Page 55 of Brutal Ice

“And not like the room is going to be located in Punishment, though, I do get the name. On the nose, isn’t it? You like to punish those who deserve it. You had files there, the ones I saw. The ones that gave me new nightmares. But there’s more. There has to be.” Her gaze darted around. “So, are you going to Scooby Doo it and show me some secret room?”

“Scooby Doo it?”

“Most people really liked Fred. Personally, I always thought he could use a bit more of a dark side.”

He could only shake his head. “I take it you’re Daphne in this version of the show?”

“No, I really liked Velma. The quiet brains behind the operation.” Her lips pressed together. “I always wished I could be as smart as she was. And even when Velma got rattled, she still solved the case.” A pause. “I also wanted a dog just like Scooby. Never got one.” She squared her shoulders. “Are you going to show me?”

“My secret lair?”

“So you do have one.”

Didn’t every good villain have a secret lair? “You could go upstairs. Get some rest.”

“It’s the middle of the day.”

Nah. “Closer to evening.”

A ghost of a smile teased her lips. “I’m betting it’s downstairs. Does it connect to your wine cellar? Because suddenly, I find that I’m incredibly thirsty.”

“Then how about a drink?” He turned on his heel and headed for the black door on the right. He swung open the door. A spiral, black metal staircase stretched down below. Without hesitating—because he knew Violet would follow—Royal descended the stairs. When he reached the landing, he immediately turned to the left. He opened the door that waited. Entered the temperature and humidity-controlled wine cellar. The lights turned on automatically. Two hundred and four bottles of wine were stocked in the cellar. All individually selected. The wooden shelves gleamed.

He heard her footsteps behind him. “What’s your poison?” Royal asked her.

“Something sweet.”

Yeah, I could go for something sweet right now. You.

Without another word, he made the selection. In moments, he’d poured the wine into two glasses and was offering her the dark red drink.

She took the glass from him. Their fingers brushed.

He lifted his wine glass. “To new partnerships.”

She lifted hers. “To stopping killers.”

Their glasses clinked. “I do like the way you think,” he said. Then, watching her, he took a sip of his wine.

Violet gulped hers. Truly, she drained the glass in about three swallows.

Soft laughter escaped him. “You always drink your wine that fast?”

“False courage. I could use some.” She put her glass down. “Show me?”

Very well. He set down his glass, too. Then… “Your Scooby Doo loving heart will adore this.” He pushed down on one of the champagne bottles nestled on a tall shelf to the right.

Another door opened.

“I adore it,” Violet breathed.

He took her hand and led her inside.

“How much longer are the cops going to be here?” Simone demanded. She sat at her dressing room table, but her back was to the big, lighted mirror. Her entire focus was on the man who’d just entered her room.

The bastard. The all-around asshole.

The handsome sonofabitch who was way too good in bed.

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