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His lips hardened. “Russian mafia wanted him more than us. They got to him first.”
She sucked in a gasp. Mafia? That stuff only happened in movies, not in her life. But she never believed she’d be trying to hide Angelica’s crimes from the shareholders to keep her business on the up and up, or that she’d be “chum,” as Jace so lovingly called her.
She edged closer to his side. Once again, he recognized her need and slid his arm around her back. He gave her waist a squeeze. A second later, he murmured out of the blue, “Last time Judd tried to kick your ass, bro. I won’t try—I’ll succeed.”
A shock ran through her as she realized he was wired with a communication device too. And he was speaking to his brother.
She shot him a questioning look, but he only shook his head lightly.
He pushed her faster through the crowd.
Barely keeping up on her teetering high heels, she hissed, “You’re pushing me like a vacuum again!”
He let out a snort and slowed his pace. “Sorry. I’m used to handling horses.”
She started. “Wait, what? Really?”
“Yeah. I help out on the ranch where our office is located. I’m still learning, but…”
He cut off, and she waited for more, but he led her to a round table and pulled out a chair for her. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught sight of a broad-shouldered man twisting to trail someone through the crowd. Panic swept her, and she refused to sit down, even when Jace’s fingers pressed into her spine more firmly.
Mouth dipping to her ear, he urged her into the seat. “It’s all right. Jaren’s just looking into someone.”
She twisted her face to his. “That was Jaren? I didn’t recognize him.”
“Yeah, he shaved his beard so no one would pick us out as brothers. It’s all right, sweetness. I promise you’re safe.”
A shiver of emotion tore through her, wrecking her composure and tearing down all she knew about what she wanted out of life.
If someone asked her a week ago, she would have told them she wasn’t even willing todate. Now she couldn’t begin to think about being parted from her protector…her friend…her lover.
Hooking her evening bag over the back of the chair, she allowed Jace to guide her seat close the table. When he took the chair next to her, she reached out a hand to him under the tablecloth.
Throwing her a look that spoke more than any look he’d ever given her before, he meshed his fingers with hers. “I got you, Bronte-without-the-polka-dots.”
She bit down on her lower lip to disguise her smile.
Dammit. He knew just how to distract her.
Somehow, she got through dinner and then a small speech given by the chairperson of Trade Con. Even though the food was decent, her nerves made it difficult to eat much and she was too on edge to hear what the man said.
She kept covertly sweeping her stare across the room, searching for Jaren, but she didn’t spot him—or the person he was looking into.
She was so stuck in her own head that she hardly noticed when the strains of music sounded, but looked up at a tap on her shoulder.
Miles Morgan stood there. “How about a dance to celebrate our partnership?” His stare shifted to Jace. “If your fiancé doesn’t mind, that is.”
Her eyes locked with Jace’s. He offered a smile she recognized was forced. Whether he was worried about her being in another man’s arms or away from his side, she didn’t know. But he nodded in agreement.
She stood and allowed her new partner to lead her onto the dance floor with a lot of other couples.
When Miles Morgan politely took her hand and her waist, she threw a look back at Jace. He was standing on the side of the floor, his gaze glued on her. She let out the trickle of air she’d been holding in her lungs. He was close. She had the camera pin that doubled as an alarm. She was safe.
Miles smiled down at her. “I have to admit I haven’t been this excited about a project in a long time.”
His words kicked her business mind back into gear. “I’m thrilled that you’ve agreed to work with Artemis.”
“I admit I had my assistant research Artemis more. You had a business partner until very recently. What happened to her?”
