Page 59 of Last Shot at Love

“Darling, I see someone I need to speak with. Do you mind excusing me for a moment?”

“You’ve been overly patient with my business needs. Take your time.” Picking up the leather-bound beverage menu, I perused the list. “I’m going to order a glass of wine.”

“Sounds good. Order a bottle and we’ll share.” He brushed his fingers across my bare shoulder and strode away.

I watched his gorgeous butt until he disappeared between the monster-sized ferns that created a barrier between the bar and the restaurant. My eyes drifted around the room, noticing quite a few women were staring at the spot my husband had disappeared through.

Husband.

When I’d signed up for P-Harmony’s services, the word husband had held no special meaning to me. Now, just thinking the word caused my chest to warm and my belly to quiver… because Cerulean meant the world to me.

The server appeared at the table, startling me from my inner musing. I ordered a nice bottle of red wine. A few minutes later, the server reappeared and opened the bottle. After handing me the cork, he poured a little in my glass to sample. Once I’d approved, the server poured more in my wineglass and disappeared.

Sipping my wine, I leaned back in my chair. I stared out the large glass windows that looked out over the sea. Glowing lights from various fishing boats bobbed on the ocean’s surface, reminding me of fireflies dancing on warm summer nights.

I was so lost in my thoughts, I jumped when a voice whispered near my ear. “Hello, sister. Fancy meeting you here.”

Instincts kicked in, and my body responded to the threat. I straightened my spine, pushed my shoulders back, and lifted my chin a fraction.

Most importantly, I squashed the happy glow that had warmed my body and lit my eyes since Cerulean and I had completed our mate bond.

Within the blink of an eye, I’d reverted to my cold, indifferent business exterior.

Taking on a bored attitude, I sipped my wine, watching as he took the seat across from me. To no one’s surprise, my father appeared beside him and sat down as well.

Those two were rarely apart, and they were always scheming together. If they were here, something sketchy was going on, and I needed to figure it out as quickly as possible.

“I don’t recall inviting either of you on a family getaway.” I swirled the wine in my glass, studying their faces for tells.

“We were worried about you, Be.” Stefan was using my childhood nickname he used when teasing me or trying to make me cry.

It meant he believed he had an ace up his sleeve he could blindside me with. If that was the case, I couldn’t allow my senses to be dulled with alcohol.

“I find that hard to believe,” I laughed.

Setting my wineglass down, I began inspecting my long, black french-tipped nails. From the corner of my eye, I caught the twitch of Stefan’s mouth. He always wanted to be the most important person in a room, and by acting as though my nails were more interesting, I was riling him.

Good. His quick temper would help me get the information I needed.

“Batty-Bee, he’s right,” said my father, speaking for the first time.

Clustersuck!

I’d loved when he’d called me that back when I was an innocent child who believed her daddy would always have her back. He hadn’t called me that in years. Not since my company’s success had grown to heights that no other Latos vampire had achieved.

If both my brother and father were using the names they’d used back when they felt superior to me, they really must think they had something to use against me.

But what backdoor did they think they’d found to gain a footing in my business?

They didn’t make me wait long.

My father straightened the silverware in front of him. “Everyone who is anyone in Boston has been talking non-stop about Chiroptera’s acquisition of Tenser Enterprises happening this month. It is the deal of the decade—and one you’ve worked yourself into a coffin for.”

I raised a brow. “I doubt you traveled all the way here to tell me something I already know.”

My father continued. “Then, poof! You vanish into thin air. Your brother just happened to see a photo of friends on Fangbook playing volleyball on a beach, and you’re in the background. You never take a vacation, so I was worried someone had kidnapped you. We immediately booked a flight down here to see for ourselves that you are okay.”

My mind dropped the pieces into place, and before my brother opened his mouth, I’d already figured out their plan.

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