Page 45 of To Catch A Rook

I snorted. I had experienced the twins at their most charming at past dinners. Like Kellan, they were highly trained, lethal soldiers; dangerous men in pretty packaging. Unlike Kellan, they were more than willing to carry out Big Bad Daddy’s orders without question or context, and had a vicious trail of bodies in their wake to prove it.

I generally steered clear of them. I had no idea why they’d be here this evening when Kellan was already here to represent ‘the family’, but Antonio Carlos and his merry band of illegitimate sons weren’t my problem to solve or my crusade to carry; I had larger dicks to chop off in this town. Had Daddy not been best friends with a dead Carlos son, I might never have gotten involved with Kellan in the first place.

Some days, I wished I never had.

“Ms. Lane?”

The geriatric guide looked at me expectantly. He pointed a gnarled finger at the empty seat in front of him. My name was written in elegant script at the place setting.

“Yes, thank you.” I nodded brusquely and placed my clutch against the bone China dishware, effectively dismissing my escort.

“Mi Reina.”

The familiar, soothing scent of sandalwood and vanilla blanketed me from behind; Aaron.

Large hands skated up my bare arms and spun me around, pulling me toward him for a light, perfunctory hug.

In a crowded room filled with career criminals, I could lean into his touch without repercussion. I could caress him like a lover; no one would bat an eye. The depraved part of me wanted to mark him in the middle of the crowd; claim him.

I pulled back and took in the man. The crisp gray suit molded to every peak and valley of his body, highlighting developed shoulders and a narrow waist. His hair was loose and combed to one side and the dark natural waves framed his cheekbones. Captivating brown eyes peered back at me, twinkling with muted amusement.

“Have you forgiven me,Mi Reina? Or am I still on your chopping block?”

“Another unfortunate soul has taken that position.” I quipped, working hard to keep the smile off my lips. “You’re relieved for today.”

A rare, heart-faltering grin took over the brooding businessman’s face. “I pity that man.”

He moved to pull my chair out from the table, gesturing for me to sit.

“You don’t want to speak to these people, anyway.” He nodded to the crowd swelling on all sides. “Come, we have business to discuss.”

I frowned, but took the seat anyway as the Rodriguez heir settled in beside me. He angled his body to face mine, leaning in like we were sharing secrets.

“My parents and I are at an impasse,” he murmured while his fingers discreetly caressed the soft skin of my shoulder. “I am working out the particulars on my end, but they are shifting alliances.”

He reached for my chin, using his thumb and forefinger to tilt my head to meet his eyes. Warm, honest eyes.

“I have given you my loyalty,Reina.Trust whatever it is I have nothing to do with it.”

It was rare to see Aaron let his guard down like this, to allow me to see directly into his soul, whatever remained of it. He was usually clinical in these kinds of crowds. Incredibly charming when the cause suited, but mostly aloof, unattached to life in ways that most of us were.

He had called me his ‘queen’ since we were fourteen, but only ever in private. My arranged marriage had been a poorly guarded secret, so through our childhoods, we’d been nothing more than familiar teenagers at our parents’ parties, playing our parts as dutiful heirs.

The first time I had sex with him, I’d just returned home from college desperate for a release and to escape my haunted memories. We played our perfunctory roles for the better part of the evening, but what I remembered most was he’d been happy–a gold spark in his eye that rarely took hold, and it had changed his entire appeal.

I’d kissed him in the limo we’d opted to share to get us home; he kissed me back without a fraction of hesitation, and we didn’t make it out of the car before abandoning our clothes and fucking like we were the last two people on earth.

Whether it was the years of brothel management or a natural affinity, Aaron was amazing in bed.

Somehow, over the years, we’d remained that way. Never together, but somehow, never truly apart.

Now looking into the unfiltered truth in deep pooling brown, I believed him. If Aaron was telling me anything at all about his parents’ dealings, it was a move in the right direction, forourpartnership.Ourfuture.

I had received the completed paperwork earlier that afternoon. Despite the public protests and familial interference, all of our previously agreed-to terms were signed off. It would have given me a catty sense of satisfaction, but the entire delay had unnecessarily put a wedge between us. With so few friends in this world, I didn’t want another enemy.

So, I hadn’t lied. Aaron was currently off my shit list. But it was an ever-changing list and today’s version had no bearing on tomorrow’s status.

He’d do well to remember it.

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