Chapter 34
Gemma
We sit in a private office above the banquet. The man across from
us smiles, and it’s the predatory smile of a man who knows his own power a little too well.
A shiver of excitement and a little fear go up my spine.
My whole life, my father and Cassian have taken meetings like these.
They thought I couldn’t survive in their world.
They were so wrong.
I’m not surprised that the man across from me looks as smug as
he does. After all, Angelo Giancarlo is the leader of another one of
the mafia wolf packs that dominate the city.
Nowhere near as powerful as the Blackwells, but strong enough that he had the privilege of hosting the underworld mafia’s
banquet this year.
“I’ve wanted to meet Moonlight for a long time,” he says, sitting back and crossing one ankle over his knee.
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He’s in a charcoal gray pinstripe sult with a red patterned tie and he looks from one of us to the other.
“Of course,” Zina says. We’re sorry Moonlight couldn’t be here in person tonight, but we are authorized to handle her business.”
“Her?” Giancarlo raises an eyebrow, and I want to elbow Zina in the ribs.
It’s so important to keep everything about my identity a secret. If people assume I’m a man, that’s fine. It helps me hide.
Zina just gave a huge part of my identity away. She has to realize
it, but she just shrugs delicately.
“It’s a sign of trust to let you in on these things, Alpha Giancarlo. I hope you understand.”
The Alpha nods. He has greéd in his eyes.
He reminds me of my father’s creditors, and I shiver.
Maybe he was one.
“Tell us exactly what job you’re interested in hiring Moonlight for,” I
say.
“I’d prefer to meet her in person,” he says.
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20 min left
“You won’t. But I can promise you, she’s watching and listening to everything we say,” I counter.
He lifts a brow and looks around. “Here? How? This is my home. It’s impossible to break in.
“Moonlight finds ways to make things possible,” Jace says. It’s the first thing he’s said for the whole meeting.
Slowly, Alpha Giancarlo nods. He’s an older man with salt and
pepper hair and calculating eyes.
“Fine. Moonlight said in…her…messages that you’d have a password for me.”
I type the password I sent him earlier into my phone’s notes app and flip it around for him to see. He nods, and I delete the combination of letters and numbers.
“This is what I’m thinking,” he says.
After that, the meeting goes smoothly. It’s hard to believe it, but I’ve just struck my first deal with a mafia Alpha.
When I was a teen, I always worked against them. I still intend
to do that–so much of what these families do can destroy communities.
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(**) 20 min left
I wonder if I’m destroying my moral compass just because I need this money.
But the job won’t hurt anyone I’d consider innocent. It’s just about mafia families sabotaging each other.
That, I am always down for.
“She’ll take it,” I say, and rise. “Thanks, Alpha. Moonlight looks forward to working with you.”
The Alpha takes my hand and shakes it. “As I look forward to working with her.”
After that, we leave the glittering banquet full of the rich and criminal. Except for Zina, who meets some minor family’s son and immediately starts flirting with him.
“Go on,” she says. “Jace will walk you home. Don’t stay on my
account.”
I sigh, but nod.
If I stay, I won’t be able to stop my eyes from wandering to Cassian and Reyna all night, and I’m just not in the mood for it.
I’d rather remember them as they were the last time seen them
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Chapter 34
-totally floored by Zina’s words.
20 min left
Jace and I leave the downtown penthouse where the banquet is being held.
It’s not that far, and the evening is nice, so we walk. But my high heels are killing me, so I peel them off my feet and carry them.
Not the smartest choice in the city streets. I don’t see the sharp stone in my way until my throbbing heel comes down right on it.
“Ow!” I stumble and fall to one side as sharp pain shoots up from my foot like a lightning bolt.
Jace moves fast, putting an arm around my waist. I fall against him, and we both fight to keep our balance. My ankle twists painfully.
Somehow, I end up in his arms with one hand on his chest, staring up into his hazel eyes. His lips part as he looks back down at me.
“Are you all right?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I reply, despite my throbbing ankle. “I—”
“So,” a cold voice cuts through the night, “This is what just friends looks like?”
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Chapter 34
20 min left
I look toward the road and see Cassian leaning against a sleek,
black car.
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