Page 94 of Hate Me

“Outside of plotting the destruction of Bane Industries anyway.”

“I’m looking forward to officially being in business with you, Caspian.”

“As am I.”

“Enjoy the rest of your Sunday. I hope you take some time to unwind. Remember our conversation concerning burnout.”

“Taken under advisement, just like your concerns about me venturing into the field too often.”

“I’m glad to hear it. A presto!”

“I look forward to it.”

They ended the call and I peered around to see Caspian placing his phone down on his dresser and smiling to himself happily.

Hmm.

He was freshly showered, his long hair still damp and just one of his luxurious black towels slung low on his hips. Jesus, so much teasing to my cock in the last few minutes, first from Skylar, now this.

I went to knock as though I’d just arrived, but he startled the shit out of me as he suddenly spun around and looked right at me. “Gathering intel all over the place lately, aren’t you?”

“All over?” I asked innocently, sauntering into his bedroom and throwing myself on his massive bed, propping my head up with my elbow. “That was kind of pointed.”

“It was meant to be,” he said, walking to me, his hot-as-sin ripped chest rippling with his every move as he took a seat on the bed.

“I’ve never known you to talk to business associates in just a towel before. Even over the phone.” His suits were like his armor when it came to operating King.

“You know I got a late start today, hence me coming down to breakfast in my pajamas, rather than being fully dressed as usual.”

“And I see now that this way out-of-character day of leisure you’re embracing was the brainchild of Mancini’s.”

“It was my decision.”

“Yet, he influenced you. And somehow you actually allowed it. Actually, not even just allowed it, but appreciated it.”

He gave me a withering look. “Is there a point buried in there somewhere?”

“Just wondering why you’re letting him so close. It’s not like you. You’re usually way more cautious than this, but it’s looking like he’s right on the edge of becoming inner circle caliber.”

“He’s an ally and a friend. It was gradual. If you’d been here, you would’ve seen that for yourself and you wouldn’t be this antsy about it.”

“But I wasn’t, and that’s why the two of you became so close.”

“I didn’t say that as a dig. I’m just explaining and trying to reassure you. He’s not a threat, Caleb.”

“If you say so.”

I was gonna look into that bastard as soon as we were done here.

Just to be sure, of course.

I couldn’t explain it and it was clearly seeming to Cas that I was just jealous that he’d formed a close friendship with somebody else—an outsider—but there was just something off about it. Mancini had some sort of weird hold over him.

And that didn’t happen to Cas.

Ever.

“Back to my intel-gathering comment. Do you want to offer it up, or do you wish to continue playing this game?”

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