Page 92 of Enemies

It’s voicemail.

“You’ve reached Harrison King. I recommend you don’t leave a message. If I need you, I will find you.”

If I need you, I will find you.

He clearly doesn’t, because he’s not here.

22

HARRISON

By the time I’m finished with the police, I want nothing more than my home and the woman waiting for me there.

Rae and I have things to discuss, things we didn’t get to last night.

Still, I have to make one stop on the way. There’s something I haven’t been able to shake, something made more real by Mischa’s appearance last night—an act not of calculation but of desperation.

“If you’re following up about your suggestion of a DJ, I’ve considered it. She’s not ready.”

Christian’s voice comes from the doorway of his study.

I snap shut the book I was pretending to read.

“She is. She filled Debajo for the first time in years.”

“Debajo is not La Mer.”

“No. It’s harder. It was empty. Desolate.” And it came with me. “Give her the chance. I promise she won’t disappoint you.”

“You would risk your reputation in this?”

“Yes.”

“Then have her meet me this afternoon. We can discuss it.”

Grim satisfaction grips me. I have no doubt Rae will convince him.

“I’m surprised you’re not with her now.”

Seeing Mischa looming over her at Debajo set a cold fury loose in me I haven’t felt since my parents died.

I wanted to kill him.

But I wanted to save her more.

The irony didn’t escape me, because it was my fault she was hurt. Mischa heard me admit to Christian that… what? I care for her?

He overestimated what I meant and went after her.

Or he didn’t overestimate it.

All I knew was I needed to get her home, to make sure she was safe and comfortable.

But when I took her upstairs, the girl from the club slowly melted away, replaced with the woman I’ve come to admire and appreciate and fucking hunger for.

I had no right to ask her for anything, but her raw response ripped away what was left of my control.

“I’ll be with her soon,” I promise Christian, picturing her asleep in my bed now.

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