing Matteo to make his escape and sneak upstairs.
Instead, Matteo pushed out his lower lip and walked his fingers up Truman’s tie. “I’m hungry, but not for some stale canapés… Let’s get out of here.”
“Soon.” Truman’s hand covered Matteo’s and it received a firm squeeze. “I want to have a word with the birthday boy. It’s about his present.”
Matteo let out a bored sigh as he looked around. “Fine. I thought I spotted someone interesting. I’m going to see if he has any weed or poppers and meet you in the bar, this party’s too dry.”
“I won’t be long,” Truman promised, then gave Matteo a gentle shove to get him moving.
“Ciao!” Matteo said with a lazy wave at Lonsdale, pausing to press a kiss to Truman’s cheek. He nipped the corner of Truman’s jaw, growling softly. “Don’t keep me waiting,” he pouted, just loud enough for Lonsdale to hear.
Pleased with the performance, Matteo sauntered off. He swiped a glass of champagne off a passing tray and flirted as he made his way around the room, then ducked into the servers’ entrance. The bare corridor ran to the hotel’s kitchen and Matteo had to dart around several curious employees.
“Don’t mind me! Just looking for a place to grab a smoke!” he announced as he rushed along.
In the kitchen, he was directed to the proper exit and found himself in the delivery bay. A group of kitchen and serving staff were huddled next to the door and nodded at Matteo when he brandished his cigarettes and asked for a light. There weren’t a lot of places you could smoke on the grounds of a hotel so Matteo was already acquainted with the regulars. He made small talk until most of them put out their cigarettes or turned off their vapes and hurried back inside. With a wave at the remaining smokers, Matteo strolled off, into the shadows. Once out of sight, he laughed and did a little dance, then considered his next move.
He had plenty of time to hail a cab and get to the airport before Truman realized he was gone. With Sisi’s star, Matteo could pocket the reward money and immunity and flip on Lonsdale and Truman. He’d be free and damn near untouchable and the news of the heist would make Matteo a legend.
But now that revenge and victory were within his grasp, Matteo’s excitement was tempered and his joy was hollow. He looked back, in the direction of the hotel’s bar, and imagined Truman waiting for him. He felt triumphant at having outwitted Truman but Matteo’s stomach sank at the thought of never touching or even being near him again. There was no doubt that Truman would land on his feet eventually. He had enough connections and leverage to get out of anything. But he would never forgive Matteo and it would never be safe to go near Truman after that kind of betrayal.
“Verdammte Scheiße!” Matteo spat and punched at the air.
He’d planned everything perfectly so he could be free of Truman and out of his reach. Matteo had never cared about the glamour or the money but he had secretly enjoyed being the greatest thief the world hadneverknown and returning Sisi’s star to his home country would have been the bow on top of a stellar criminal career.
