He needed to make sure he got his point across to Longineu.
Colin Carter stood in the back corner of the room and met Luke’s gaze, giving a slight nod of acknowledgment. Luke nodded in response and took out his phone, dialing Longineu’s number.
“I wondered when I’d hear from you,” said the cocky bastard when he answered.
“Where are you?” he bit out, scanning the room.
“I’m enjoying some choice cigars with some of my friends, far away from you. How can I help you?”
“I know about Bella.”
There was silence on the other end of the line and he knew he’d hit a mark. “What?”
“I’m at the Farrell party. I know you’re here too. Now do you want to talk to me or do you want me to let the entire city know just how much of a scumbag you are?” He turned in a circle, looking for any sign of the man.
“You don’t have any proof,” said Longineu, the fear evident in his voice.
“I have everything I need. Now come and face me, you son of a bitch.”
There was another pause before Longineu said, “Come out on the terrace, back corner. We’ll have some privacy.” Then the line was dead.
Luke tried to keep his nerves under control. He only had one chance at this. He’d thought that he’d be able to talk reason into Evelyn once she was here and there was no time for her to back out. That wasn’t going to happen now. So he’d have to go in alone.
The memory of Evelyn shutting the door on him cut like a knife. That was how she saw him: A hindrance. In the way of her getting what she wanted.
But she was right about one thing. These people had fucked with his life for the last time, and he was going to show them exactly what happened when you messed with a Devereaux.
Ken Kemmerling had taken the coward’s way out and jumped off a building rather than face the repercussions from the leaders of this group. He had a feeling Longineu wasn’t as afraid of them. He was a good ol’ boy. Too close to the heads to ever think they’d hurt him. Luke had a feeling Longineu himself was one of the leaders.
So in order to get him to turn on his friends, and himself, Luke needed leverage. Leverage like Joslyn had discovered.
Luke found the balcony and slid open the door. The large open area wrapped around the entire side of the luxury hotel, but it was easy enough to see where the cluster of men smoking cigars was. Luke put his hands in his pockets and walked over casually, getting angrier with each step. Angry at Longineu. Angry at Evelyn. Angry at himself.
The men around Longineu noticed his arrival and moved to form a barrier between Luke and their boss. Luke smirked at them. “I think we need our privacy for this one.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“Bring your pepper spray today?” Evelyn wrapped her fingers around the butt of her gun in her purse.
His mouth twisted into a cruel smile as he took a step forward and backed her into the closet. “I have lots of other toys I could use on you.” His eyes glanced around the room at the various chemicals and supplies that lined the shelves behind her. “I’m assuming you’re the reason my date bailed on me?”
“I’m the reason she realized you were just using her.”
Easson tsked at her with his tongue. “I underestimated you. Again. That won’t happen this time.”
Damn. She was kind of counting on that whole underestimating thing. She pulled out her gun and aimed it at him. “Don’t come any closer,” she warned. Backup had to be close. All she had to do was keep him busy for a few minutes. Which was difficult, considering she was dealing with a guy who could kill in seconds.
“I’ve looked into you, you know.” He took a step closer.
She inched back, but there was only about six inches between her and the shelving unit behind her. If she got cornered, she’d have no room to fight if she needed to. “Find out anything interesting?”
“I figured out how you got the drop on me the last time we danced.”
“Never assume a woman can’t fight.”
“I never thought someone who had so little respect for herself that she’d sleep with a mark could be trained. My mistake.”
“Says the guy who had to pepper spray me in order to run away.” What if she shot? He was right in front of her. She could aim at the head and get one clean shot. But then they’d have nothing on Longineu and be back at square one. He was only a few feet away and guns weren’t best for close combat. Damn it, nothing about this room was good for close combat. But at least Easson had the same disadvantages as her. And she was the only one pointing a gun.
“I think that the two of us are going to have some fun together.” Easson took one more step forward and started to push the door shut.