Page 8 of Dark Daze

"Do you expect them to be plotting anything?" I decided on honey and started to coat my toast in it.

"I hope not," he said. "If they do, I'll deal with it. And if they don't, I get a two-week paid vacation." He winked.

My heart fluttered.

Down girl, I told myself.He's your boss. You’re acting like a bitch in heat, likeRic said.

The rest of his accusation whispered through my mind too. Hilton was, undeniably, a powerful man. His skin was a few shades darker than Ric's, his eyes a richer brown. His long chin was covered by a short beard with only one or two grey hairs. He usually wore an expensive, tailored suit, but today he wore casual pants and a dark button down shirt. He looked like a model from a magazine.

I cut my toast into two slices and frowned at him. "Did you get here late last night, or early this morning?" I didn’t know if he was a morning person or a night person, because he was in the office when I got there and was still there when I left. For all I knew, he slept there.

"Yesterday afternoon," he said. "I wasn't around because I had a matter to take care of."

I tried not to look too interested, but I knew a look of curiosity crossed my features.

He sighed. "I'm sure you listen to office gossip."

"I try not to," I protested. Certain things were difficult to avoid overhearing.

"Enough to know I recently ended the relationship I was in," he said.

"I might have heard that," I admitted.

"She's not happy about it. We had a fight yesterday afternoon when I got here and I thought it best to stay away for a while, to let her get over it." He heavily shrugged one shoulder and sipped his coffee.

"I'm sorry," I said.

"That's the third time you said that since I got here," he pointed out.

"I meant it each time," I said. "One of the wedding guests?"

"Hayley DiMarco," he said regretfully. "Caleb said…" He shook his head.

That she's a bitch?I suggested silently. "I can imagine what he said." I nibbled on my slice of toast.

"Right. I'm sure you can. The DiMarcos are nothing if not predictable. Ric, in particular, is one to keep an eye on. And his cousin Dane. They're both ambitious men. Not as powerful as Caleb and the rest of his family, but certainly working on it."

"You think they're going to make a move against Caleb?" I asked.

"Not unless they have a death wish. If that's the case, then that's what they'll get." He could have been talking about the weather.

I hated the way my pulse raced. Threats and casual mentions of murder shouldn’t be sexy, but they fucking were.

I tried to keep my voice even. "I think they’d prefer to align with Caleb, not replace him. Or at least, work with him or for him. They’ve always been interested in self-preservation."

Hilton chuckled. "That's accurate."

What the hell did a man like him see in Hayley anyway? A willing pussy? A nice, wet mouth? She was smart, but she was more sour than a freshly picked lemon. She also craved power the way I did.

"If they say anything that suggests they're working against Caleb, I'll bring it to you," I promised. "But they’re unlikely to say it to me. They know I work for him."

"Good girl," he said approvingly. "Keep your ears open. You never know when they might let something slip, especially after a few drinks. Or after a fuck."

He gave me a long look over his coffee cup and I knew he was picturing me naked, fucking, or both. Fucking who though? Him or someone else?

My tongue darted over my lips.

He watched that too.

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