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I’m surprised she gives a shit enough to respect what Emilia would or wouldn’t want, but I don’t have time for the games. I need to know what the issue is so I can send her on her way.
“Katherine, tell me what’s going on,” I growl out.
Her hand trembles as she pulls down the neckline of her shirt, showing a purpling bruise forming on her chest. I can tell it goes lower on her breast, but I don’t care to look any deeper at it. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I would think she’s here, playing me.
“I can’t get involved, but I can call downstairs to get you a room,” I start.
“No. I don’t need all that,” she says, waving my offer away. “I just need a place to wait for a bit. Somewhere safe. My friend Carolyn is coming to get me and I’m going to move in with her. I just don’t want another run in with Noah tonight.”
“Is that what a run-in results in?” I ask, motioning to her chest.
She looks at the floor as shame colors her cheeks. That’s when I notice her eyes are red rimmed from crying. I sigh heavily. She’s put me in a shit situation. I can’t very well allow her to be in harm’s way. Emilia wouldn’t want me to do that either.
The entire time, there’s a heaving feeling of guilt weighing in my gut. I can’t figure out if it’s some sense of foreboding or intuition that I shouldn’t trust Katherine, or if it’s just guilt because this isn’t fair to Emilia.
Maxwell didn’t like me setting up the lunch date with her. It didn’t help that I couldn’t explain why I agreed to the luncheon in the first place. I did ask Maxwell to be there. I want him to see that she is nothing to me. Maxwell reluctantly agreed and that made me feel a little better.
Worrying about Emilia’s feelings is beginning to piss me off. When has this shit ever mattered? It makes me angry. Being engaged and having a taste of my innocent Emilia has messed with my head. So much that I’m indecisive on what to do here. That’s not me. That’s not how I am.Ever.
“I’ll be quick,” I tell her. “Stay here. When I get out, I’ll take you downstairs.”
“Okay,” she says nodding.
Something is off, but I’m ignoring it. I can’t decide if it’s because Katherine’s here and I’m feeling guilty because of Emilia, or if it has to do with her story in general.This is a new sensation for me and I’m not sure what to do about it. I push my thoughts aside. I’ll figure it out as soon as I get the woman out of here.
“Fix yourself a drink. I’ll be out shortly,” I instruct, I walk into the bedroom and get some clothes and then go to the bathroom. There’s no way I’m going to get out of the shower and not have clothes to put on. I doubt Emilia will care what I do if she finds out Katherine was here, but I’m doing it just the same. I lock the door behind me. I need to figure this shit out.
I’m angry as hell. I wanted to be relaxed so I could enjoy making Emilia come over the phone. We haven’t done that yet. I’m dying to hear all sorts of dirty words fall from her lips.
I need to get home. I can’t wait anymore. I’m going to talk to Emilia about moving the wedding up. I can’t keep holding back. I have to have her.
Now.
CHAPTER25
Katherine
I watch him walk away. His muscular back is a work of art. I keep staring even after he disappears. I don’t miss the distinct click of the lock. Is he thinking I will try to join him in the shower? I can’t say it didn’t cross my mind. I make my way to the wet bar. Normally, I would want something fruity to drink, but with what I’m facing tonight, whiskey on the rocks seems to be the way to go. I drop ice into my glass, making sure to make it extra loud—just in case he’s listening and isn’t in the shower. I glance down the small hall that leads to the bedroom and ensuite. It looks okay. I figure I might as well get it over with before I run out of time.
My heart thunders painfully in my chest. It’s been racing since I spotted Niko’s security in the hallway or rather, since they spotted me. That’s something new. Niko doesn’t normally have security outside his hotel. The way the guy kept staring at me as I answered his questions, set me on edge. I thought he would usher me out of the hotel. Hell, I kind of wish he had. He didn’t and now I’m stuck doing something I’m not sure is wise but doing it anyway.
I quietly make my way over to Niko’s desk. His laptop is sitting open with files stacked around it. Niko doesn’t take a break. It’s a given that he would have something for me to find. Niko is great in bed, but he’s very predictable and disciplined.
My cellphone vibrates in my pocket, making me jump just as my hand touches the first file.Damn it.I rifle through them quickly, holding the phone between my head and my shoulder. I don’t touch the laptop. It won’t have what I’m looking for.
“I can’t find it,” I whisper harshly. This is all his actual work, mostly a bunch of files about corporations and people he’s apparently doing business with because there are spreadsheets and junk in every file. It’s not what I’m looking for. I open and close the desk drawers as quietly as I can, but they’re not there.
“You’re not being very helpful. He will have something. Keep looking. It will be there in his room somewhere,” Dante growls. Shit, just his name fills me with fear. I don’t like him, and I sure don’t trust him. Still, I’m desperate. We both want the same thing, so it just made sense to go into business with him. It’s an enemy of my enemy kind of thing. I don’t know the full saying, but it fits.
“Well, it’s not.” I walk behind the desk, peeking into the cabinet to find a safe. “There’s a safe here, but it’s locked with a pin and fingerprint scanner.”
“Shit. It’s probably in there,” he says. “I will be at Korslova’s this week. I can find a copy of the contract there. The old man is too trusting. It should be easy enough to find.”
“Niko told me he is leaving Friday evening.”
“Looks like you’re being helpful after all.”
“I hate this,” I admit, my gut churning with regret.
