Page 51 of Defy

“Sex offender?” Henrietta took the bait I threw out. “You believe those rumors about him?”

“Why wouldn’t I? It’s an open secret in the industry. He’s a known predator with multiple complaints.”

“I wasn’t aware of this.” Rico watched me and then added. “Then again, I usually don’t focus on rumors associated with clients.”

And there I had my answer to Henrietta’s statement about my dating history. They heard the rumors about Maria and my preferences at Violent Delights.

“I’m sure discretion is something your clients appreciate.”

At that moment, the scent of Sophia’s perfume touched my senses right before I felt her presence behind me. Moving to the side, I made space for her.

I watched Rico and Henrietta scan Sophia from head to toe, taking in everything about her and sizing her up. From the periphery of my eyes, it was easy to see Sophia hold herself with an air of confidence that pretty much told them to go fuck themselves with their perusal.

I drew Sophia closer to me. “Sophia, let me introduce you to Rico Newman and Henrietta Stanford. Rico and Henrietta, this is Sophia Morelli, my girlfriend.”

“So, you’re the Sophia Morelli everyone is talking about.” Henrietta smiled as if she discovered something interesting.

Sophia glanced in my direction before she responded. “Yep, that’s me, the troublemaker extraordinaire.”

“I’m surprised you are here tonight.”

“Why wouldn’t I attend an event where I’m considered a VIP?”

“Mainly because of all the allegations against you.”

Sophia’s lips tightened the barest of a fraction, only someone who knew her every reaction would have seen it. “Which one are we talking about? I’m a fixture in the press after all.”

“I’m referring to your recent incarceration. Some say they don’t feel comfortable with you around them. Perhaps unsafe.”

Every one of my instincts to protect Sophia surged forward.

Before I could go with my gut, she set her hand on my arm, telling me to stay out of it.

Sophia cocked her head slightly and then replied with a coolness to Henrietta that had me seeing a whole new side of her. “Are you saying you feel uncomfortable with me around you? You can hardly speak for the entire club since I’ve spent the evening with many people approaching me.”

“It was an observation.”

“Henrietta, I’ve never met you before. I don’t know you, and we do not run in the same circles. Reading something in the tabloids isn’t facts. Unless you’ve done something to me or my family, there is no reason for you to worry about—What’s the word?” Sophia tapped her lip. “Yes, your safety.”

“I wouldn’t think so. I’ve never met you or anyone in your family before.”

“Then you have nothing to worry about. Am I correct?”

“I have another question for you.”

Sophia lifted a well-defined brow. “I’m sure you do.”

“Is it true that you once said during a party that the best way for a Morelli to off someone is poison since no one would believe any of you would use that method?”

I jerked my attention to Sophia’s face, and everything inside me froze.

She wouldn’t have said something so incredibly stupid in public. She was a Morelli for God’s sake. Making jokes like those in public could only cause her grief in the long run. Lucian had to have taught her better than that.

Wait.

Henrietta said poison.

For a split second I considered the possibility of Sophia killing Randolph and then trashed that thought. I just couldn’t fathom her doing anything like that.

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