Page 98 of A Twisted Arrangement

Me: Fine.

I slide my unused laptop into my bag. “I have to take you home.”

Scarlet’s head whips up to mine. “What? I’m about to meet my client.”

She doesn’t flinch while she stares me down. There’s a hint of disappointment behind her eyes that has me caving. I never want her to think I don’t respect her. That doesn’t mean I can leave her unprotected.

“I’m going to kill Damon for this.” I rub my palm over my face. I don’t like the idea of anyone but me staying with her.

“Bring in Oliver,” Scarlet says, like she’s unaware of the wrath that creates within me.

“Hell will freeze over first.”

She stands, walking around her desk, and places her hands on my chest. I suck in a breath of her vanilla scent and let it out slowly.

She gives me a small smile. “You trusted him to be my guard for years. You know he’s capable.”

My teeth squeak with the force in which I grind them together. I thought he was fucking capable all the way up until the point he tried to steal my girl.

“He’s loyal to me, Matthias. That’s what matters.” Scarlet lifts onto her toes and places a kiss on my chin.

I grumble under my breath, but she’s not wrong. The little asshole betrayed me, but he did it for her. I may hate him, but at least I know he’ll put her first. “I’ll kill him if he even thinks about taking you away.”

She smirks, knowing she’s won. “He won’t. It’s not what I want anymore.”

It takes a half hour for Oliver to pull up and another five minutes for him to get out of his car. He’s slow to approach me, muscles coiled to the point his veins are visible in his neck.

“I’m surprised I’m still alive.”

So am I.

He’s lucky I wouldn’t risk my wife being upset over him. “The only reason you’re not on a missing poster is because you were doing itfor her. Any other reason and I’d have spent my time cutting you into little pieces.”

The guard I’d entrusted with Scarlet years ago visibly shudders, but he doesn’t cower when he says, “You may be my boss, but I’ll never be completely loyal to you. If she wants to run again, I’ll help her.”

I smirk, knowing that’s never going to be a problem, then slam my fist into his gut, causing him to double over.

He chokes on air, struggling to breathe as I lean in close and say, “My Little Sparrow knows she’s mine now. She’s not going anywhere. Not without me.”

Chapter 46

Scarlet

Raysfrom the setting sun cast my office in shades of orange and pink. I’ve stayed later than I planned with the excuse of catching up on work, but the truth is I don’t want to go home while Matthias is still busy with the Order of Saints.

“Mrs. Everette, it’s getting late,” Oliver says from where he’s leaning against the far wall. His arms are crossed over his chest, and he’s wearing a familiar blank expression on his face. Ever the professional, he walked in here hours ago, gave me a curt nod, thanked me for saving his life and his job, then got into place. Not that I was expecting much else from him after all of these years. The most I’ve seen him break character is when he’d been pleading with me to get into his car before Matthias’ men caught us. Apparently, even my unshakable guard gets desperate when faced with being murdered by my husband.

“Just a few more minutes.” I shuffle the papers on my desk and check my email for the millionth time. I don’t know where the hesitance to leave is coming from. I’m used to being at home, but there’s something about tonight that’s holding me in place.

My phone vibrates, and I already know who it is.

Matthias: You should be home, wife.

Me: I’m going. I’m going.

Matthias: If you don’t leave right now, I’ll take it out on that guard of yours.

I glance up to Oliver, who’s none the wiser to the fact that his life’s being threatened yet again, and sigh. If it wasn’t for this uneasy feeling hounding me tonight, I’d already be in the bath. I stand and grab my coat from the counter, but the second I lean forward, acid climbs up my throat, causing me to gag. Like a rope tied into a knot, my stomach twists over itself as nausea rolls through me.

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