“Honestly, what were you expecting?” Joseph asked. “For Crewe and me to apologize to each other then go golfing?”
“That asshole shot me,” Crewe said. “Let’s not forget.”
I held up my hand. “There will be no insults tonight. When we go our separate ways tonight, the two of you can’t be enemies. I want there to be peace. Not friendship, loyalty, or respect. Just peace.” I wasn’t asking for much, just for the two men to be civil to one another.
Neither one of them disagreed with that.
I tried to strike up a conversation that both of them could participate in. “So, Crewe’s second distillery is doing well. He opened it a few months ago, and the orders are pouring in. Do you like scotch, Joseph?”
He pressed his lips tightly together like he didn’t want to respond. “I do, actually. His is pretty damn good.”
I looked to Crewe, silently commanding him to accept the compliment.
Crewe looked annoyed, but he cooperated. “Thank you.”
It was a rough start, but at least it was a start. “Crewe is helping me get my license so I can start driving.”
“Why don’t you just have his men drive you around?” Joseph asked.
“I wish she would,” Crewe whispered.
“Because I want my own independence,” I answered.
Joseph didn’t hide his thoughts on the matter. “Independence is so overrated. You have a team of men who will cater to your every need. Anyone would do anything to have that. Just enjoy it.”
“I wish she felt that way,” Crewe said. “But she wants to pay for her own things too…”
“This guy is loaded.” He pointed to Crewe. “And he kept you as a prisoner for six months. Let him buy you whatever you want.”
“I don’t need him to buy me anything,” I said harshly. “Crewe is my boyfriend, not my sugar daddy.”
“I don’t mind being your sugar daddy,” Crewe said.
“Well, I do,” I argued. I waved the waiter over so we could get off the subject. I ordered a glass of wine and my entrée, and the two men ordered afterward. When he was gone, we were back to our bubble of awkwardness.
Crewe didn’t strike up a conversation, and neither did Joseph.
I shouldn’t have expected them to do anything.
“Where have you traveled recently?” I asked Joseph.
“Russia,” Joseph answered. “I was in Moscow.”
“For what?” Crewe asked.
“Business,” Joseph said vaguely.
I knew Russia was a sore subject for Crewe. Any time it was mentioned, his mood got noticeably darker. “Anywhere else?”
“What kind of business?” Crewe pressed.
Joseph wore an expression that said he didn’t want to answer. “There’s a big deal going on among the Russia mafia with forty million on the line. I’m going to intercept it.”
“How do you know this?” Crewe pressed.
I didn’t get these men together to discuss work, but that’s exactly what happened.
“Bones,” Joseph replied. “Said he met with a Russian representative, but he didn’t give me any details.”
“Hmm…” Crewe’s jaw was tense like he was thinking. “Who’s exchanging the money?”
“I can’t say,” Joseph said.
That wasn’t the kind of answer Crewe accepted. “I’m not after cash. If it’s someone I’m interested in, I can help you.”
“You think I need help?” Joseph asked incredulously.
“Seeing how you pissed me off, yeah,” Crewe snapped.
“Hey, guys.” I raised both hands. “Let’s just take it down a notch.”
Crewe ignored me. “Write it down.” He pulled a pen from his pocket and pushed the napkin toward him. “Now.”
Joseph snatched the pen out of his hand then scribbled the names in tiny print. He folded it and pushed it back to Crewe.
Crewe glanced at it, narrowed his eyes, and then tore it up into pieces. “I want in.”
“I don’t need help,” Joseph said. “And I’m not giving you a cut.”
“I don’t want a cut,” Crewe said coldly. “I just want in.”
“Why?” Joseph asked.
“Because one of these fuckers crossed me,” Crewe whispered under his breath. “And I want to take something that means the world to him. The only thing he seems to give a damn about is money and pride. I’d like to destroy both of those things.”
Joseph watched him with suspicion, his eyes narrowed.
I wanted Joseph and Crewe to get along, but not in this way. But if this brought them closer together, I couldn’t object. Crewe was still haunted by what happened to his family. If this gave him closure, I couldn’t ask him not to do it. “Joseph, you can trust Crewe.”
“None of this makes sense,” Joseph asked. “Even if it is about revenge.”
“You don’t need to know details, Joseph,” I said quickly. “Crewe wants in, and I think he can help you.”
Crewe looked at me, and deep in his eyes was a look of gratitude that Joseph would never notice. His expression was difficult to read, probably on purpose, but I’d cracked the code a long time ago.
Joseph watched us both with hesitance. “I work with a particular team…”
“Which I don’t have a lot of faith in, considering the fact that you tried to fool me with counterfeit. Come on, Joseph.” When Crewe took the lead, he had more authority than all the world leaders put together. “I want this mission to be successful.”
Joseph looked at me as if he expected me to say something.
“I think it’s a good idea,” I said. “You have mutual interests. It’s perfect.”
Joseph shrugged in response. “Okay, fine. But if you cross me, I’ll kill you.”
Crewe smiled. “Ditto.”
“There will be no killing of any kind,” I said. “If you both love me, you’ll never lay a hand on each other.”
“I don’t love you that much,” Joseph said.
Crewe chuckled. “Like I’d ever believe that. You fucking shot me.”
“Well, you had it coming,” Joseph said. “If you thought I wasn’t going to do anything to save my sister, you’re an idiot.”
“If I had a sister, I would have done the same,” Crewe said.
Maybe this would work out, after all. It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it wasn’t horrendous either. Guns weren’t drawn, and bullets weren’t flying through the air. “So you forgive Joseph for shooting you?”
“I never apologized,” Joseph said quickly.
“Nor was I looking for an apology,” Crewe said. “The best we can do is leave the past where it belongs and move forward. That’s the best I can offer.”
“Agreed,” Joseph said. “Now where the hell is our food?”
It wasn’t perfect, but I would take it.
15
Crewe
When we walked into the bedroom, I was relieved the dinner with Joseph was over. It went better than I expected it to, and he was directly involved in conning one of the men I despised.
Of course, I wanted in.
London slipped her jacket off her shoulders and hung it on the armchair. “Thank you for tonight. It meant a lot to me.” She turned around and tucked her hair behind her ear, looking like the sexiest thing in the world without even trying.