Page 70 of The Lieutenant

“My question for you,” he stated before pulling his hand away. “Why take photographs of the people inside my club?”

“I was taking pictures of the club itself.”

“Not what I heard.”

So the little rat had told on me. I’d caught the bartender’s eye at one point and it wasn’t three minutes later before the brutal bouncer had me in his grip. The evidence was on my phone.

I’d be damned if the man didn’t take my purse from the table where I’d slung it after walking in, reaching inside and extracting my phone. As the screen flashed alive, he smiled from seeing the screenshot of a pink flamingo as a screen saver.

“What? You’ve going to make fun of that too?” I asked in a demanding tone.

“You’re a very layered person, Kara. I adore that about you and plan on exposing every layer. Now, what is your passcode?”

Refusing to tell him wasn’t going to win me any points. “Six. Nine. Four. Three. Six. Six. Six.”

He lifted a single eyebrow as if the last 6-6-6 was as comical as me trying to go behind his back. He pressed it in, navigating to my photographs.

“Very interesting, Kara. You’ve managed to snap some nice shots of one Italian ambassador, and a famous artist from Paris in town for a gallery showing. See this man? That’s Domingo Rodriguez, only the hottest Spanish guitar player in the world.”

“What about that man?” I asked when he scrolled to the photograph of the very rough-looking man who’d tried to hide his scars and ink by wearing a suit.

He seemed perplexed and I watched as he moved to another screen. What the hell was he doing? Wow. He was emailing it to himself. Maybe I’d stumbled onto something.

“He wasn’t supposed to be in the club. Right? My instinct told me he was searching for someone or gathering information.” I could tell that’s exactly what Havros was thinking.

“I must admit that I do not know his identity. However, there are plenty of individuals who come through that door I don’t know.” After erasing my pictures, he handed me back my phone without pushing it any further. “You are not to do that again. If you’d like official photographs for your finished piece, they will be provided for you by my marketing department.”

“Standing in front of a charity you funded, or perhaps a ribbon-cutting ceremony? How about a glitzy party where all the famous people who are of any importance attend?” I snatched the phone and my purse, pushing the phone inside and clutching the small bag as if I could use it as a weapon.

His eyebrow rose again just before he gripped my jaw with enough pressure that a flash of discomfort rolled in. “Please don’t take this as a sign of disrespect, Kara. I believe you and I are getting to know each other very well. I would hate for anything to jeopardize our good relationship. However, you need to stop challenging me. I’m not a man of patience or someone who can tolerate disrespect. I’ve told you that and this will be the last time I mention it. My world is not your world. I think that’s very clear. However, our family does care about our community and the people who live here. That’s something for you to keep in mind.”

He loomed over me like a raging bull, his nostrils flared. I could get under his skin just like he’d done mine with ease. “Yes, sir. I will keep that in mind.”

I wasn’t certain if he was going to punish or kiss me. I also couldn’t figure out which one I’d prefer. He rubbed his thumb across my lips harshly several times. The action was possessive, hungry. And dominating.

My nervous system was ready to explode. I almost reached out to touch him, but stopped myself just in time. This wasn’t going to happen. Professionalism. I had to maintain a wall between us.

He pulled his hand away, immediately slipping his thumb into his mouth. As he sucked, he allowed his gaze to fall. He was definitely undressing me with his eyes. A warm flush swept up both cheeks and the embarrassment was shameful enough I turned away. But I heard a slight popping sound when he removed it.

“Now, we will begin the tour. I hope you find what you’re looking for, my sweet kitten.”

“I do too. The truth.”

“The truth.” The tone of his voice could be considered intimidating, but I’d also seen beneath his layers. “I will take you home after our tour and we are going to talk. And one last time, Kara. You will obey me.”

CHAPTER 21

Havros

Kara’s mother had mysteriously passed away.

Her father had changed directions with his career, the first being one he’d excelled in. I’d yet to have a chance to research his record when serving as Italy’s ambassador, but from what Dimitrios had learned, my gut didn’t need to be working fully to realize his wife’s death had been the reason.

The photograph taken on Kara’s phone I’d emailed to myself was of a man I’d never seen before inside either club. He also wasn’t anyone I’d seen in town. While possibly a tourist or entering the club for the first time, he had a look about him that indicated he was scouting the location. At minimum, it was worth checking on. Moving forward had to be handled very carefully.

I led her from the first stateroom, opening the doors for two others. The fourth was in use and I offered no explanation other than a meeting was being conducted. Oddly enough, she didn’t ask any questions.

“Let me buy you a drink,” I told her, leading her toward the bar.

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