Kissing the Enemy

Over the next two weeks, Leon and I had a perfectly legitimate reason to see each other at the pier every day.In public, we fought over offices, argued over shipment manifests, and threw cups at each other.In private, we made out like crazy in a storage closet hidden from the security cameras.The investigation was making progress too.The suspicious old arms shipment had traveled by sea.The ship that carried it belonged to a family called Garcia.But the good times didn't last.During the joint management period, something went wrong.A fresh shipment of arms vanished into thin air the night the two families were supposed to hand it off.My father smashed his coffee cup to pieces."It's that old fox Romanov! He stole it and then cried thief!"He jabbed a finger in my face."Get over there! Bring Leon back and beat the location of those weapons out of him!"On the other end, Leon had received the same ironclad order.We exchanged a coded challenge over the phone."Abandoned warehous

The cold war began.For three days straight, neither of us said a word to the other.On the fourth day, my father summoned me to the living room."Sylvia, you're not getting any younger. It's time to think about settling down."He handed me a photograph."This is Matteo Bellini, the son of a casino mogul. You're having dinner with him tonight at the Peninsula Hotel."I was about to say no, but then Leon's stupid, punchable face flashed through my mind.I clenched my jaw."Fine. I'll go."I'd show that jerk that Sylvia Cosimo didn't need him.The Peninsula Hotel. Rooftop restaurant.I walked into the restaurant in a red backless evening gown, my arm linked with Matteo's.Matteo was a polished, charming type, attentive to my every need.We had just reached the door of our reserved private room.I stopped dead.The door to the next room had opened at the same moment.Leon stood there in a white suit, a blue-eyed blonde on his arm.Elena Moretti, the daughter of an underground banker.Our

Once they learned how long we'd been together, both fathers skipped right past the question of whether they approved."Don Cosimo, your daughter is something else. She's got my son wrapped around her finger!" Dmitri pointed a finger at me.My father smacked his hand away. "Don't flatter your boy. Leon's the one who stuck to my daughter like a leech! She's the one who got the raw end of this deal!""Raw end? My son is the sole heir to the Romanov family. He could have any woman he wanted. Your daughter should consider herself lucky he even noticed her!""In his dreams! The men lining up for my daughter would stretch from the East Coast to the West Coast! Your son doesn't even rank!"The two Dons stood right there in front of everyone, going at each other like a pair of barroom brawlers.The mole thrashed in the corner, desperately trying to get their attention.Leon walked over and took my hand like it was the most natural thing in the world."What now?" he asked quietly."Business firs

"My daughter is the pride of the Cosimo family. She's not giving up her name! Leon can become a Cosimo!" My father pounded the table so hard the coffee cups rattled.Dmitri didn't budge an inch. "In your dreams! My son is the sole heir of the Romanov family. Sylvia will become a Romanov!""Leon takes the Cosimo name! We can take care of him!""Sylvia takes the Romanov name! She'll want for nothing!"The two Dons were screaming at each other in the Cosimo living room, spit flying.When neither could win the surname argument, they moved on to the wedding venue."The wedding has to be at the Cosimo estate! I want the whole world to see my daughter's big day!""Absolutely not! It has to be at the Romanov five-star hotel! The Romanov reputation is on the line!"After the venue, they fought over the unborn children."The first child takes the Cosimo name! They inherit the Cosimo legacy!""Why should they? The first child takes the Romanov name! They inherit the Romanov legacy!"Even the orde