Page 72 of The Lieutenant

“Do you?”

“We all do, Kara. It’s how and when we choose to share them that is important. When secrets are revealed, so is the vulnerability of the person holding them. Once shared, the burden is also placed on the person receiving the gift of knowledge. Betrayal is a bitter pill to accept.”

“Very profound.”

“And very true.” Christos’ door was open and he looked up from behind his desk. As he stood, I noticed Kara stiffening.

“This must be the talented Kara Banning.”

“Be careful, brother. She does bite.”

She stuck out her hand. “Another powerful man. So many in a single family. Your mother must be proud.”

I’ll be damned if my brother didn’t grab her fingers, lifting her hand and kissing her knuckles. “Our mother insists we were hatched, not born. Especially Havros.”

“That much I can believe.”

“Our guest insists on being shown every room,” I told him.

“You won’t find but so much excitement. Our lives are significantly more boring than you likely would believe,” he told her.

She pulled her hand away. “Somehow, I doubt that.”

“It’ll take a very special person to keep him in line,” my brother added.

There was a sensual glimmer in her eyes as she leaned forward. “I think I can handle it.” When she turned away, Christos fanned his face and I gave him my middle finger. He knew better than to dare try to take her from me. What continued to fascinate me was the level of jealousy I felt. With my own brother.

God help anyone else who dared make that mistake.

Dimitrios was on the phone, pacing back and forth behind his desk when I knocked and immediately walked in.

Our innate way of communicating without words was one of the reasons we’d always been close. Enough so I could tell his expression was meant as another warning. He was at least respectful and covered his phone.

“Kara. Are you getting everything you need for your article?” he asked.

“Enough. For now. I will obtain more.” Kara was subtle, yet her words were meant as a threat. She’d been provided with theopportunity to see the worst in humanity, yet wasn’t fazed by the possibility of danger. I wasn’t certain what it would take to open her eyes.

“Good to hear. Tomorrow, brother. You should attend the meeting with me.”

I nodded. My butt was on the line. We had an entire corporation of attorneys handling all the legalities our business created as well as keeping a defense attorney on the payroll. Discussing the possible case against me was prudent.

Even if the thought of it continued to piss me off.

“We’ll walk the club,” I told her.

“What about your office? I’d like to see that as well.”

“Do you think you’ll find a smoking gun or one of those dead bodies you mentioned?”

“I’ll know it when I find what I’m hoping for.”

There was no reason to keep her from seeing my personal workspace. While I spent more time at the corporate offices, I found the space in the club more personal; comforting in a way I couldn’t explain.

She walked in without an invitation, moving to the center of the room. I waited near the doorway, curious as to her reaction. My desk at the office was kept clean, the file I was working on the only paperwork on the surface. Almost everything was kept on the computer anyway, the network allowing the executives to work from home if necessary.

Here was a different story.

“This is more you,” she said softly.

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