Page 84 of Power of Shadow

“Why are we even here?” It only occurs to me to ask now.

“I wanted to surprise you,” he answers, looking around the room. His lack of focus is compensated by his hand on my waist when he pulls me close to him.

This piques my interest. “What kind of surprise?”

“You’re not the only one with your secret sources, baby, and one of those sources tells me that our old friend Charles is invited to this gala.”

My heart speeds up. I subtly pull away from Ryker, standing face to face with him. “Are you kidding me? And you’re telling me this now?”

“By definition, a surprise is...” He tries to defuse the tension, but it’s too late.

“Don’t quote the dictionary now. We’re partners, and you pull a stunt like this?”

His stone face doesn’t change, but I can feel him getting annoyed as he wrinkles his nose.

“I smell some hypocrisy in the air. Wasn’t it you who found out about the lake house under mysterious circumstances?”

“That’s not the same thing,” I hiss.

“Oh, really? Listen, don’t get mad. I thought you’d like the surprise when I gave you Charles Baker on a silver platter.”

“What makes you think someone in hiding would suddenly show up at a place like this?”

“They say it’s darkest under the lamppost.”

“So what? He’ll just drop in at the gala to donate some money and socialize? That doesn’t make sense.”

I take a few deep breaths. Maybe Ryker is right. My reaction isn’t appropriate. My instinct is always to suspect deception and betrayal, whereas if he wanted Charles for himself, he wouldn’t have to mention it to me at all.

All of a sudden, I feel unprepared to outsmart Ryker and get to my father first.

My palms become sweaty. I press my lips into a thin line and search my mind for a way out of this situation.

Damn. This can’t be true.

“Trouble in paradise?” asks a low voice.

I turn towards the sound and see a man I wasn’t expecting. He’s much older than I am, but he’s in very good shape for his age. He could give many a young man a complex. Familiar gray eyes stare intently at Ryker.

Ryker tenses up as soon as he hears that voice. Somehow, my soul senses the change in his soul. The tension and icy aura are undeniable.

My body synchronizes with his, and I’m tense as well. My heart races. The temperature drops. I sense danger, and my territorial defense system kicks in.

Ryker, on the other hand... is like a lion waiting for a second lion to attack. That’s what he’s expecting.

I shift my gaze from one man to the other, seeing slight similarities between them.

My lips tighten. And my fists.

“Did you bring one of your club girls?” A wicked smile spreads across the older man’s face.

My partner gives him an icy stare, pausing for a moment. Finally, he says, “Could you act like a real man for once? Don’t insult the lady I’m with.”

The older man raises his head and sizes me up. I can see he wants to crush me with the heel of his shoe, but he stops himself at the last moment. Rolling his eyes in disgust, he finally extends his hand to me. “James Elliot.”

I know who you are.

“Ash,” I say, extending my hand. His hand feels cold, much like his heart likely is. I’m withdrawing my hand immediately.