Page 98 of Extradition (Mobsters + Billionaires 1)
My ears perk up. “You got an agent on the take?”
This Hopper fellow laughs like I just said the funniest thing in the world. Hell, even Luca laughs.
“Nah, nothing like that. He’s on the up and up. Gets frustrated when I spot him—it’s like a little game we play. But he ain’t here tonight.”
“You got something for me then?”
“Yeah, boss. Just want to let you know that my Spidey sense don’t like it in here no more.”
“You see something?” Luca asks, leaning in.
“No, boss. Just…the energy in here just shifted or somethin’.”
Luca nods. “Good enough for me. I did what I came to do. Most of it, anyway.” Looking at me, he up-nods. “You good here?”
“Uh, yeah. Luca. Nice chatting with you.”
“Thank you,” he says, handing me a business card. “And same. Keep my number on you and call if you need back up. Hopper here is never wrong.”
I look at the card in my hand, solid black with only a phone number in gold lettering. Yeah, I’m in it now.
“Will do.” Turning to the man who looks like he might eat children’s souls for breakfast, I dip my chin. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
He pats my shoulder the way a toddler pets a dog—with far too much force and enthusiasm. “Anytime, Joe.”
That’s fucking fantastic. The serial killer on Luca Stefano’s payroll knows my name. Just…great.
Right as they walk off, the emcee of the event, a gregarious woman of stout figure with more jewelry and finery than I’ve ever seen on another person, finds me.
“Are you ready for your speech?” Her smile is genuine, even if her hair is piled so high on top of her head she looks like a Victorian lady.
“I am,” I say, wildly recalibrating my conversational parameters as I reach into my pocket. I pull out the folded piece of paper that contains my speech and hold it up for her to see.
“Excellent,” she says, clapping her hands together. Sticking out her elbow, she says, “Well then, will you accompany me backstage?”
“I’d be happy to.”
I wind my arm around hers, and we arrive at the large, makeshift backstage area, made of tall stands of rich, velvet curtains. There’s a lounge area for speakers and a staging area for the catering crews.
“Good luck out there,” my gracious host says, patting my shoulder. “And a little advice: I’m sure your prepared words are great but don’t forget to be yourself.”
I kiss the back of her hand. “That is excellent advice. Thank you.”
She blushes and makes her way to the audience.
Rand peeks out from behind a curtain, scanning the area before walking up to me. I breathe out, a little surprised by how much I need him here. He leans in and whispers, “You’ve got this. Show ‘em how it’s done.”
We’re alone, so I chance a kiss, and he pulls me in for a hard but brief hug. The layers of desire and emotion in his eyes fuel me, infusing me with confidence. He sneaks back into the audience, and the warmth in my chest expands, knowing he’ll be watching.
Taking a deep breath, I push through the heavy velvet fabric and walk onto the sparsely lit stage. Unfolding my speech, I smooth it out on the podium and clear my throat.
I can do this.
