Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80503 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 268(@300wpm)
“You two are doing something,” Benedict says finally, hands tightening into fists as he speaks. “I don’t know what, but this isn’t about some kink.” He says it with a sneer. “If you want to leave this office alive, you’ll submit to a search.”
My heart’s clattering. I knew this would happen. The bag with the hard drives is outside on the rocks, and if Gavino hadn’t been clever enough to toss them out then Benedict would find them, no doubt about it. Gavino steps forward before I can speak, and I get the sense he’s not about to acquiesce easily.
“How about you turn around and walk away before I rip your tongue back through your spine,” he says with a soft snarl.
Benedict sighs and snaps his fingers. Three big goons enter the room, all of them armed. Suddenly, the situation tilts heavily in Benedict’s favor.
“Search them,” he says.
The goons advance. Gavino doesn’t move, standing there stiffly as they pat him down. I can tell it kills him to give in and let them touch him, but we don’t have much of a choice. Fighting now would be useless and stupid. When they’re done, they move to me, and Gavino’s growl makes the guy that’s about to touch my back hesitate.
“If you cross the line, I’ll find you, and I’ll kill you myself,” he says quietly.
The goon clears his throat and pats me down thoroughly but efficiently, like we’re in a TSA line at the airport, studiously ignoring my body.
“Nothing,” the goon says as he backs off, eye cast downwards. “They’re both clean.”
When it’s done, Benedict looks extremely disappointed. “Go now,” he snaps. “I’ll report this to Malcolm.”
“Please do. Tell him I apologize for the mess on his desk, but we got bored. And tell him I said goodbye but couldn’t wait around much longer. Jeanie and I have some business to finish.” Gavino smirks as he takes my hand and leads me into the hallway.
As I pass Benedict, his eyes narrow, and I know what he’s thinking: time’s running out.
We hurry away. I don’t know if Benedict is going to check that server closet and I don’t want to be here if he does. Gavino takes me down the steps, around the side, and through the kitchen. The cooks and staff give us strange looks, but I get the feeling we’re not the first guests to slip out the back. Once we’re out a side door and standing in the cool evening air, it takes me a minute to locate the bag.
“Are they intact?” he asks as I gather the fallen drives.
I shake my head. “They’re beat up, but I think they’ll work.” I sling the bag over my shoulder again and zip it shut. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”
He leads me around the side and up from the shadows. The valet guys are smoking and talking and nearly jump out of their skin when we approach. The younger of the two hurries to get the truck, and once we’re finally driving back to Villa Bruno, I feel safe enough to lean back and let out a long, pent-up breath, followed by a crazed, giddy laugh.
“It worked,” I say, shaking my head wildly. “It seriously worked.”
“I’ll get those drives to my tech guys tonight. While they analyze the contents, you and I have some celebrating to do.”
I shiver with excitement and put my hand on his thigh. “Gladly.”
Chapter 26
Gavino
That night, after we get home from Malcolm’s, I finish what I started with her in the office.
I kiss her, not bothering to say anything, fuck her against the wall with the dress on and come between her legs before finally stripping it off and dragging her into the bedroom where I proceed to drive her crazy and use her body for my own pleasure for the rest of the night. She falls asleep in my arms, covered in sweat and grinning stupidly, so pleased she can’t stay awake. I slip out of bed briefly in order to give the hard drives to a loyal staff member. “Make sure Romano gets these and wakes up the tech guys. Have them work through the night and tell them I’m paying double.”
With that done, I return to a slumbering Jeanie, and curl up next to her beautiful, warm body.
I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed and fulfilled. We’re playing a dangerous game with a deadly man and yet all I can think about is touching her skin, kissing her neck, making her gasp my name. I lay there half awake and thinking about her, smelling her, breathing her in and wondering—how did I get here? How did she slip through the cracks of my armor?
I’m happy she did. God, I’m so happy.
My dreams are fitful and mixed. In the morning, I’m up early and I let her sleep in. I shave and dress and head downstairs.