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Chapter 26 – Constantine
The helicopter filledwith a crew of EMTs flew the real estate agent out of the party. The party was wrecked and long forgotten, everyone now giving statements to the police. Jason would live, and after his stomach was pumped, it was likely no one would realize he had been poisoned. All of Talia’s jewelry carried placebos, nasty little drugs that would make someone incredibly sick but not kill them like the original substance would have. I had placed sensors on her cabinets so that anytime she went to touch them, I would know and could watch the footage to ensure she never slipped a different substance into one.
The night had been a complete success. Talia had played right into my hand. She would be flustered and on edge about the failed attempt to poison me. Too meticulous, she would take the time to retreat and reconsider her next move. Talia was not a fast draw when it came to action, and I had just bought myself a reprieve before her next attack.
Damn, my wife was good. Just look what she’d done—a trained assassin to rival even me. I felt a note of pride in my chest. The thought came unbidden:What if I freed her from her father’s clutches?
I sighed. I wouldn’t even know where to begin with that. My plan had always been to treat her as a chess piece, someone to be manipulated; not as someone who wanted to choose the side of the board. It was a terrifying train of thought. If she continued to be a soldier for her father, I could manipulate her where I wanted, but if I offered her a choice to change allegiance and she still chose to remain her father’s pawn? Fuck—that gutted me to even consider it.
Again, I considered killing Beaumont. I wished to end this bloody feud, and burying him six feet under would solve this issue quickly. Things had shifted now that he’d personally attacked me via his daughter. But I still couldn’t find his lair and was unable to track his movements. He slithered from place to place; anonymity was his protection.
But now there was another consideration to killing the devil. What would that do to Talia? That single thought was enough to cool my rage, because her feelings were now something that were part of the equation.
“Some party, huh?” Adrian called out as he walked toward me through the crowd, bemused horror gracing his face.
I grunted.
“Sorry I missed it. What happened, Con? Jason got food poisoning?” There was a searching look from my cousin.
The story was on the tip on my tongue. We were far enough away that I could relay the events without danger of being overheard, but that wasn’t why I hesitated to speak of tonight. There was a strong pull in my chest; it was signaling that I shouldn’t tell my cousin what had happened. He wouldn’t understand how I was playing with fire and loving every damn minute of it. Instead, I said, “Too many drinks. He’s going to ruin his liver.” I shot my cousin a pointed look.
Adrian squirmed. “I take vitamins and herbs to protect mine. Regardless, I should have been here.”
“So you could go shot for shot with Jason, and I would then have two guests in the hospital?” I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Psha, I could have handled myself. Besides, you should have someone watching your back at all times, cuz.”
“Handle yourself? Your record says otherwise.” It was working. The more I needled him, the more flushed the skin above his collar grew. Even in the glow of the lanterns, I could see it. “There was no reason for you to hurry over here,” I added. “Especially since you so poignantly declined coming to my dinner party in the first place.”
Adrian stepped up to me. “Your bitch of a wife poisoned him, cuz,” he hissed, no longer beating around the bush and saying what was on his mind.
I gripped his shirt and gave him a shake. “Watch yourself—cuz.”
“You don’t see it, do you? She’s getting into your head already.” Spittle flew from Adrian’s lips.
“I see plenty,” I growled, shoving Adrian back. Turning sharply, I stalked to the pergola. I was in control. This was my game to play, and Talia wasmyopponent. Adrian’s comments were out of place; to hell that they came from a place of concern.
Talia leaned against the bar top, instructing the staff as they tore down the festivities. If she looked a little pale in the glow of the teardrop lights, it was hard to tell with all the makeup she wore. I threw myself into a seat, catching her eye as I did so.
“Some night,” I drawled.
A manicured brow arched up. “At least it wasn’t on my account that tonight wasn’t a rousing success.”
“Defensive much?” I teased.
Talia winced but covered it with a laugh. “I was really hoping to impress you, Drakos.”
I liked that she’d stopped calling me the butcher. While I wasn’t ashamed of the moniker, Talia had a way of making it sound dirty. Like something that would stick to her designer shoes.
On impulse, I leaned forward, capturing her fingers. Talia tensed, eyes widening with fear. That sparked anger in my chest. She needed to know she had nothing to fear from me. She might be trying to murder me, but I would never, ever hurt her.
“You did impress me.” I brushed my thumb over the back of her hand. Her skin was soft, and she looked delectable. This small connection sent an erotic pang straight through me.
Talia smiled and allowed me to pull her close. I drank in her visage. If this was another life, I would be a lucky man.Maybe I am.
