Page 64 of Taming Achilles

But he barely looked at me. He looked at my companions. First to Brett, which made him look amused. Then to Ajax, which made his cheeks red with fury.

Alastair was at the far left, coming around to a seat on one of the long sides of the table. He looked at Brett and smirked, and I saw my friend's fist clench. Don’t beat your son-in-law, Brett. Your daughter will get miffed about it.

Then came Hugo, the Frenchman. Burly and broad, built like an Alp, with biceps so large he could crush walnuts in the hollow of his elbows. Despite his amazing appearance, his eyes always held that intense boredom, like he was simply getting through his day.

Seated across from us, Callum narrowed his eyes and opened his mouth to speak, but I preempted it. Because I was in charge here, and it was time they knew it.

With a casual push, the folder in my hand spun across the table, landing right in front of Callum’s facedown palm.

“This dossier outlines Jason Rhodes,” I said, coming to my feet and grabbing the remaining three folders and walking around the table. “You’ll recall him from Turkey, where he said he was Alexander Baas’ bodyguard and head of security.” I grabbed another folder and slid it across the table, that time to Hugo who stopped before it slid off the surface. He opened it to look at the first page. “You’ll recall you shot him at the same time Alex’s throat was sliced. He was presumed dead, but the extraction team lost him. He walked away from them, which obviously implies he’s alive.”

I threw a folder, and it sailed through the air. Alastair caught it, then put it down, not looking. Keeping his amused eyes on Brett, his lips pursed in a teasing grin.

“He’s the top priority for both the CIA and MI6, as he’s now believed to be the ringleader of a global conspiracy attempting to take over Kemet to control the oil reserves.” By the time I was done speaking, I was close enough to simply hand Geordie his folder. I offered it to him, and he looked up at me, not making a move to take it. When he finally reached, he did it with such a slow intensity that I was almost thrown off my game. Almost. “And it’s now believed that he was in my apartment.”

I kept on walking, my heels loudly cracking on the ground.

“That he attempted to shoot George Campbell.” Yes, I was using his full name and talking about him as if he wasn’t here. As if his eyes weren’t boring into the back of my head. “And is likely trying to get my attention.”

“And why the fixation on you, Pippa?” Callum asked, leaning back, his eyes all business.

I rounded the table so that I passed behind Ajax. I lay a hand on his shoulder and gave it a friendly squeeze. Geordie tensed. A small, infinitesimal move that I found gratifying.

“We’re unsure of that—”

“Because he’s probably in love with her.” Brett interrupted. “Our sources indicate that he’s been asking about her. Her attempts to extract information and build rapport were too effective, and now he’s become obsessed.” He leaned back, breaking eye contact with Alastair enough to look at Geordie. “I’m sure we all know how alluring she can be.”

“What makes you think he was the man in your apartment?” Callum asked, opening the folder and perusing its contents.

“The phrase ‘between us’ was something Rhodes would continuously say to me. Keep things between us, no need to put Alex between us, no secrets between us …” I took my seat again, taking the time to cross my legs at the knees. I looked at each of the Caledonia men. “The recurring phrase has been left in my apartment, and the attempted shooting at the Ray Ricoda fashion show.”

“How long have you been MI6?” Geordie’s voice had all the sound of casualness, but his eyes contradicted it.

“Irrelevant to the mission,” I said, keeping my eyes from Geordie because it physically hurt to see him. To feel him so close. To smell him.

“I think it’s worth an answer,” Callum said, giving Geordie a glance. The two nodded at each other, having some sort of silent conversation. Brothers-in-arms. So unbreakable, those two. “For the sake of trust, if we’re to work together.”

I smirked. Well, this was a line of conversation I was more than prepared to answer.

“How quaint! But wrong.” I leaned back in my seat. “We are not working together. We are hiring you. So you’ll work for us.”

“Pippa, that’s hardly …” Callum was annoyed, but I didn’t care.

“I wasn’t finished.” I raised my hand in a stopping motion. “Let’s not muddy the water with unimportant interpersonal things.” I gave Geordie a look. One that shared a secret. And not a good one. “Let’s keep everything straightforward. We’re doing an exchange of money for your services.”

Geordie’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward onto one elbow.

“I thought you were insolvent, Pip,” he challenged. “Cut off from your family.”

I mimicked his posture, narrowing my eyes just the same. “I’m not without allies.”

“And we don’t coerce women in distress to …” I kicked Brett before he could finish that sentence. He wanted any excuse to rip Geordie apart. It hurt the feminist bone he claimed not to have. Though, since he became a father to a twenty-two-year-old young woman, his mentor’s daughter, he had become very paternal.

“What’s the nature of this alliance?” Geordie pried, challenging me for an answer.

“Again, you’re mixing irrelevant things with business, Geordie.” I looked at Callum. “Get your man in check.”

If Geordie could have slapped my face, he would have. If there was anything he hated, it was being cast aside. That was why I had gotten engaged to Callum in the first place. There were a number of single noblemen to “set my cap for”, but I knew Callum would wound him. For five years, it had worked. He had stayed far, far away. He had hated me. But could I keep attracting his ire when all I wanted to do was to fall into his arms?

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