Page 32 of Mastered by Them
“You better watch your mouth.” I let the wordless threat hang in the air.
“Right. Not my business, like you said.” He drains his beer and stands up. “See ya, Manchester.”
I force my shoulders to relax. “See ya.”
Seconds later, he’s chatting up the dark-haired woman. She smiles back at him, but I can’t tell if it’s genuine or not. I bet he’s name-dropping the Laytons, because soon enough she’s holding onto his arm.
It doesn’t take long before they’re leaving the bar together.
I frown after him. He’s doing a shitty job as the Laytons’ head of security, and it’s going to be bad for the family. Maybe I’m not thrilled with everything Edmund’s doing with Dani, but I don’t want Vorsong Circle to move in. It would be bad for a whole fuckton of people. Not just the Laytons and Aseyevs, but San Esteban as a whole. The Vorsongs are like locusts. They come in, rip apart a city, then move on to the next.
“There you are,” a feminine voice says behind me. “Christ, Troy, I’ve been scouring the city for you.”
I freeze, blood cold.
She hops onto Caleb’s empty bar stool. Her rich blond hair is loose around her shoulders. A different look for her. She usually has it in a strict bun.
She reaches for my forearm, but I flinch back.
Keeping my limbs well out of her reach, I say, “What the hell are you doing here?”
“Troy. Come on. I’ve been trying to recruit you.”
“Not interested.” My stomach’s a mess of writhing ropes. Nausea grips me by the throat.
“Please. I really need you.” She smiles.
It’s a beautiful smile—pink lips, white teeth. Symmetrical, welcoming. A dimple at the corner suggesting playfulness.
It’s the smile of the devil before she drags you into hell.
As much as I’d love to escape the Layton family and the torture of watching Danica marry Edmund, I can’t go back. I won’t go back.
Her smile fades as she switches into her placid business face. “The new office has a grand opening coming up soon. I have someone scheduled for security, but you would do a much better job.”
“Still not interested. Just like I told Faulk.”
“Faulk didn’t give you the full extent of the deal.”
“There is no deal I would ever accept from you.”
“Troy.” Amber’s eyes hold a hint of warning. “Don’t be like that. Maybe we didn’t end on the best terms, but I can forgive you for it.”
I won’t fall prey to her manipulations. You hurt me, Troy. The only solution is to ignore her until she leaves.
“Come on.” Her voice is wheedling, whiny.
“You’re not getting anywhere with me.” I stare at the glowing beer sign just behind her head.
“Fine. For now.” She leaves her card with her number on the bar next to me. “Give me a call, Troy. I really need you.”
Only when she’s gone do I feel like I can breathe again.
Danica
“It isn’t only for the appearance of unity.” Granddad gives me a beseeching look over his cup of herbal tea. He has quite a spread arranged for me—tea, my favorite honey spice cookies, and breakfast pastries that he isn’t allowed to eat because of his heart. “It’s for your safety, granddaughter.”
“Did Edmund put that idea in your head?” I ignore the food and tea. Now that I know he brought me here to discuss Edmund, I won’t accept his bribery.
