Page 38 of King of Malice
“And…”
“It went well.” My voice gets harder with every word. This isn’t like Trent to question my judgment, and I do not appreciate the change.
“I’d guessed as much since contracts made it to the lawyers, which is excellent news. But…” He makes a clicking sound through his teeth. “You also received an email from your father this morning.”
Shit. No wonder he sounds strange. “Did he say what about?”
“He says he’s coming here to meet your sister’s fiancé, but the timing is awfully suspicious.” He clears his throat.
“Yes. It is.” I slide into my chair, scrubbing a hand down my face. “We should be ready for anything.”
He doesn’t answer and I let out a long breath, understanding his silence. “We’re going to get your wife back, Trent. My sisters too.”
He rumbles out his frustration. “I know. We just have a few too many problems currently. Any word on who is trying to find Cadence?”
“Not yet.” I grimace. If my father is going to start making noise, the last thing we need is someone going to the police. If the details of The Hunt were revealed, my entire operation would be in jeopardy.
And I’d end up in prison.
That is one place from which I cannot fight my father. “Still want to wait for Jake Kincaid to pull phone records?”
“No. Call Zane. Have him check Cadence’s phone. We need to start eliminating problems.”
“Will do.”
I hang up, gently setting my phone on the desk. Whoever is sniffing around my business will have to be dealt with quickly. Hell is about to descend on Vegas.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Ava
By the timeI put Anna to bed, she is clearly feeling better. I sigh with relief when she falls asleep, and I slip out of her room.
Dimitri left in the afternoon, heading to one of the casinos, and I heard him come home a half hour ago, but he didn’t come into Anna’s room, leaving me to take care of bedtime, which is a relief.
My goal is to creep into my room without seeing him and then pretend to be asleep.
I’m feeling weird about playing investigator even though that is why I came here in the first place.
Every time I look at him, what I see is the man who is helping me, caring for me, in ways no one ever has before. And I’m repaying the favor by doing my absolute best to betray him.
I’ve never been good at being the bad girl and I’m struggling hard against my own nature.
I just open my door, about to step into my room, when he rumbles out from down the hall, “Milaya.”
“Shh,” I respond. “I just got Anna to sleep.”
He walks toward me, eating the ground between us. “In that case, come to my room.”
“Dimitri,” I whisper, worrying my lip. “I shouldn’t.”
“You should,” he says, leaning down to place a kiss on my neck. My skin tingles at the touch and I can already feel myself giving in, wanting him more than I want to hold the line.
But I can’t do this. I can’t share his bed while I work to expose his crimes and find my friend.
Maybe I could ask him…
This would all be so stupid if he isn’t even the man I’m looking for. And I hate keeping secrets. But if he is the man who has Cadence, would he tell me the truth?
