The Wrath of Cain (The Syndicate, #1)(73)
“See you in a few minutes,” Stefano says as he goes one way and I go the other.
“Going over the Belmont case one more time before it starts?” I question.
We’ve been burning the midnight oil the past several weeks over this case. It’s my first big trial as an assistant defense attorney for one of Salvatore’s men who is being prosecuted for computer hacking. One little slip up and he was caught, although we are searching for the proof we need to somehow prove he was set up.
An inside job that should have been an easy one for him went sour the minute he hacked into a Mexican drug cartel’s personal computer system. Brian Belmont is one of the best black hat hackers around. He should never have been caught.
To say I’m nervous would be putting it mildly. This case will take months, another reason why everyone is on high alert. The least mention of drugs sends everyone on a frenzy looking for Royal, so I understand why Brian did it. This family is leaving no stone unturned. No option untouched in their search.
Which leads me now to the two men sitting in my office when I enter. Cain approaches and takes off my jacket for me.
“Hey, babe,” I greet him.
“How’s my sexy wife?” he asks, kissing me briefly on the lips.
“Irritated,” I grumble, sitting in my chair and pulling off my ugly boots. I toss them in the corner and slip my feet into my leopard print Valentinos. Cain slips his sexy self into a chair across from me. God, that ass of his still gets me wet.
“Work from home. I’ve told you this.”
“Ha! I would never get any work done.”
“Maybe a little.”
He smiles that big smile of his. I’m going to have a wet spot in my chair before I even start my day.
“Every morning and every night,” he licks his lips.
I roll my eyes.
“You two are nasty. Can you at least wait until I’m gone, for God’s sake?” Roan chips in.
“I don’t know, man. You have me sitting in my wife’s office at eight o’clock in the morning. She’s dressed in a tight skirt that shows off her ass…”
“Cain, stop it,” I laugh, interrupting him.
“Can’t be helped,” he shrugs.
“Anyway, I thought you had an early meeting this morning.”
I look between Cain and Roan. He no longer goes by Manny now that he’s the underboss and second in command behind Salvatore.
“You’re our meeting,” Roan says.
“I’m confused.”
I give my husband a snarly look, my glare asking, “Why didn’t you drive me in this morning?”
“What?” he holds his hands in the air. “I had a meeting before this one.”
“Sure you did.”
My attention goes back to my boss.
“Please tell me you’re not in any kind of trouble. You didn’t knock up some chick, did you?” I tease, although it wouldn’t surprise me.
He’s a damn slut. I wouldn’t be surprised if half the chicks he bangs don’t pay him for sex. He may be my cousin, but I’m here to tell you he is hot. He’s bulked up so much over the past two years, it isn’t even funny. Not to say my husband hasn’t done the same, because he has. These two live in the gym every chance they get.
“Hell, no. You know I wrap it before I tap it,” he winks.
“Yuck,” I scowl.
“Yuck is right. I hate those damn things. You need to settle your ass down and find you and your dick a nice, warm, and cozy home to live in,” says Cain.
“Would you stop? That shit will never happen. Not all of us are destined to be as lucky as you and find someone as wonderful as Calla, here.”
Roan flashes a shit eating grin my way.
“Are you trying to butter me up, Roan? Because if you are, you have about, oh, two minutes to tell me what it is you need. I have a meeting I need to get to.”
Just then, there is a knock at the door and I go to stand.
“Excuse me.”
“I’ll get it. Stay off your feet.”
Cain gets up and greets Stefano.
“I’ll be right there,” I tell him and then glare at these two.
“Actually, he’s part of the meeting.”
All three of the men stand across from me on the other side of my desk.
“What’s going on?”
Roan walks to my desk, placing his palms down on the edge and leaning into me.
“You’ve heard of Alina Solokov, right?”
“Ivan’s daughter? Yes. I’ve met her a few times. She’s extremely nice. Why do you ask?” I inquire, confused by the subject.
“Well, it seems that several years ago, she and my brother had quite an affair. When she left to go study abroad, it broke him. My resources tell me he has never gotten over her.”
I peer around Cain to gauge his reaction. He just lifts a brow.
“Okay. Well, what does this have to do with me?”
“You’re going to befriend her. Set her up with me.”
I jump out of my chair, feeling my blood pressure rising by the second.
“I most certainly am not! That’s like… oh, I don’t know. Playing with fire? I cannot believe you would even ask me to get in involved with something like this. And you?” I point at Cain.