Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 114260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Fuck. I don’t.
What do I wear tonight?!
I smile and tap out a response.
Something gorgeous that doesn’t let anyone see what’s mine that’s also versatile enough for you to run in if you need to.
Ah….
I put my phone down to see Joe looking at me with a knowing twinkle in his eyes. “Violet?”
I don’t bother to respond but just grunt at him. “What do you need? And how did you know that was Violet?”
He leans back and laces his fingers behind his head, untroubled by my irritated tone. “You don’t get a look like that on your face unless you’re talking to her.”
Whatever. So they’ve never seen me in love before.
“You come here to give me shit about being a human fucking male with a pair, or you got shit to say?”
At that, he sobers, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “We’ve got trouble. Armand’s talking shit.”
I blow out a breath. “I fucking knew it.”
Armand has an ax to grind, and dealing with him won’t be easy. I let him go for fucking up. He had clear instructions but decided to go about them by orchestrating a car accident with Violet. He could’ve fucking killed her. And I won’t allow anyone on my team to do something so stupid.
Should’ve let him go years ago. Only reason I kept him around so long was because he saved my ass overseas, but I won’t let the asshole put Violet in danger.
Problem is, Armand knows shit I’d like to keep between us, most notably when it concerns Violet.
“Have you told her yet?”
I clench my jaw and look away, confirmation enough for him that I haven’t. I know exactly what he wants me to tell her. That I knew her long before she ever came here. That I looked into her background, had her fully searched, damn near stalked her before she ever knew I existed.
That I had her play directly into my hands so I’d have her all to myself.
“I need time,” I tell him. “I want her to trust me fully, and I want to tell her on my terms.”
He gives me a reluctant nod. We both know I don’t have time.
“If I tell her now, she’ll run. And I can’t have that, Joe.” I fucking hate that anyone else but Joe knows how this happened, that Armand’s got this evidence against me to blackmail me with, affecting the woman I’d give my life for.
But I hate that there’s something like a lie between us. I never lied to her, no. I couldn’t do that. But I haven’t told her the truth, which is as good as a lie.
He swallows.
“I’ll take care of it.” I will. “Tell me the details about tonight.”
I rarely take on security detail cases but thought it would be a prime opportunity to continue Violet’s training. She’s learned a lot since she first came here and has quickly become the most accurate shooter in our company. That said, what she doesn’t know about the jobs we do could fill a small volume, and she still has a lot to learn. Plus, tonight will give us a chance to be close to each other and pad our wallets.
He doesn’t respond at first, only straightens his shoulders before giving me a nod.
“Mandy Fontaina’s family residence, located in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Two hundred expected guests. Security detail’s expected to cover both home and private beach. Our team’s already obtained full background checks on the entirety of the guest list, and are on call to safeguard the premises and assets.” He leans forward. “Rumor has it Mandy’s mom recently obtained half a dozen rare pieces of art she intends to reveal at tonight’s little gala, to the tune of a cool six mil.” He leans back and shakes his head. “And either she’s paranoid or has a real concern about safety, because she wants everything from the beach to the last goddamn bathroom secured.”
Huh. Interesting. The teen idol turns twenty-one years old today, and her parents are known for showing off.
“Francine Fontaina wants her home swept for bugs before we go, too.”
“Woman hiding something?”
Leaning back, he shrugs his shoulders. “It’s a distinct possibility, boss, but I’m just relaying the information to you.”
“Got it. They’re paying high. You’ll each get a bonus for this.”
He grins. “Works for me.”
My phone buzzes again, this time with Violet standing in front of her full-length mirror wearing nothing but a thong and a bra.
This work? I can move pretty freely dressed like this.
I’ll be right there.
An hour later, she’s dressed in a slinky navy gown, with a slit to high heaven that allows her to run if need be but paired with knee-high boots to hide her weapons.
I stand behind her in the full-length mirror and rest my hands on her hips, ignoring the way my cock strains the closer I get to her. I pull her closer to me, and when her ass presses up against me, she grins.