Page 136 of Bitter Secrets

“Everything.”

She tensed as he closed the distance between them. He didn’t stop until he loomed over her.

“I was in a meeting, listening to proposals in Berlin, but all I could think about was the fact that my wife hadn’t called me in three days.”

“When have I ever called you?”

He ignored that as he ran his knuckles down the line of her throat. “I found myself wondering what was so special about Lisbon that you would beg to stay.” He gripped the base of her throat lightly. “And I track you here and find you with your arms around a man.”

“Afriend.”

A muscle ticked near his mouth. “You make friends too easily.”

“And you make too few,” she retorted. “You could have hurt him!”

“I didn’t.”

“Because he dodged that punch, and we got in your way! What were you thinking, attacking him like that?”

“He was touching you.”

“And it didn’t cross your mind that it was innocent? You think I’m stupid enough to hook up in front of Mo and Johan—?”

He gripped her cheeks to stop her from finishing her sentence.

“If they allowed such a thing on their watch, their lives would be forfeited.”

She couldn’t see his eyes, but she didn’t need to. The aggression he’d neatly stuffed away began to permeate the air, making her eyes water.

“It seems I need to be more specific in my orders when it comes to you.” He crowded her, pressing his hard body along the soft curves of hers. “I don’t want any man touching you. I don’t care if he’s gay, related, married, old. No one’s allowed to touch you, and I don’t want you touching anyone, either.”

She yanked on his hand so she could say, “You can’t make conditions like that!”

“I just did.”

“Hey!”

Johnny interrupted their argument with a guileless smile.

“Are we still going to Sintra or have your plans changed?” he asked.

“No, we’re still going.” She stepped back from Roth to cool off. “He’s leaving.”

“He is?” Johnny eyed Roth. “We have room for one more in our car.”

“He’s busy,” she blurted at the same time that Roth said, “Okay.”

“Excellent.” Johnny ignored Jasmine’s angry hiss. “Have you ever been out of Lisbon?” When Roth shook his head, Johnny winked. “You’re in for a treat. I’ll give your security directions, and we can hit the road.”

As Johnny jogged over to Mo and Johan, she bristled.

“You’re not coming with us,” she said through clenched teeth.

“I got an invitation.”

“I’m rescinding it.”

“Not your call.”

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