Page 73 of Dance of Defiance
“A new safe house. Off the books, for when I wantnobodyto know what I’m doing.” Papa clears his throat. “We’re going to discuss some potential very good news about the Norton Avenue project.”
My brows arch.
Bane’s father and mine areheavily, and jointly, invested in massive construction project in Queens: a high-rise that’ll include a hotel, luxury apartments, high-end shopping, and fine dining.
“How good of news?”
Papa clears his throat as he leans forward. “Tell no one what I’m about to tell you.”
I nod.
“We might get that casino after all.”
I whistle lowly.Fuck, that’s a big deal. The project as-is is going be a money-piñata for both families. But on top of what they’re already planning, my father pushedhardfor a luxury, high-rollers casino on the top four floors.
The only problem there is that New Yorkdoes notlike giving out gaming licenses. Especially not to notorious Russian mobsters.
“I may have a found a way, Roman,” Papa grins darkly. “A gaming commissioner with some…personalpressure points. But I need to get Nikolai on board. He’s been against this from the start for some fucking reason.”
I nod. “That’s…huge.”
“Da,” he grunts. “Listen, Roman…” he eyes me. “When I get Nikolai on board with this, and we move forward.” He raps his knuckles on the desk and then points at me. “I wantyouto be in charge of securing the gaming license from this commissioner, yes?”
I hold back a smile. “Of course, Papa.”
My father is, for lack of a better word, an asshole. I’m not blind to that: it’s not like the assholery is leveled solely at other people. I get the full brunt of it all the time.
But sometimes, when he talks about the future, aboutmetaking over the throne… I don’t know, I get the faintest whiff of a sense of pride in me from him, and I hold onto it as tightly as I can.
“Excellent.” He clears his throat and peers a little closer at me. “So—was it good?”
I frown as I take a sip of my drink. “Was what good?”
“Your rendezvous the other day.”
For a second, my entire body goes numb and cold. Like a knife made of ice has just been plunged into my heart. I stare at him, my face pale.
Papa chuckles. “That girl. Tiffany, right?”
Jesus Christ.
I exhale slowly, blinking as my chest thaws a little. He’s not talking about Val in the steam room.
Fuck…
“What?” I choke out.
Papa chuckles. “My men at the front door of your building told me she was over the other night.” He grins and winks at me. “You have fun?”
I take another sip, my brow furrowing. “Your men are spying on me now?”
Papa rolls his eyes. “So sensitive. They weren’t spying. They werejealous!” he roars, laughing. “Probably thought I’d be proud, hearing that my boy is out there fucking sexy girls like that, eh?”
He chuckles, lifting his glass to me in a toast.
“But…” His brow furrows. “You need to be smarter about it. Arranged or not, Dasha is going to be your wife soon,da? And her papa…” His lips thin. “Perhaps less excited than me to learn about other girls sharing your bed.”
I exhale slowly, dipping my chin. “Understood. It won’t happen again.”
