Page 57 of Psyop Kings

Hope flickers in my chest. “Guests?”

“Investors dinner. Around fifty or so people will be there.” His eyes bore into mine. “Behave.”

I curl up my lip in disgust. Ignoring him, I start for the door past the mudroom. Before I reach it, a strong hand encircles my bicep, squeezing enough to stop me. It takes everything in me not to jerk my arm from his grip.

Letting my anger boil over isn’t going to move me ahead in this game.

Cool head.

Stay calm.

“Put this on,” Caius orders, handing me a long, black coat. “You only need it for the short walk to the car, but it’s below freezing out tonight.”

Even though I don’t want to, I accept the coat and allow him to help me put it on. The expensive cologne scent is familiar. Same one that was in his office, in his closet, in his bed.

Caius, Caius, Caius.

He’s everywhere, invading me inside and out.

“Won’t you be cold?” I ask, hoping very much that he will.

“Car is still on and the heater is blaring. I’ll be fine.”

As soon as I step outside, I’m grateful for the coat. Wind whistles under the carport, sending flakes of snow fluttering around us. Caius trots ahead and opens the passenger side door. I ponder how to get into the vehicle in these inappropriate heels a little too long because before I can stop him, his hands are on my waist, hoisting me up.

I quickly hop into the seat, eager to get his hands off me. He shuts the door and soon joins me. As much as I dread going back to the lunatic lodge, I have a feeling I’m about to gather some major intel to help me in my effort to find Megan. This is a necessary evil.

Caius is annoyingly quiet on our drive. My mind is racing with a million thoughts and questions, but I refuse to break thesilence. We can pretend all he wants, but I’m still his prisoner, not his girlfriend.

Again, I’m getting swept up in my anger at the situation. I take a few calming breaths before assessing my nemesis to try to get a read on him.

He’s tense.

Typically, he’s a granite statue.

Tonight, he’s on edge. I can see it in the way his knuckles turn white as he grips the steering wheel and how his teeth softly grind together.

Is it because of me?

Or is he nervous about the dinner tonight?

I try to imagine what puts a man like Caius Crowne on edge.

Only one thing comes to mind. Getting caught. That could mean one of the guests is a potential enemy of the Crowne family. Maybe it’s a military man or someone from the government. The idea that there’s someone Caius is unnerved to see elates me.

I’ll figure it out.

Cataloguing people, things, patterns, names—it’s naturally ingrained in me. I like it. It keeps my mind sharp and focused. Tonight, I’ll be on high alert.

Since it’s dark and only the headlights illuminate our path, I’m unable to see anything of interest. We soon drive into the bay that takes us to the massive garage. Once Caius parks in the place from last time, I wait for him to help me out of the vehicle.

“You won’t need this inside,” Caius says as he tugs off the coat I’m wearing. “It’s warm inside and there’s alcohol.”

I shiver in the cool garage now that my coat is gone. Thankfully, he’s in a hurry to get inside. I’m nearly having to run to keep up with his long strides.

The hallway inside is just as I remember—drab and boring. I follow Caius to the elevator.

“Since it’s an intimate affair,” Caius says when we’re inside, “it’ll be in Dad’s penthouse.”

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