Page 25 of Delivered in White

My breath catches when I recognize the deep voice. A pair of black steel-toe bootsclunkagainst the steps, slowly revealing him. Designer jeans peek into view, then a black polo that he’s busting out of.

“Trino,” I whisper to myself as his gorgeous chiseled face comes into focus. His eyes lock onto mine instantly, like he knew exactly where I was even before he came down the steps.

“Holysex.” Jacky blinks in quick succession, and even stoic Charlie gasps.

“Capri, let’s go.” He beckons me with two fingers, no room for questioning.

My face is flush with heat. All the worry melts into warmth. I don’t know why. This is so unorthodox and… and…not okay.

I stand up abruptly. “You can’t just burst into my job, Trino.”

He’s taken aback, as are my coworkers.

“Capri?” Jacky’s eyes are wide.

“Say the word and I’ll call the cops,” Gil says.

“You must be Gil.” Trino scoffs as he steps closer to our table. “Yeah, I thought so. That’s about all you’re good for.” He turns to me. “Capri, I’m not kidding.”

Lawyers across from me are starting to take out their phones.

“Why isn’t security down here?” Charlie is in position to pounce if need be. But the truth is, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

“Who is he? Are you in danger?” Jacky grabs my arm protectively.

“Yeah, Capri. Who am I?” Trino’s deep voice lingers.

I huff. “It’s okay, everyone. He’s my bodyguard because of my Dad’s trial. Please put your phones down. We’ll be out of your hair.” I swallow past a lump in my throat and stomp up to him, whispering,“You couldn’t just text, you dramatic bastard?”

Trino grunts and turns away from me, stepping up to the one lawyer who refuses to put his phone away. “Didn’t you hear the lady?”

“This is trespassing onto private property. Youobviouslydon’t belong here. Time to move along with your gas guzzler so I can call the cops. Meat-eating pig.”

I’m not sure who this guy is, but he sounds and looks like Peewee Herman –R.I.P.– and has a set of ignorant balls that might as well hang to the floor.

Trino stares at him for a good few seconds, the silence deafening.

Vegan Peewee scoffs. “You don’t scare me, thug. Do you know where you—ah!”

Trino kicks the leg of Peewee’s wooden chair in half and grabs his phone as he rolls onto the floor. The room gasps.

“Woops.” He deletes the video and launches the phone into an old-style bookcase, where it bursts into several pieces.

I’m not going to lie… I’m really turned on right now. And judging by Jacky’s blotchy face and Charlie’s bitten lip, they are too. Trino grabs me by the wrist and tugs me toward the stairs.

“What’s going on?” I finally ask as we ascend to the top. My phone is buzzing like crazy in my pocket. A quick glance shows it’s from everyone downstairs wondering if I’mactuallyokay.

“Word traveled, and we have to move.”

“Can you not be so cryptic?Ack!What did you do to Jerry!” I grab at my hair when I see our beloved security guard propped up against a plant on the floor with his mouth hanging open.

“He’s fine.” Trino tugs at me again. “Just a little chloroform.”

“There are cameras everywhere, you brute.” I’m forced to run to keep up with his long stride.

“Just outside. The ones inside are off, probably because it’s the weekend. I doubtJerrywill talk, considering I left a picture of his little girl in his back pocket.”

My mouth hangs open. “Youwhat?” I smack his shoulder as we rush to his car. “Jerry is the nicest man in the world!Why would you—”

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