Page 37 of Sweet Revenge
He made her so uneasy that she’d gone directly back to the hotel, packed up, and left instead of staying the full week like she intended. It was also the last time she ever agreed to meet a client in person. Now she only did hand-offs through trusted contacts and associates.
She looked down at the drawing in her lap. She was no pro, but she’d captured his sharp features and dead eyes perfectly, the severe angle of his jaw and high cheekbones, his thin lips and wide mouth. Even now, he gave her the creeps.
She reached for the first page of her notes as a knock sounded at the door. She glanced at the clock. Probably a maid wanting to come in and vacuum or clean the bathroom.
“Come in!”
When a shadow fell over the pages she was neatly stacking, she looked up into Declan’s curious gaze. How did he make her mouth water just by standing there? He reached down and picked up her rough sketch of Peter’s face, studying it.
“Peter?”
“How I remember him, anyway.” He handed it back to her, and she added it to the bottom of the stack.
“I didn’t know you still draw.”
“I don’t.”
He stuffed his hands into his pockets, and for the first time since she’d been back, he looked at a loss for words.
“Declan, I—”
“I was wondering if you—”
They both spoke at once and then fell into silence. She liked it better when they were poking at each other instead of this awkward, stilted quiet that stretched between them now.
“You first,” he offered.
“No, you.” She had no idea what she’d been about to say. Odds are, it would have gotten her into trouble one way or another.
“I have something I’d like you to do on behalf of the syndicate. A job.”
“What kind of job?”
“Someone has something I want, and I’d like for you to get it for me.”
Her lips twitched into a grin. “My fees are very high.”
His eyes raked down her body, and heat bloomed in her belly.
“I’m sure we can work something out.”
Before she could respond, his phone rang, and he held it up to show her Nessa’s name on the screen. Answering it, he put it on speaker.
“Hello?”
“Declan!” Nessa’s voice was breathy. She sounded close to tears.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just got home and…” She paused, and Evie could hear a series of noises in the background like someone was dragging something across the floor. “I think someone has been following me. I don’t know what to do. I’m scared.”
Evie could hear the tremble in Nessa’s voice, and she met Declan’s gaze with wide eyes. The threat, her tire, William’s warning, and now Nessa was being followed?
“We’re on our way.”
Nessa let out a choked sob. “Thank you. Please, hurry.”
Declan hung up and quickly moved to the door, and Evie rushed to keep up with him down the hall and the stairs he descended two at a time. She had no idea where Nessa even lived, but Declan seemed to.
