Page 49 of Beguiled

His smile was almost like a gift. He’d never smiled after I’d presented a report. Not once. When he touched his scar under his eye, he shook his head. “There’s always someone on the street eager and willing to take your life.”

“That sounds terrible. At least you can find anything you want in New York. Food. Entertainment. Clothes. Funky people. Crime. People will do that here as well.” While we stood inches apart, I felt strangely close to the man and not just in distance.

After all the months I’d worked for him, it had taken a murderous scene for us to talk. That certainly wasn’t something I’d share at lunch anytime soon.

“Yes, so they will. New York is an excellent place to hide as well,” he said with little inflection, but I knew he was talking about me.

“You really think whoever those men are working for will try and tie up loose ends?”

“They will, but they’ll calculate the potential gain with the consequences. Just never mention the club again and you’ll be fine.”

“Which is why you’re standing here like my private bodyguard.”

He lifted his glass, a salute for continuing to be defiant. “Then I’ll leave.”

“Good.” I backed away in case he changed his mind about the body search. That’s when I noticed the way he was looking at me, entirely different than before. The same way as the night of the party. As if I was a feast for more than just his prying eyes. I yanked the two sides of my robe even closer. I don’t know what I’d been thinking.

Inviting him to dance with the devil?

He studied me all over again with a curiosity that felt dangerous but not invasive. Just him being him. “I want to ensure your safety.”

I did the same, allowing my gaze to fall to the dagger depicted on his arm. “Why are all bad men covered in ink?”

Of all the times for him to laugh, this seemed a strange time to feel free enough around me to do so. “Is that what you really want to know about me?”

“I sense everything else is off limits.”

“Try me.”

Was he really going to allow me to pry into his world? “Okay. Are there a second set of books for the corporation?”

He lifted his glass, never flinching, his eyes never leaving mine. “There are.”

“So the rumors are true. The company is heavily involved in arms deals.”

“Now, I would think a highly intelligent woman like yourself would understand that kind of knowledge comes with a price.”

“Which is?”

There was no hesitation in feeling comfortable enough to consume his beverage. “Total loyalty, unwavering even in the face of scrutiny.”

“You mean from the police.”

He shifted his head back and forth, debating the answer. “Among other parties.”

“Your enemies.”

“Nicely done, Ms. Mitchell.”

“What else? I know that’s not all.”

“Total obedience.” He stated the words as if I already knew them.

Maybe I did. And maybe they were the words I was even looking for. Confirmation of total surrender. The silence stretched to the point of being uncomfortable. “I understand.”

“You’ve already learned that working for me requires you to do what I say.”

“Yes, in business, but not in your alternate world.”