Page 187 of Money Reigns
“I helped save Santo Amato’s wife.”
That gets my attention.
I lean back, steepling my hands.
“You?”
“Yes, me.” His chin lifts, indignant. “Don’t look at me like that.”
I can’t help it; a bark of laughter breaks out of me. “Youheld a gun?”
He scoffs, straightening his tie like he’s about to give a boardroom pitch.
“No. I figured out who was after her. I was an intricate part.”
“Congratulations?” I drawl.
He leans forward, hands braced on his knees, eyes sparking.
“It has me thinking—”
“No.”
My tone sharpens, final.
“We won’t work with them. We won’t sell to them. And we sure as fuck won’t build our own criminal empire if that’s where you’re going.”
Wesley shakes his head quickly.
“Not that. Just… maybe they aren’t all that bad.”
My jaw ticks.
He’s playing with fire, and he doesn’t even see it.
I swivel my screen toward him.
One click brings up the article I’ve been tracking.
“The mayor’s son, Jude Olsen, is missing. Last anyone heard, he went back to Seattle.Supposedto be back on campus.”
Another click.
“Hehasn’t shown up. His last notable appearance?”
Click.
“A gala with Vasilisa Popov… now known as Vasilisa—”
Wesley’s mouth curves. “Amato.”
“Exactly.”
I level him with a stare.
“Donotget involved with them, Wesley. Not their games. Not their wars. Not their women. I don’t care how bright it looks when you’re standing in the dark. You step into their world, you won’t walk out.”
He exhales, sinking back in the chair, some of the fire dimming, but not gone.
