I’d always found Cameron more aloof, gruffer, and a bit intimidating. Curtis’s charisma attracted me before his good looks. Both brothers were blessed with devilishly handsome appearances.
Curtis’s plan for autonomy from his sibling worked and it didn’t.
While Curtis was finally free of Cameron’s intrusion, the transaction left Curtis in a financial predicament. The liquid assets Cameron acquired, he took with him to a new life in Tanglewood, where he created his own kingdom of sorts.
Determined to make the new arrangement work, Curtis turned to the unlikely investor, the Ivanov bratva, the ruling power in Detroit. Recent events have found Curtis again in need of an infusion of cash. The bratva was demanding payment, payment he didn’t have.
I’d suggested contacting another entity, one that could supersede the Ivanov bratva, the Sparrows of Chicago. It made sense that Sterling Sparrow would be interested in a piece of something belonging, at least in part, to the Ivanov bratva.
Curtis wouldn’t hear of it.
Instead, he had a plan, a plan that would bring in revenue without relinquishing more of his enterprise—at least permanently.
That was why we were here, on Malaking Kuta, Booker Knapp’s secluded island, the place where the rich came to get richer, deals were made, fortunes secured, and dreams fulfilled.
As my steps approached the large white mansion, I questioned whether it would be dreams I found or nightmares.
“A reputation for making dreams come true,” Curtis said. “Baby, my company is my dream. Here, we will save it.”
Together we climbed the steps leading up to the mansion.
It isn’t the only building upon the island, but it is the grandest, upon a hill. As the warm breeze blew the skirt of my dress and the wisps of hair around my face, I found myself mesmerized by the beauty. Upon the stately large porch, I took a deep breath as the double doors opened.
Beyond where we stood were voices, deep and husky. The scent of cigar smoke wafted toward us.
“Aww, Mr. Kidwell. It’s always nice to see a familiar face.” The gentleman speaking was younger than I expected, probably not even fifty, with just a touch of gray in his temples, enough that it made him distinguished without saying he’d aged.
And yet he too was sizing me from head to toe until his vile gaze landed upon Curtis.
Again, Curtis’s hand came to my back as he encouraged me forward. “Booker, I appreciate you accepting my offer. May I introduce my fiancée, Briana Pierce. She’s everything I promised.”
“Stunning.” Booker Knapp gestured for us to enter. “Please, we want to learn more about this lovely beauty.”
CHAPTER TWO
Cameron
I’m sitting in the corner of the room, my back to the wall, looking out at the suits and the glitter, a glass of scotch in my hand. Ice clinks against the crystal, slowly melting. I’m not planning on drinking what’s left. It’s for show along with the Bulgari cufflinks and Aubercy shoes. There’s endless entertainment on this island. Gambling and women. Street-illegal cars. I’m here for one purpose—business.
“Ground floor,” the man in front of me says. His name is Don. Dan? I’m not sure. Beads of sweat line his pale brow. “This kind of opportunity, it doesn’t come along every day.”
I have a hundred investment opportunities cross my desk on any given day. I’m not interested in ordinary. You don’t come to Malaking Kuta for ordinary. “What’s your role in the company?”
“Business. I’m the moneyman.” He laughs. “It’s my job to get us funding because this kind of market opening won’t last forever. A small investment, one point five mil, and we’d be global in two months.”
It would take closer to three million dollars and six months, but I don’t bother correcting him. It doesn’t matter. Gabriel Miller taught me everything I know about investing. Follow the dream. Someone in his company might have vision. It’s not Danny here. His dream is to cash out. The payday. He doesn’t care about the technology or about the lives it would impact.
Which means he’s worthless to me.
“Excuse me,” I say, setting down my drink and standing. I ignore his startled words and his promises to call me. I hope he doesn’t have my number.
There are a few people I came to the island to meet. A woman who rarely leaves her mansion in northeast China. A man who travels so much it’s hard to pin him down. A married couple who own an island in the Bay of Bengal. People who can deal with the large volume of cash Miller Industries is ready