Pawn (The Pawn Duet #2) - T.M. Frazier Page 0,57
them, but at the last minute, they open as if by magic, and he scurries through without missing a beat. “Mami said to stop hitting me, Didi, and to stop being a puta.”
The doors shut, and she turns back to me. “As I said, kids. Do you have any?”
I shake my head. “No, I don’t. Honestly, I’ve had a lot going on in my life. I’ve never really thought about it.”
She sits on one of the plush white chairs, crossing her legs at the ankles. She taps her nails on the table. “You know that I research everyone I grant a meeting with. And your background is quite impressive. A doctor, right? So, tell me. Why is a smart girl like you wrapped up in the bullshit underbelly of Logan’s Beach?”
I could ask her the same but I’m in her house so I refrain.
I hold her gaze. “My father. He was one of the founding members of The Reich.” I keep myself from grimacing at my own words.
“Ah.” She wags her finger. “I remember him. Smart man, but still…a man.” She gestures to a comfortable chair caddy corner to another. There’s a small table between the chairs with a glass decanter and two crystal tumblers. “Am I not what you were expecting?” She picks up the decanter and pours two drinks before she sits.
I perch myself at the edge of the chair. “More like an unexpected surprise, but a good one.”
She unbuttons the jacket of her suit and hands me a glass of the amber liquid. She leans back and crosses her legs once more, smiling at me over the crystal glass. “It’s okay. I get it all of the time. Everyone expects someone in my position to be an old white man with a cock, and they are all just as surprised as you are to find a Latina, a woman, at the helm of such an empire.”
“I didn’t mean to be surprised. I’m actually kind of mad at myself for it,” I admit.
She waves me off. “I would do the same. I got to this position through hard work and by killing my bastard of an ex-husband.” She leans forward and hooks her finger for me to do the same. I do, and she looks around before whispering, “Do you know what I do when men think they can take advantage of me just because I am a woman?”
“What?” I whisper back, genuinely interested.
She leans back and chuckles, swirling the liquid around in her glass. “I show them who has the bigger dick. And just so you know, it’s always me.”
I think I like this woman. “I’ll keep that in mind in the future.” I like her, but I’m also kind of afraid of her. Maybe, that’s why I like her. It seems to be a running theme with me. I’m also kind of scared of Pike half of the time.
“I am Carmen Rivadulla.” She extends her hand.
“Pleasure to meet you,” I accept her handshake, which is firm and steady. She never takes her eyes off mine as I answer. It’s a power move. I can respect that. “Thank you for seeing me.”
“So,” she says, clapping her hands and setting down her glass. “What brings a beautiful young woman like you to see me? You don’t look like the standard issue member of the Fourth Reich.” She looks me over and pauses. “My guess is that is because you’re not.”
“You’re right. I’m not. I’m here because I need your help.”
“Is it boy troubles? Because I’ll tell you now that I’m out of the killing because he broke your heart business. That was a one and done, and although my husband deserved it, it doesn’t mean I’m going to make a habit out of it.” She thinks for a second. “Unless the son of a bitch hit you or your child. For that, I can grant an exception.”
I almost spit out my drink. I wait for a second to force it back down my throat so I won’t spit it all over her suit that probably costs more than everything I own. Actually, it could be a suit from a thrift store and would still cost more than everything I own. I shake my head and set down my glass next to hers, being mindful to use the shell coaster. “No, no broken hearts here. Well, yes, I have a broken heart, but it’s not relevant as to why I’m here. I’m here on business. I have a proposal