Page 39 of Lethal Salvation

“You were never just my PA.”

Her eyes softened and she blushed, and he fell just a tiny bit more in love with the woman he’d sworn to resist.

Chapter 11

It had been hectic, and she was running on caffeine and adrenaline. Since the shooting last night, everything had sprung into hyperdrive. An urgency that hadn’t been there before snapped at everyone’s heels.

She and some of the team had travelled back to London with Gideon, who’d offered to wear the hood. For now, Damon was staying at the safe house with Lotus and Reaper while she and Gideon would be using her flat. Her cover was still in place, so it would make sense that they were there together should Carter spot them. They were, after all, playing the part of lovers.

Playing because they weren’t lovers…yet. She wanted him with a desperation she’d never experienced but whereas before it had felt like a hate fuck to get him out of her system, somehow it was so much more now. He’d shown her the real man beneath the asshole cloak he wore, and she realised she liked him. More than that, she could easily fall for him and had been doing so for a while without even realising it was happening.

Her phone buzzed with a heads-up from Hurricane that Carter was on his way up and had two men with him. She should’ve known that asshole wouldn’t follow the rules. Her eyes stayed on the lift as she sent a warning text to Gideon, who was waiting in his office.

After the moment they shared yesterday, she’d been pulled into planning and they hadn’t had another minute alone. Probably just as well, as she needed to focus.

A thumbs-up emoji pinged, and she smiled to herself. He’d loosened up since opening up to her about his father’s demands and finding the bugs.

The lift doors dinged, and she looked up as they opened, revealing Carter Cavendish and two men from his security team.

Duchess stood playing her role as PA extraordinaire. “Mr Cavendish, please follow me.”

Carter was handsome, like Damon and Gideon but he had his mother’s cheekbones and her cool, grey gaze. He also had the class of an alley cat but seemed to think he was a king. Those eyes raked her skin, and she would’ve shivered in disgust if she hadn’t had more restraint. Men like him had been ogling her since she was fourteen and developed breasts. This man was scum and the sooner he was wiped from the earth, the better.

“Well, it’s a delight to see you again, Nadia.”

He stepped closer, pinning her beside her desk, and she played the role of meek and timid as best she could, without being too weak. It was about balance with a man like Carter. He had to think he was in charge but not that she was available to him. She wanted him to believe her weak, so he never saw her coming.

His hand lifted and he stroked her collarbone, and she closed her eyes so he wouldn’t see the hatred or the almost overwhelming desire she had to break every finger in his hand.

“Gideon seems to have upped his game. It was a wise decision to steal you from Damon. Perhaps my coming here will be a more regular thing now I know what’s on offer, or perhaps I’ll take some time with the family PA.”

His unspoken words were clear. He thought she’d fucked Damon and was now fucking Gideon and he wanted his pound of flesh too.

“Get your fucking hands off her before I rip them off and shove them down your throat.”

Gideon. Her eyes flashed open at the harsh demand and Carter slowly dropped his hand from her.

“Apologies, brother, I wasn’t aware she belonged to you.”

“Well, she does, so don’t fucking touch her again. In fact, don’t even look at her.”

Duchess wanted to jump in and stop Gideon from showing his hand like he was. He didn’t realise it but he’d just put a bigger target on her back than was already there. Men like Carter would only see the challenge in the warning.

“You never did like to share your toys, brother.”

She saw Gideon’s jaw flex with barely controlled rage before he spoke. “Shall we get down to business? We’re both busy men, Carter.”

Gideon waited as Carter and the two men with him walked inside his huge office. He held his hand out for her to proceed him, and she heard the whispered apology he gave her. She nodded, perhaps he did realise what he’d done but it was out there now.

Carter settled in the seat opposite Gideon, who’d rounded his desk. She stood to his left and Carter’s men stood near the doors, arms loose at their sides, guns evident by the bulge in their jackets.

“You have a nice gig here, Gideon.”

The envy wasn’t something she’d expected from Carter as he looked around.

“I like it.”

“Father says you’re going to allow me to lead the deal with Macey.”