Page 15 of Out of Control

“A: I’m not lying. I won’t answer a single other question you ask if you call me a liar again. And B: the person didn’t know I was going to be there, so I bought a ticket for a cheap ass flight to get inside the security checkpoint and surprise them. I wanted to pick someone up.”

“What were you speaking to Antonio Conti about?”

“I asked him if he knew where I could find a water fountain because I was thirsty. Absolutely parched.” Hey, that line had worked so well with one idiot, I thought I’d try it a second time. And itwasworking until he got that text.Kill the bitch.Please.

“Who were you meeting?”

I paused. “Pass.”

“You can’t pass.”

“Yes, I can. You asked me to answer at least half of your questions, and that one I’m passing on. Next.”

He grunted in frustration, but moved on. “Where did you learn hand-to-hand like that? You were pretty impressive, taking Antonio Conti and those TSA officers down without breaking a sweat.”

“Krav Maga, baby,” I said, throwing thatbabyback at him. His eyes darkened. “I’ve been taking self-defense classes for about five years so I’m more than just ‘pretty impressive.’ If I wasn’t dizzy from that little scrape Antonio gave me I could have taken you down as well.”

“Little scrape. When are you going to admit that I saved your life?” He held up his own hand in response, a small bandage still taped across the back of it.

“Pass,” I smirked. “Next question.”

“Your driver’s license is from Washington state. When did you arrive in California?”

“A couple weeks ago. And before you ask, I came to put my mother’s affairs in order. She passed recently.”

“I’m sorry for your loss.” He looked genuinely sincere, if only for a moment. “Losing a loved one is never easy.”

“Thanks.”

We paused our little interrogation when Mary came back with a couple mugs and a carafe, pouring us both steaming mugs of coffee. I nodded at her in acknowledgement, and Blake smiled his thanks, nearly blowing me away. Damn if he wasn’t attractive when he smiled. Good thing he didn’t do it that often with me.

“How long are you in town?”

“I don’t know. Until I finish sorting everything out and get to the bottom of it all.” That part was a half-lie; I’d already gotten to the bottom of it all, and my mother would still be alive if it wasn’t for Carlo Morelli. I just needed to figure out how to prove it in a court of law.

“What do you do for a living in Washington?”

“Why do you care? What does my job have to do with your case?”

He cleared his throat. “You’re right. It doesn’t have anything to do with it. I just wanted to get away from the topic of your dead relative.”

“Oh.”

“But in all seriousness, Athena, how do you know the Morellis didn’t call for your hit? How do you know Leo Lombardi isn’t still gunning for you?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know, but it’s highly unlikely. It sounds to me like they all have bigger fish to fry than someone like me. I think it was just a crime of opportunity. Besides. I can take care of myself.”

“I’d feel a lot better if you would let me assign you a security detail for the time being.” He paused and flashed Mary another award-winning smile when she returned with our plates of food. “Thank you. This looks delicious!”

Mary stuttered out her thanks, cheeks red and brain turned to mush as she fluttered back to her husband in the kitchen.

I shook my head in amusement. “You should be more careful. Keep that smile holstered because it can be used as a lethal weapon if you aimed it right.”

“Oh yeah?” He turned that smirk to me, but I was prepared for it and didn’t blink. “If that were the case you’d be putty in my hands and would do every little thing I told you to.”

He raised an eyebrow as he took a sip of his coffee. Was he trying to out-sass me? He was working against a pro and just didn’t know it.

“That won’t work on me right now. I only obey a man’s commands in the bedroom.” He choked on his swallow. “Out in the real world I take charge of the room.”

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