Cognac burned my throat, making me choke.
Bene patted my back. Not all that helpful, but it was the thought that counted.
“Whoa, there. Take it easy with that stuff.”
I composed myself and thanked him…then folded into another coughing fit.
Still patting me, Bene turned to the others. “Mina has a point. She’s way too harmless to have enemies.”
Still coughing, I formed a fist. I’d show him harmless…
But Roux was already nodding, dammit. “He’s right. It has to be one of us.”
To a man, they glared at Henrik, who stuck up his hands.
“Why is it always me?”
Bene shrugged. “Because you’re you.”
“Well, it could well have been one of your enemies.” Henrik stuck a finger at Marius. “Like whatshername — Celeste.”
Marius’s eyes went dark, and he clenched his jaw. Clearly, those two had some kind of history.
My fists grew tighter. Celeste sounded rich. Beautiful. Seductive.
I hated her already.
“Or that colonel you pissed off.” Henrik moved on to Roux.
“Corrupt colonel,” the tiger grumbled.
“Or that black widow of a woman you were foolish enough to carry on with.” Henrik started in on Bene.
My ears perked. It was hard picturing the good-hearted lion shifter making an enemy of anyone, except the fathers — or jealous husbands — of all the women he must have lured to his bed over the years.
Lucky girls,a dirty part of my mind sighed. Not that he was my type.
My eyes jumped to Marius, and my body heated.
A damn good thing that my phone rang just then. I’d left it on the coffee table, and the buzz made it jiggle in place.
Everyone froze, staring at it.
So did I. It was late. Who would be calling at such an hour?
I approached it slowly, imagining a hoarse voice threatening me with…what?
“Please don’t let it be Gordon,” Bene muttered as I looked at the display.
Roux’s pained expression was a mirror of Bene’s. Henrik’s too. Marius looked downright murderous.
I frowned, then answered, keeping my eyes on the men before me.
“Hello?”
I froze at the reply, then composed myself, keeping my eyes on the men when I spoke.
“Oh hello, Gordon. How are you?”
