Page 40 of His Deadly Lies

“Are we here to manage, or are we here for you to eye the staff?” Carter leans in close to whisper in my ear. “He’s beneath you in every way, Princess.”

The sensation of breath on my skin sends shivers along my arms and legs.

Damn him; he notices.

“I’ll have a martini, Stefan, my usual,” I tell the bartender before turning slowly to face Carter.

His arms are on the bar on either side of me, leaving me no room to breathe. “This is a bit different from the Vanguard.” He makes the comment offhandedly, stepping closer to me while alternately craning his head back to take in the gold leaf on the ceiling here. “Your Uncle Henry manages that one if I’m not mistaken?”

I’d rather not answer him on any of the points he makes.

My phone vibrates in my pocket. Saved by the bell? I reach for it, the message on the screen clear. SOS. Dead on Arrival.

“I didn’t realize you were here for business and pleasure,” Carter murmurs.

I chuckle and stash the phone. “Is a woman not allowed to multitask?” I ask.

Stefan slides the martini toward me with a distinctive clearing of his throat. It’s not enough of a reprimand to get Carter to back up. “Just how you like it, Mia,” Stefan says.

I swivel around again, torturously slow, lifting my hips toward Carter close enough to feel every inch of his front.

“Thank you. You’re sweet, Stefan.” I risk a sip, the cool liquid sliding along my throat like a caress.

“You really shouldn’t encourage him,” Carter growls.

“Why not?”

“You don’t need another man wrapped around your finger. It’s greedy.”

Luckily my back is to him, so he can’t see the smile tweaking the corner of my lips. “It almost sounds as though you’re jealous, Carter,” I murmur. “Which isn’t the case, I’m sure.”

“Just go!”

He grabs me by the back of my neck and hurls me away from the bar fast enough I almost spill my drink. I hastily set it back down on the bar with an unspoken apology for Stefan and allow Carter to lead me off the main floor.

Away from the empty space that will fill with dancers once night hits.

“I didn't realize you’re so handsy when you’re tense.” I shrug him off when we’re halfway down the hallway, adjusting the set of my jumper. “Are you upset you’ve been missing all the action today?”

I catch a flash of his reflection in the mirrors lining the hallway, and much to my eternal delight, Carter is pulling a face.

“Dealing with you is enough action for me.”

I stare straight ahead. “You’re dealing with me. Adorable.”

“Make no mistake, Princess, there are more important places for me to be than a step behind you.”

“But none of them have this view.”

Score one for me. Carter has nothing to add to my last shot.

It isn’t often that Lucia lets us conduct business here. She prefers to keep things legitimate in as far as she’s able to extend her tether away from the heart of the family and our business. Except, with everything going on…she agreed to have a few shipments sent here after my drive-by shooting.

It’s another layer of control.

For me, anyway.

We’re through the rear doors, past the kitchen and the storage pantry, through the fake door, and down a short set of steps to the backspace no one else knows about. I’m pleased to see that the shipment crew is unloading right on time. I don’t stop to look at Carter, right behind me, the wart. The sexy wart.

---