Page 43 of After the Fall

I chuckled. Valentina liked luxury and the last time I’d been with her, I’d driven her around in my vintage Bronco. She’d been mortified, and I’d loved every minute of it.

I’d warned Tank to be careful with the woman. She was freakishly gorgeous, and if you asked me, she knew it and used it to her advantage. Tank had already succumbed to her charms, and I’d caught them fucking in the pantry one night. Tank was loyal to me, but Valentina’s pussy was powerful. I hoped that Tank would be able to resist its pull this time.

With word that Valentina was en route, Harper’s shoulders slumped forward ever so slightly. I hadn’t been completely truthful when I’d told Harper that I’d never made love to Valentina. Well, the not making love part had been true. There had been no love involved. It had just seemed easier to omitsome details. I hadn’t exactly lied, but I hadn’t exactly told the truth either. Is it so bad if you leave out a tiny detail that will only cause problems and hurt the one that you love?

The last thing I wanted was for Harper to be jealous of Valentina. There was no reason for it. In my eyes, Harper was the most beautiful woman in the world, and I knew with one hundred percent certainty that I would never again look at another woman with lust. Ever. Harper was it for me.

“Is the coach house made up for the South Americans?” I asked.

Gloria nodded. “As you requested, Sir.”

“Perfect.” I took the mug of coffee from Gloria and inhaled its earthy smell. With one sip, my body felt stronger, my senses more attuned. It was the perfect amount of moss. Enough to be able to deal with shit, but not too much to put me over the edge.

I rested my hand on Harper’s shoulder. “I don’t want you to leave the house today, but if you have to, Fiona will go with you. Right, Fi?”

Fiona smiled. “Of course. Harper and I had a great time yesterday. That dress she picked out is going to be perfect for the gala.”

Harper’s cheeks turned pink. “Thanks, Fiona.”

“What’s this about a gala?” A voice dripping with a thick accent spoke from the hallway.

We all turned to face Valentina, who was flanked by two of her South American crew, with Tank and Atticus surrounding them.

“We’ll discuss it after breakfast,” I said. Harper stiffened under my hand.

Valentina strode into the kitchen, her long camel-colored coat billowing out behind her. She was wearing an emerald silk scarf and high heels. “Nice to see you, Mr. Westwood.” She held out a gloved hand and I shook it.

“Thank you for coming back to help us out.”

One of her crew stepped to her side. “It seems like there’s always drama up here,” he muttered.

“Fiona. Nice to see you.” Valentina pulled off her glove and shook Fiona’s hand. “I’ll have an espresso,” she barked at Gloria.

“Make it two,” the man beside her grumbled.

“Three.” A third man who I recognized, but hadn’t seen for years, chimed in.

Valentina sat on the stool directly next to Harper but didn’t acknowledge her.

“Valentina, you remember Harper.” My tone was icy. Valentina and I were equals in the organization, but the North American crew was about three times larger than hers, so technically I was her superior.

“How could I forget?” Valentina smirked and held out her hand limply, as though she were a queen and Harper a subject.

Harper narrowed her eyes at Valentina and didn’t bite – or rather, didn’t kiss her hand. “I’ve lost my appetite.” She stood, kissed me on the cheek, and dragged her hand over my ass as she left the kitchen.

“You’ve got a real possessive one there, Westwood.” Valentina’s lipstick left marks on the tiny espresso cup. In her long fingers, it looked more like a cup from a child’s tea set. “I don’t want to be shacked up in that bunkhouse of yours for too long, so let’s figure out how we’re going to deal with this company and whatever disgusting experiments they’re doing in Stirling County. I want to get back to the southern hemisphere and out of this miserable weather.”

Atticus crossed his arms and stood next to me. I wanted to make sure that Harper was alright, but as sensitive as she was, she was also strong. And I needed to make a plan so that we could get back to our so-called regular life.

Fiona refilled her mug, and Gloria set a tray of sandwiches on the island.

“Have you got any sourdough bread?” One of Valentina’s guys wrinkled his nose at the BLT sandwiches on whole wheat bread.

Atticus shoved the tray toward the man. “This isn’t a restaurant.”

After taking a sip of her coffee, Fiona laid out the plan for attending the Carder gala. “Wyatt will be on the guest list, so it won’t seem out of place for him to be there.”

“With a couple of new bodyguards, of course.” Valentina spread her arms to indicate she was referring to her men. “It’s a good thing I brought a gown.” Valentina held her gaze to mine.

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