Jax (Titan #9)(20)
"Fancy," Jax muttered.
The walls were carved wood, and velvet drapes hung like tapestries, framing portraits of the beautiful woman who had to be Esmeralda.
"Enjoy." The hostess pushed open a glass door and swept back as Hernán Suarez came forward.
"Jared Westin." Hernán's outstretched hand reached toward Boss Man as he greeted Jax with a nod. "And Jax Michaelson. Pleasure meeting you. I hope you enjoy your evening at one of my prized jewels."
A man trailed Hernán, retreating back to a leather portfolio. Then they greeted Hawke and Johnny, who were already in the private dining room.
For the next twenty minutes, a cadre of servants served drinks and food. Plate after plate accompanied small talk, neither of which Jax gave two fucks about, but Jared bantered as if he had a degree in bullshit. Hernán liked to hear himself talk, and Jax couldn't figure out what he thought about Hawke conversing. Most of the time, the man was silent, but maybe Jax misread Hawke's caution. Johnny, on the other hand, was easy to read and didn't like anyone in the room, including Titan.
Jax had little to do with the wheeling and dealing as Jared eased Hernán and Hawke into the discussion. He listened less for what was said, instead, searching for a reason why Boss Man wanted Jax involved. There had to be more than what was stated: that Jax needed a lesson in diplomacy and to put his past experience with cartels to work.
That was bullshit. Anyone with half a brain could memorize the cartel players and have the same working knowledge that Jax did.
A beautiful woman with long, dark hair and deep, intense eyes glided into the room in a dress that looked more expensive than all of the food combined. She carried an air of sophistication that named her as Hernán's wife before she even said a word. The cartel king stood, greeting her with a kiss on each cheek. Their dynamic was interesting to watch.
Hernán, in no uncertain terms, was a monster. Not necessarily in looks, but in business and in morals. Then again, a cartel king didn't get to the top of the worldwide drug food chain without being a sick, sadistic son of a bitch who made other cartel kings take a step back. And yet the woman who wrapped herself around him as though she were madly in love didn't seem to be put off by that at all. Sometimes money and power were enough. Jax narrowed his eyes as he studied the couple. Or sometimes a couple was one in the same, and he wondered if Hernán and Esmeralda were two peas in a pod.
Hernán introduced her as his queen, and she batted her eyelashes, demurely playing down his attention. Out of the corner of Jax's eye, he saw that Jared was on high alert, and that matched the feeling Jax continued to have about the woman.
"Did you enjoy the food?" Her exotically tinged words curled through the air. But it was the sexy, almost trancelike look she cast upon Hawke and Johnny that made Jax inch to the edge of his seat.
Both men instantly lauded the meal. Jax watched as they talked about how the food melted in their mouths and that the wine had to be rare. Jax wondered if these motorcycle thugs knew what the shit they were talking about or if this was just BS flowing to schmooze with their business partner's wife.
She glided around the table, running her fingertips along Hernán's arm to his shoulder. Then she let her fingers drift along his other arm as she moved to Hawke and Johnny and sat next to Johnny.
Jax ran his tongue along his bottom lip. What would Jared's diplomatic relations do now? Because, by Jax's count, the cartel had just added another player to the negotiation table.
"We appreciate the food, ma'am," Boss Man said to Hernán, notably not her. "But I'd like to get back to business and finish hammering out this deal."
One thing Jax knew about Jared was that he didn't fall for many tricks, and he wasn't going to be lured in by a play between this man and wife. Jared talking to Hernán, complimenting Esmeralda to the cartel king, had nothing to do with her belonging to the husband, and everything to do with Boss Man putting Hernán on notice. I see the bullshit. I see your play.
Hernán played down Esmeralda's presence at the table. "She's just a woman. Just my wife."
She reached for a corn cake and fed it to Johnny, fingers lingering against his mouth. "Delicious, isn't it? Arepas. The simplest foods can be the most pleasurable."
Her sultry voice and the deep V of her dress created a combination that had Johnny literally eating from her hand.
"It is." Johnny's gravelly voice had nothing to do with the food.
She made a production of choosing a new item and did it again. "This is my family's recipe for aborrajados."
Hawke's jaw tensed as Johnny took another bite offered.
"The plantains and cheese melt together." She put it down, offering him a linen napkin but then dabbing at his mouth. "They are my weakness."
Hell, Johnny was Mayhem's weakness as he hypnotically agreed with her. He was solidly on Team Esmeralda.
"Now that we've tried the appetizers…" Jared crossed his arms, eying Hernán. "The ground rules were clear. Each party could have two players at the table. I'd like her to go."
Hernán tilted his head. "It's her restaurant."
"That may be true. But it is still hers on the other side of that door." Boss Man tossed his thumb over his shoulder. "Or we're done for the day and can reconvene tomorrow."