Page 86 of Knights Game

He shifts, and something flashes in his eyes, he glances to the left before turning his attention back to me. I’m getting better at reading people, and he has just said something he shouldn’t have.

“Yes. Government.” He says the second word a bit quieter. “We went way back. Your mother and I met when we wereworking in the Foreign Office together. Then your father, well, he met your mother during one of their placements. When they found out they were pregnant with you, they ended up back on home soil in the Home Office.”

I rack my brains for any recollection of them ever saying they worked in government. “So, they were civil servants.”

“Yes, exactly that.” He says it too quickly, too loudly.

“Oh, well. It’s lovely to meet you. Thank you for saying hello.” I try to excuse myself, because there’s something clawing at the recesses of my brain. Something that my subconscious is trying to grip hold of, but I can’t reach the memory, it’s niggling at me, but after the car crash, I stopped thinking about my life with my parents.

I have no recollection of them ever telling me a story of how they met though, but they must have. I must have asked.

“If you ever need anything, please call me.” He reaches into his pocket and hands me a card, which I look at quickly before placing it in my clutch bag.

Terry Peyton, Deputy General, Home Office.

“Thank you. Take care, Terry.” I smile politely and walk away.

Terry, Terry, Terry. Terry Peyton. Home Office, Foreign Office.

Nope, nothing.

29

Luca

I’ve been wanting toexplore this side of her since she froze and watched Asher in my club. She trusts me with her body, whether she wants to admit that to herself or not.

She leans back in the seat and looks out the window as the lights of London illuminate her features. She’s been quiet and contemplative the whole drive. Not knowing where we are going, but happy to let me lead her.

I’d have loved nothing more than to take her home, bend her over and fuck her raw. But the tension, the silence, the air cracking between us, even if she is quiet. I want the build-up; I want to see how far she goes tonight.

“We’re here.”

“Aren’t we a tad overdressed?”

I pull off my bow tie and remove my jacket, undoing the top few buttons. “At any point you want to leave, we go. Come.”

We get out of the car and walk up to the black unambiguous door of a traditional-looking office building. I type in a code, and the door buzzes open onto a staircase lined in a plush deep redsatin material. We head down the stairs, and she runs her hands along the soft material as we go.

Opening the door at the bottom, we walk into a dimly lit open bar area, the tables half full.

“It just looks like a normal bar,” she says, standing at the threshold looking around.

“What were you expecting?”

“With you, I figured it could be possible to walk straight into debauchery.” She smiles.

“Let’s get a drink, sunshine.” I lead her over to a dark table in the corner, my table. She slides in, and one of the hostesses comes over. Her short black dress barely covering her arse.

“Luca, welcome back.” She kisses both of my cheeks and I return the greeting.

“Lovely to see you again, Sasha. Can I get a bottle of champagne, and can you make a room available?”

She looks over my shoulder to Layla and smiles politely. “Of course. We have a couple act in Room 4 and Gloria Days is in Room 1, in case you want to visit.”

“Not tonight, thank you.”

“I’ll be right back with your drinks.” She excuses herself and I scoot into the booth next to Layla who is tapping her lips in thought.

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