Page 41 of Dangerous Deceit

“Thank you,” I say.

He cocks his head to the side. “You don’t seem impressed.”

“I am.” I lift my shoulders. “It’s just?—”

I stop, because my thoughts are pretentious. Still, I can’t stop my brain. A designer clothes company makesclothes,not candles. It’s a nice candle, sure, but I know how to make them better.

“What?” Kenzo says. “Don’t leave me hanging.”

“I can probably make a better candle myself,” I say.

He licks his lips, genuine curiosity flickering in his eyes. “Youmakecandles?”

I shrug. I guess it’s not every day you meet someone who likes pouring wax.

“I dabble.” That’s downplaying it, but I don’t want to seem like a weirdo. My cousin likes to tease me about it.

“Interesting,” Kenzo says.

I roll my eyes playfully. He smacks my ass, and I yelp. His laughter floods the room, that infectious noise sending heat straight to my thighs. I like this—whateverthisis—with him, but I need to focus on finding information before he distracts me again.

“How was work?” I ask.

“Stockholder’s meetings can be dry. Gotta figure out what they’re after before I make my move.” He scans the living room. “What’d you do today?”

“I was decorating,” I say. It sounds right. “Thought you may want some help unpacking.”

“Don’t bother. My driver will take you around the city. We can find a new place to move into next month.”

My neck tingles. Does he move every month?

He flies down the hallway, and I bound after him. I need to stop him before he gets to the office.

“I get to pick the next rental?” I ask as I chase after him.

“We’ll switch off.”

“What about in the Fremont area? What if?—”

He stops at the office, furrowing his brows. My stomach clenches as he closes the door, using his phone to lock it.

“Were you in here?” he asks.

I could tell him about Niko unlocking it, but then that would show I knew it was lockedbeforeNiko visited. I don’t want him to know I was searching his space thoroughly. On top of that,Kenzo must know every time I lie, so I make up a half truth: “I wanted to decorate.”

His tongue swipes over his lips as he studies me, like he knows there’s something else to it, not just the interior design instincts.

Before he can figure it out, I change the subject: “Your record collection. Did you collect those from your targets over the years? Trophies from your victims?”

He laughs and goes into the master bedroom, unbuttoning his shirt. His chest is chiseled with muscle, and it’s obvious he takes pride in his body, but it’s the tattoos that take my breath away. Every inch, from his neck down to his groin, is covered in koi fish, flowers, and dark ocean waves. We fucked on the balcony yesterday, but this is the first time I’m seeing him naked. Even with the mix of blue, orange, and purple, there’s an ominous tone to his body.

He’s a masterpiece, and a killer.

And I gawk at him like a drooling idiot.

“You think all we do is steal?” he asks, taking off his shoes. “Just like you stole the sample out of my pocket, huh?”

Heat ripples in my cheeks. He smirks at my dropped jaw.

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