Blake

 

The next morning, Lamb and Blake sat in the outdoor kitchen for breakfast. The shining sun cut the chill in the air. The chef placed a steak omelet before Lamb. He picked up the linen napkin, resting it on his lap. Grabbing a knife and fork, he began to cut into the egg whites, spearing a piece with a hunk of meat and took a bite.

Blake leaned forward. “Lamb, we started off this discussion with me not giving a fuck about any advice that you have to offer. Now, you can’t speak?”

Lamb continued to chew his food. He washed it down with a mug of black coffee, no cream and not a lick of sugar.

“After ten years in your service, Blake, I’m a wee bit astonished at the choice you’ve just made.”

“Okay,” Blake tossed his napkin on the table. “When I hired you, I knew you had a shady past. But I promised everything would be all kosher. And it has been, right?”

Lamb paused, then nodded slowly.

“But I want Welsh six feet under. I’d do it myself but can’t figure out the dynamics of it without ending up in a cell next to him to get the job done. We both know I’m a changed man as well. If it weren’t for Reynolds erasing my past . . . I don’t know where I’d be. But I love Mila, and she needs this.”

The Irishman gobbled down another large piece and then another. “Mila is a good lass. I understand you wanting the best for her.”

“Then help me work this out, Lamb. I need connections, a way in, at the very least. Will you do that?”

“It’s my job.” Lamb caved, and then he stuffed more food in his mouth.

Blake wasn’t convinced by his response. “How? When?”

“Not necessary. The less you know; the better it is for you.” Lamb said. “But we’ll just call it a wedding gift.”

“Good. Now, I have another assignment that needs to be completed by tomorrow.”

“What’s that?”

“Lido Ali. I have to get her to the wedding,” Blake said. He expected the adrenaline to slow within his veins, but the anxiety continued to surge through him. This felt wrong. All wrong. But Mila was so good-hearted.

Though he wasn’t asking Lamb to murder the woman, he knew that she was a different kind of crazy. Blake still doubted that the woman cared for Mila, but his fiancée was entirely too uncertain about having Lido as a bridesmaid or not.

“How do you suppose we do that?” Lamb inquired.

“I don’t give a shit how, just as long as it’s done. That she plays the good big sister—like any other woman would. I need her to attend every event and you, you’ll have to be at her side the entire time, ensuring that she cooperates. Mila can have all the pretty little pictures she wants with her sister.” There is nothing in this world I wouldn’t do for Mila, including abducting her sister and threatening the woman’s life if she doesn’t behave!

The way Lamb set aside his half-eaten omelet like he was skeptical, seemed almost like this request held more weight than the one pertaining to Todd Welsh. “How?”

“Threats of bodily harm. I don’t care. Lido treats Mila like crap. But I’m a man with means, Lamb. That girl will stand in photos, and she will not say a word out of line or do anything contrary to what a bridesmaid would. Threaten her job—if she cuts up, we purchase stock in some of the biggest modeling agencies in the world. Cut her out.”

“And again, I say how? I can have Todd handled, easy. But that sister of Mila’s,” Lamb chuckled. “She is a different breed.”

Blake pulled out his cell phone and dialed Lido Ali’s number. He placed the call on speaker.

Lido forwent any greeting and said cockily, “Hello, Blake. Somehow I had an idea that you’d call me.”

Lamb shook his head. “Trouble,” he muttered in Gaelic.

“Can we meet?” Blake asked.

“About what?”

“You and me. Why else would I call you, Lido? You’re the one who mentioned I would need a new mistress, right?” Though his voice was dreamy, Blake had a sneer on his face.

“Hmmm. I just touched down in Manhattan. You’ll have to come to my neck of the woods if you’d like to see me.”

“Bait and hook.” Lamb mouthed the words.

“Tomorrow, the Waldorf Astoria?”

Lido snatched the bait. “Book a room and make the deal sweet.”

They ended the call, and Blake hung up the phone. Lamb returned to the rest of his food. Blake rose from his chair and walked around the lap pool. I’m doing this for Mila. His heart felt heavy. He and Lamb would address Lido and give her an ultimatum that she could not refuse—all for Mila. But he had no qualms about Lido Ali disappearing off planet earth following his pending nuptials. It would make life easier.

He dialed Mila.

“Good morning, handsome.” She spoke in a husky voice.

He moaned. “Fuck, I love your voice in the morning. I can just imagine my cock sliding right down your throat, waking you up. How did you sleep?”

“I slept on air or was it in the clouds?”

Blake smiled, gazing across the turquoise waters. “And your dreams?”

“Shut up,” came Yasmin’s voice in the background.

“Ugh, that is the antithesis of a sexy wake-up voice,” Blake joked.

Mila giggled, and then said, “Boy shhhh . . .”

He could hear her moving around and getting out of the bed. A few moments later, she said, “Okay. I’m back.”

“You ladies didn’t stay in that tiny ass room, did you?”

“No, Lamb is totally awesome. We’re staying at the home of a bank owner or something. The maid gave brief details. I almost do not want to leave for the spa soon.”

“Okay, baby.” He rubbed his jaw. She still slept with Yasmin. He wondered if it was a tradition or was it the memories of Welsh? Everything will be okay, he told himself. At least, as far as that fuck is concerned.

“Why aren’t you somewhere laid up with a hangover and a lighter wallet?” Mila asked.

“I’ll be in St. Louis tomorrow. I told Isaac no strippers, baby. I don’t need them.”

“Um-hmm, Zenobia will be here shortly. I’ll get the truth from her,” Mila joked. They chatted a few minutes longer and then hung up