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There’s sorrow in her eyes and understanding. “Can you blame him?” Sapphire’s voice turns soft. She reaches out and takes my hand. We sit there a second and just enjoy the silence. Or at least I do. I don’t get much of it so I savor the quiet.
“Where is Polaris? I’m surprised you two didn’t gang up on me.”
Sapphire cants her head. “She was here, but your brother and partners called her away.”
Ohh. Interesting. “I wish those four would just get a room already and have at each other until they can all just find some kind of happiness. I see the way she looks at Harlon and the other two.”
The open end of Sapphire’s bottle is pointed in my direction. “I think we should stay out of it. We all have to figure out our own paths to happiness.”
I purse my lips not buying her change of mind. “Since when do you not want to play cupid with me?” I study her face for a minute thinking back on the last time she hooked up.
“Have you seen the Southern Alliance lately?” I tease with a smile. My brother’s enemies—really, my father’s—are my cousin’s lusty obsession.
Sapphire snorts, throwing her arm into a big X. “Change of subject. Can you start your sexy show sooner? I think you need something to do.”
I let the topic drop. For now. “About that. Come with me.”
Her pretty blues go wide. I didn’t mean to invite her to my sex routine, but moral support, right? “You don’t have to watch but knowing you are out there backing me up will make the difference. Please.”
Her eyes scan my face. After what feels like long minutes, she finally smirks. If anyone can make a gesture look sarcastic it’s Sapphire. “Good to know I don’t have to watch my cousin get railed by three guys, Belle. Geez.”
“So?” I ask expectantly, looking her dead in the eye. I take my attention off her for a second and she’ll flat-out make a run for it. I just know it. “I’ll secure you a table in the back where you can do all your murder-for-hire work while I get my kink on.”
Her head falls forward and her answer is muffled under the tumble of hair that falls over her face.
“Come again?”
“I said. I’ll bring my laptop.” Her voice is amused.
Okay…well. That’s a yes!
I spring up and head for the door. The last day with the men and all this sex talk with Sapphire has me hungry.
“Want something from the kitchen?” I look at my phone. “The kitchen will be opening soon. I’m sure I’ll find someone down there to make us a Ruben sandwich.”
“Nah, babe.” Sapphire stretches to her full height and smoothes out her powerhouse pants suit looking every bit the deadly undertaker she is. Only I know she would rather be changing pampers and cuddling newborns than dealing with Club Genesis and its runners. Her secret drive to have the whole nine yards with family is her true desire in life. I envy her. I wish I knew what I wanted.
Sapphire leans in and kisses me goodnight. “I have a meeting in ten downstairs. If you run into your brother, try not to piss him off, okay?”
I bat her concerns away. I’m growing tired of worrying about my brother. “New client tonight?”
She cocks her head and waves. “Can’t talk about it. You know that. If I finish early enough I will come back and help you with that sandwich.” And with that, my best friend leaves me to my own devices.
I take the hidden passageways from the top floor down to ground level where the kitchen takes up a good portion of the ground level. Smells of rich delicacies tingle my senses. The men insisted I eat before I left. We had the leftover lasagna we didn’t finish last night for a late lunch today. It was divine. Gage claims he’s not a good cook, but from what I tasted nothing came from a bottle. It was all homemade and by him.
I round the corner leading to the kitchen and come to an abrupt stop outside the doors. One is swung wide and I can hear Harlon speaking with someone in a low, harsh tone. But who? The second person speaks softly and I have to strain to hear them. It’s a woman. Polaris?
“Polaris, fucking woman. You are going to get us killed. All of us. You can’t work here anymore. I’ve made my decision.”
That answers that I guess. I cling to the wall.
Harlon sounds enraged. I’ve been on the receiving end of that anger. Polaris isn’t as tough on the inside as I am against his alpha, high-handed bullshit. I straighten myself and consider my options.
“Harlon, please.”
Pause.
“Santi, don’t let him do this, please. I have no other place to go. I can’t go back to New York. My sister doesn’t need my problems right now.”
