Page 81 of His Deadly Lies

We’re strangers again at worst and on different power levels at best.

The moment she’s out of the car, she’s taken over control of the situation again and strides forward, keeping a few paces ahead of me.

“I need to meet with my father immediately,” she demands once we’re inside.

The housekeeper takes one look at the two of us and races off to grab Edward while Mia crosses the foyer like an empress. She keeps me near her with a flick of her hand but a few steps away, as is prudent for a guard.

And nothing more.

She doesn’t act as though she’s inclined to wait for anything or anyone. She expects her will to be done by a single statement. And judging by the way the housekeeper hustles out of the room…it will be.

I trail behind Mia, bobbing in her wake as Ricardo once observed, and a huge part of me is utterly in awe of her.

“Stay close to me.”

I might have missed her whispered words if I hadn’t been focused on her ass and loving every minute of it. We make ourselves comfortable in the office, Mia lounging in one of the comfortable chairs in front of the desk and me with my hand on the back. Possessive. Fingers curled an inch away from her hair.

Edward stalks into the room a second later, looking as unkempt as I’ve ever seen him. Which is only to say that the knot in his tie isn’t centered, and several strands of dark hair are out of place across his forehead. He’s wide-eyed, bristled, and pissed as shit.

“Mia? What the hell is going on?” He has eyes only for his daughter. I don’t even exist for him, and I’m content to fade into the background the way I prefer it.

She offers him a soft smile in return. Placating and ready to pacify if things got too troubled. “My apologies, Papa. I thought my text last night was clear. We’ve been on a stakeout.”

“You could have at least told me where you went,” he blusters, slamming his hands down on the desktop. “Considering everything that has been going on, you should know better than to go off on your own.”

“I wasn’t alone.” She keeps her voice calm and firm rather than acting cowed by her father’s chastisement. “I’ve had your babysitter with me. All night long. He barely let me out of his sight.”

I don’t miss the slight innuendo in her tone and struggle to keep any emotion from showing on my face.

Edward is now glowering at me. “He’s one man. Only one man, and if the others had been armed, if they’d found you—”

“I would have died to protect her, sir,” I interrupt. “Having the other guards around would have only painted a brighter target on us.”

It’s the truth. And the realization of it shocks me down to my core. I would have died for her and without a second thought. What wouldn’t I do for this woman? This delicate, terrifyingly strong woman who is as much a dichotomy as anyone I’ve ever met.

Mia only shakes her head, her hair hiding her expression. And although Edward is surprised at first, eventually, he offers me a nod, hopefully assuming it is my loyalty to my own family rather than any sort of intimate connection to his daughter.

“This is only a courtesy meeting, Papa,” Mia continues. “I’m handling the situation. Carter and I found some information that will be useful in plugging up the leak. Once we’re done here, we’re meeting with Rafel to discuss gathering intel for our next step.”

Clever girl.

“Mia.” Edward slams his palms down on the desk and purposely takes a beat to compose himself before he flies off the handle. There are red blotches on his cheeks and down the sides of his neck. “This is serious. You can’t just play with my business so easily. I have to know that you well and truly are taking everything into consideration.”

“I’m handling it seriously. I’m not asking you to trust me. I’m telling you that I have it under control.” She unfolded herself slowly. “I have calls to make. Someone needs to run the plates while we…I…tell Ricardo what has happened. He deserves to know as well.”

Her father is just as helpless as I am, the two of us now following behind this powerhouse as she whips out her cell and starts debriefing. Firing off commands and preparing for further recon on the warehouse while Rafel checks out the plates and the address of the apartment building.

“What do you need? From me?” I manage to ask her.

“I’m running point,” she tells me, holding the cell against her ear. “I’m fine.”

She hasn’t eaten. Nothing besides the shitty cup of coffee I managed to grab on our way back from the motel. She needs something solid in her stomach.

For the first time since I started my business—maybe even longer— I trust someone else to make the plan. It’s my second gut-wrenching realization in less than thirty minutes and just as hard a pill to swallow as the first. Mia is the one paving the way for us, confident, streamlined. There's no need for me to step in to correct her beyond offering several observations. And worrying about her health and well-being.

Fuck me.

What a force she is, the beautiful heiress no one sees coming.

---