Page 120 of Extradition (Mobsters + Billionaires 1)
“I appreciate a well-ordered society, but that’s not what this is. They got laws out there that help rich people and fuck over everyone else. I don’t have nothing to do with those laws.”
“So if I asked you, as a friend, to make sure that the folks trying to blackmail my man get the message that it’s not appreciated, would that be crossing a line?”
Lucas shakes his head. “Not at all. I like taking care of my friends. I might have a favor to ask of you though.”
A part of me wants to restate my limitations, but Luca doesn’t strike me as a man who forgets things. “Of course.”
“I don’t have a lot of friends, and as you so eloquently put it, CEOs and mobsters have a lot in common. I’m thinking of starting a poker night, maybe once a month. Thought maybe you could use some of your newfound fame to invite some executive types.”
“Can I assume that one of those executives wears glasses and enjoys brightly colored perfectly tailored suits?”
Lucas shrugs, but I know his tells by now. “If a beautiful, fashionable man should so happen to find his way into my poker night, I’m not gonna complain.”
I wink at my new friend. “You got it. I’m sure you’ve already got my phone number. Send me the date and time, and I’ll make it happen.”
“It’s a deal.”
We shake hands, and I make my way back to the penthouse.
Rand is there to greet me. “That didn’t take long.”
“This building is a one-stop shop for executives and mobsters. Pretty convenient if you ask me.”
“What did you find?”
“Oh, nothing. But I can pretty much bet that nothing will come of the video, and the blackmail request will simply disappear.”
Rand’s eyebrows meet in the middle. “Do I want to know?”
I shake my head. “It’s not that bad, really. Just turns out that Luca Stefano needs a friend, and I think I can be that friend. In a real way. And sometime in the next month, we’re going to a poker game at Luca’s place. He wants me to invite some executive types.”
“So…Ford?”
I grin. “Yep.”
“I’m going to invite Sherry too.”
“Yeah? Maybe you should put her on the board too.”
“Not a bad idea.” Rand chuckles to himself. “My life is very strange. I got taken down by a mobster, and now I’m friends with them.”
“Not much of a difference from the CEO crowd, is it?”
“That’s not true. Most CEOs are assholes.”
