and who knows who else? It’s a million miles away, in the middle of nowhere, but it’s going to be so unique. Such a fashion extravaganza. And according to this article, there will be a quote-unquote underworld contingent attending from all across Europe, so I was just hoping somehow you might know some of the people involved.”
When her father hesitated, she assured him quickly, “I know your business is legitimate these days. I’m not implying otherwise. It was a long shot anyway. Forget it. It’s too late, and it doesn’t really matter. Not at all. I’m sorry I asked such an impossible favor. It wasn’t fair of me.”
“It’s not impossible,” Frankie murmured. “Just dangerous, Sasha. These people are ruthless in ways we can’t even imagine. For me to send my own daughter among them? That’s the part that is impossible.”
Sasha laughed. “Aren’t you forgetting something? They taught me all kinds of karate at that fancy school you sent me to. I can take care of myself.”
Big Frankie grinned. “I remember how you’d come home and practice those fancy kicks on Rocco and the other men. We were all so proud of you. Sore, but proud.” He cleared his throat, visibly weighing his next words. “If you were to attend this party, would you be taking a young man along?”
“I wish. Unfortunately, there’s no one in my life at the moment.”
He seemed surprised, then shrugged. “In any other situation, I’d escort you myself, but I’m involved in some court proceedings. Your cousin Mark was scheduled to attend, but he’s in the hospital—”
“Oh no! What’s wrong?”
“Lead poisoning,” her father admitted with a sheepish smile, using the family euphemism for a gunshot wound. “He’ll be fine, but can’t travel for a while.”
Sasha pursed her lips, sobered by her father’s confirmation of Allison’s information. “He was planning to attend? In other words, you’re backsliding? After all your hard work to make the family business legitimate? What went wrong?”
“My domestic business is ninety-five percent legitimate,” he assured her. “A little high-class money laundering from time to time is our only vice here at home. But Asia and Eastern Europe have been a gold mine for us for years, Sasha. We’d never survive if we didn’t dip our buckets in that well from time to time.”
Hoping her disappointment didn’t show on her face, she asked lightly, “Are you dipping your bucket in the Kestonian well?”
Frankie nodded. “I was going to send Rocco in Mark’s place, since he’s my most trusted man. But quite frankly…”
Sasha smiled. “He’s a talented cook and great at scaring guys to death, but seriously, Dad. You can’t expect him to represent you in delicate negotiations.” Lowering her voice, she suggested slyly, “Why not send me? I could advance my own business at the gala, and represent you in your dealings with Mr. Zelasko.”
When Frankie stared at her, she wondered if she had gone too far. Then a grin spread across his face. “It was enough of a miracle that you came home at all. But is it possible you’re considering—”
“No, no, Dad!” She shook her head frantically. “That’s Mark’s destiny, not mine. I’m all about the glitz and glamour, remember?”
When his face fell, she laughed and hugged him. “The good news is , I’ve been running a successful business for almost five years. Half talent, half sales-womanship. Give me a few juicy details that will make you indispensable to Kestonia, and I’ll do the rest.”
“And Rocco will go with you for protection.”
“I hope you’re kidding,” she drawled. “I want to make a splash in the fashion world, not a belly flop. You know how much I love him, but seriously. Rocco as my date? I don’t think so.” She flashed a confident smile. “I’m going alone. Just do what you do best, okay? Tell that Zelasko fellow that you’ll string him up by his balls if anything happens to me in
When her father hesitated, she assured him quickly, “I know your business is legitimate these days. I’m not implying otherwise. It was a long shot anyway. Forget it. It’s too late, and it doesn’t really matter. Not at all. I’m sorry I asked such an impossible favor. It wasn’t fair of me.”
“It’s not impossible,” Frankie murmured. “Just dangerous, Sasha. These people are ruthless in ways we can’t even imagine. For me to send my own daughter among them? That’s the part that is impossible.”
Sasha laughed. “Aren’t you forgetting something? They taught me all kinds of karate at that fancy school you sent me to. I can take care of myself.”
Big Frankie grinned. “I remember how you’d come home and practice those fancy kicks on Rocco and the other men. We were all so proud of you. Sore, but proud.” He cleared his throat, visibly weighing his next words. “If you were to attend this party, would you be taking a young man along?”
“I wish. Unfortunately, there’s no one in my life at the moment.”
He seemed surprised, then shrugged. “In any other situation, I’d escort you myself, but I’m involved in some court proceedings. Your cousin Mark was scheduled to attend, but he’s in the hospital—”
“Oh no! What’s wrong?”
“Lead poisoning,” her father admitted with a sheepish smile, using the family euphemism for a gunshot wound. “He’ll be fine, but can’t travel for a while.”
Sasha pursed her lips, sobered by her father’s confirmation of Allison’s information. “He was planning to attend? In other words, you’re backsliding? After all your hard work to make the family business legitimate? What went wrong?”
“My domestic business is ninety-five percent legitimate,” he assured her. “A little high-class money laundering from time to time is our only vice here at home. But Asia and Eastern Europe have been a gold mine for us for years, Sasha. We’d never survive if we didn’t dip our buckets in that well from time to time.”
Hoping her disappointment didn’t show on her face, she asked lightly, “Are you dipping your bucket in the Kestonian well?”
Frankie nodded. “I was going to send Rocco in Mark’s place, since he’s my most trusted man. But quite frankly…”
Sasha smiled. “He’s a talented cook and great at scaring guys to death, but seriously, Dad. You can’t expect him to represent you in delicate negotiations.” Lowering her voice, she suggested slyly, “Why not send me? I could advance my own business at the gala, and represent you in your dealings with Mr. Zelasko.”
When Frankie stared at her, she wondered if she had gone too far. Then a grin spread across his face. “It was enough of a miracle that you came home at all. But is it possible you’re considering—”
“No, no, Dad!” She shook her head frantically. “That’s Mark’s destiny, not mine. I’m all about the glitz and glamour, remember?”
When his face fell, she laughed and hugged him. “The good news is , I’ve been running a successful business for almost five years. Half talent, half sales-womanship. Give me a few juicy details that will make you indispensable to Kestonia, and I’ll do the rest.”
“And Rocco will go with you for protection.”
“I hope you’re kidding,” she drawled. “I want to make a splash in the fashion world, not a belly flop. You know how much I love him, but seriously. Rocco as my date? I don’t think so.” She flashed a confident smile. “I’m going alone. Just do what you do best, okay? Tell that Zelasko fellow that you’ll string him up by his balls if anything happens to me in
Similar Books
