"Mr. Verlinden?"
I looked up and smiled at the waiter standing beside me and cleared my throat. "Yes?"
"Your lunch guests are running behind, but will be here in about five minutes," he said, ringing his hands together.
"That's fine. Thank you."
The waiter nodded and walked away.
Fucking clients thought everyone was running on their time.
My stomach twisted, the hairs on the back of my neck tingling. Something felt off.
"Mathis Verlinden." A heavy hand landed on my shoulder, causing me to look up at the deep voice.
Antonio Conti stared down at me, his Italian boyish looks hiding the cobra that lived deep inside. His black eyes twinkled as he sat down beside me. "How's it going?"
I rolled my eyes and opened my mouth to speak when another person joined our table, sitting on the other side of me. My gaze traveled to him. No. It fucking couldn't be. Could it?
The man sneered. "Hello, brother."
Antonio looked between the two of us. "I had no idea that you were brothers. But I can see the resemblance now."
Fucking bullshit. Antonio knew. He set me up.
"Yan," I bit out.
Yan Verlinden, older than me by a couple of years, but still the biggest dick in the whole fucking world. No matter, he always threw me under the bus. It started when we were boys and never stopped.
"How long has it been?" he asked, his voice clipped.
Not long enough. "Fifteen years," I mumbled.
Yan smirked and ran a hand through his black hair. His piercing gray eyes bore into mine and if we weren't in a public setting, I would have punched the shit out of his smug grin.
"Now, this is interesting." Antonio grinned. He was like a kid at Christmas, all bright eyed and practically bouncing in his seat. I swore he got off on other people's misfortune. That's why he wanted my clubs. That's why he had tried undermining me for years, taking what was rightfully mine. Not anymore, though.
"I heard you got married."
I turned to my brother and leaned back. "Good news travels fast." I was wondering how long it would take for people to find out.
Yan rubbed his hands over his mouth. "I also heard that she's a high paid whore." I couldn't help but watch the nasty smirk spread across his lips. He was purposely trying to get under my skin, just as he had our entire lives.
My back stiffened. "She's not a whore."
"But she was. Once a whore, always-"
"Finish that sentence and you'll be getting my fist as your next meal," I growled.
"Now, now children. Let's play nice. I have a business to steal … er … be a part of." Antonio called the waiter over.
God, what was I getting myself into?
After ordering another drink, Antonio turned back to me. "Where's your pet?"
My jaw clenched. "Dean's around." They didn't need to know that he was sitting at a table with an elderly couple only a few feet away from us. The older folks agreed to have him sit with them as long as they got a picture with me. Fucking epic.
Antonio smirked. "So, since you obviously know my business associate, let's get down to it then."
"You can either work with me or go somewhere else to spend your money. I'm not selling my clubs."
"This is a nice suit. How much did it cost? Five grand?" Yan asked, brushing off my shoulder.
I frowned.
"How would Jenny Sunshine feel if she found out about the illegal businesses you've had? Money, drugs, weapons, women … everyone eating out of your fucking hand … "
With an even stare, I looked at my brother. What had happened to make him hate me so much? My stomach twisted. Memories of my father beating him came to mind. Always comparing the two of us. I bit back a sigh. If I were him, I guess I would hate me too.
"Tell her," I ground out. She would know before they had a chance to tell her anyway. I would tell her on my own. No secrets. She told me about her relationship with Jude and his woman. I was damn determined to make this work. For her and for me. For us.
The sound of laughter echoed through my apartment as Jennifer strolled into the vast living room.
"Well, I'm glad … no … really, Nora. I am happy for you."
I smiled, knowing she was talking about Nora and Dean. The guy had finally settled down. Not sure for how long, but whatever.
"No, I don't think you're crazy." Jennifer stopped when she came into the dining room and saw me sitting at the table. She grinned and walked up to me before placing herself in my lap.
I kissed her shoulder and wrapped my arms around her middle, breathing in the sweet scent of lavender.
She placed a peck on my mouth and frowned. "Nora, I'll call you back." She hung up the phone and threw it on the table. "What's wrong?"
I didn't know why I was surprised, but shock tore through me that she could tell something was off. "How do you know something's wrong?"
She tapped lightly on my glasses. "I noticed that you only wear them before bed or when you have a headache. Clearly it's too early for you to be getting ready for bed, so something has to be wrong."
"Perceptive," I mumbled.
"Talk to me. Please," she pleaded, entwining our fingers.
I looked down at our joined hands in her lap. "I had a business meeting today."
She nodded in encouragement.
"My brother was there."
Jennifer gasped. "What? How the hell did that happen?"
I chuckled and sighed. "He's a business associate of the guy that's trying to buy my clubs from me, Antonio Conti."
"He wants your clubs?"
I nodded. "They're all over North America in prime locations. At first, I thought he wanted to work with me, but soon found out I was wrong."
"Okay, but I sense something else is going on," she said, running her other hand through the hair at my nape.
The touch, although small, eased the tension that had built in my body since seeing Yan that afternoon. "They threatened to go to you regarding my past if I didn't sign over my clubs," I said in one breath.
Jennifer frowned. "Your past?"
I looked away and nodded. "My clubs are legal. One hundred percent, but I have underground dealings with anything and everyone. You name it? I have my hand in it. But … " I looked up and met her blue gaze, and breathed a sigh of relief.
No judgment. No yelling and screaming on how much of a loser I was. She listened attentively to every word that left my mouth, and I think I fell in love with her even more at that moment.
"I want to change. You make me want to change. Call me crazy. Call me fucking delusional, but you make me want to be a better man."
Jennifer let out a heavy breath. "Wow … well, I wasn't expecting the whole illegal business thing, but I have no right to judge you. I figured something was up with how rich you are, though."
I smiled. "My Jennifer. So perceptive and smart." And she was. Which was just another thing I adored about her.
She laughed lightly. "Just … I know I probably have no right to ask this of you, but I'm only asking because I love you."
I loved how her cheeks reddened every time she said those three words.
"No more. I don't care what kind of illegal jobs you were in. I don't want to know. I will worry, though, if you keep them. I know you have Dean to protect you, but he's only one man. Please. Do that for me," she said, cupping my cheeks.
"I will change. I promise you that. For you and for me. I'm getting too old for the drama anyway. The money is not worth it." That was the truth. If I could go back and change the wrongs I did, and the people I hurt, I would. There were a few I could call or visit … visit would probably be better. I made a mental note of doing just that.
"One last thing."
Jennifer turned in my arms and straddled my waist. "What?"
"My brother, Yan and Antonio might come to you, telling you about me. Act surprised. Whatever they say. Can you do that for me?"
She chewed her bottom lip and thought a moment before a slow smile spread on her face. "I always wanted to be an actress."
Chapter Fifteen
Married the Mobster?
Jennifer
When Mathis told me he was involved in illegal business dealings, I wasn't all that surprised. The lavish lifestyle was more than a man who grew up poor and invested in a couple clubs could provide. There was something off and even though he promised it would come to an end, I worried.
I worried about him and myself. I worried about our new relationship and the fact that whether or not I liked it, I was now a target to anyone who knew we were married. I also had the fact that despite being out of business myself, I had clients. A long list of clients who were still blowing up my phone for the opportunity to spend a night with me or one of my girls. One of my girls. Girls that I didn't have.
Thoughts churned around in my mind about becoming the newest Heidi Fleiss. I could pull it off. I knew enough women who were working for asshole pimps who occasionally beat the living shit out of them. With Dean's help, and my own security team, I could buy their freedom.