Page 42 of Lethal Salvation

“Then I’ll tank this deal and watch the company burn.”

“You love this company. You’d never let it fall. Look at how you almost killed yourself to save it after Daddy dearest almost bankrupted us.”

“I do love this company, but as it was pointed out to me recently, I can start again. I could walk away from this and into a seven-figure job within the hour. I’d survive, fuck, I’d be better off, and you and I both know it.”

“You could come work for me. We’d make a great team, Gideon.”

“I’d rather die than go into business with family ever again.”

“Perhaps you see why I struck out on my own.”

“On your own? Don’t forget Mummy has her hand up your ass pulling the strings, Carter.”

Carter went red, his jaw clenching and Duchess mentally prepared for shit to head south, fast.

“Don’t assume to know what you’re talking about, Gideon. As you said yourself, you’ve had nothing to do with my business and no clue what you’re talking about.”

“Perhaps.”

Silence descended on the room, just the tick of an antique clock punctuating the passing of time. Gideon broke it. “So do we have a deal?”

“I’ll give you ten percent of the transaction on each girl, but I handle the deal with Tarquin Green.”

“What leverage do you have on him?”

Carter stood and buttoned his jacket. “Come to the black-tie ball both of you, and I’ll show you.”

“We’ll be there. Damon and a date too.”

Carter held out his hand and Gideon took it and she knew it cost him to play this role. “To new opportunities.”

“To family.”

Carter grinned and turned to her, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “A pleasure to see you again, sister. I hope you can forgive my earlier rudeness.”

He was charming and she could see how women fell for his charms, but she wasn’t a fool. “Of course.”

Carter and his men swept from the room, and she stood beside Gideon as the lift doors closed on them. Titan and Bás would pick them up from here and hopefully they had time to tag the cars.

“I feel dirty.”

Duchess leaned her head against Gideon’s shoulder. “I know how you feel. You did great though.”

“I put you in more danger. He knows you’re important to me now and that puts you at risk. Carter won’t think twice about using that to control me.”

“It’s fine I can handle him. You thought on your feet and that’s a good thing.”

She followed him back into his office when Bás texted to confirm they had picked up Carter’s trail on the street. The door closed and his arms came around her, pulling her close to his body. His masculine scent and heat enveloped her and she pressed against him.

“I hate that I put you at risk.”

“You didn’t put me at risk. This is my job, Gideon.”

“Is that all I am?”

“No.”

His lips crashed down on hers and this kiss was demanding and filled with heat. He forced her lips open, his tongue thrusting inside as his hips ground against her. His hardness pressed into her belly as he backed her against the door. Sliding her hands into his hair, she raked her fingernails across his scalp, and he moaned into her mouth, his hips thrusting against her in a delicious rhythm.