I watch as he crosses his ankle over his knee and leans back, lacing his fingers behind his head. I make my eyes look away from the rippling muscle he effortlessly flaunts when he leans back.
“And what will you do when you find them?”
“The same thing you would.”
It’s a bold move, to assume I know how he’d behave.
I brace myself for his anger, or outrage, or a command to leave. Maybe he’ll even call someone to come and escort me off his property. How far is too far to push a man like him?
He does none of those things.
“And what is it I would do?”
I squirm but don’t look away. “You’d kill them.”
He doesn’t deny it.
“I don’t think you’re capable of murder, Miss Price.”
So, we’re back to formalities. I can play that game, too.
“That’s only because you don’t know me, sir.”
“And if I did?”
I swallow before I draw in a deep breath. “You’d know that there’s nothing I won’t do for the people I’m loyal to.”
He slowly nods. The hint of approval fills me with pride.
Run, my instinct warns. It's dangerous to value the opinion of someone like him.
“That’s closer.”
“Closer to what?”
“Convincing me to hire you.”
Chapter 3
Cain
* * *
She’s here. I’ve waited for this. I’ve planned this. And everything I’ve orchestrated led her here, but she can’t ever know that.
I’ll kill Armand for the way he did this. Fucking hit her car to get her attention, planted bits and pieces of information for her to find us. But it was too damn risky, the son of a bitch.
I look at the way she sits, her back ramrod straight in one of the pool chairs, my tee melting against her curves like a seductive tease.
It’s a mistake to hire her.
I don’t hire impulsive, headstrong people for my team.
Ever.
But that’s not why I wanted her here.
She can’t know why I’ll hire her. Not now. Not ever.
I want Violet Price so close to me I could touch her. I know every goddamn thing about her. If she knew who I am and why she’s really here, she’d run. Maybe even change her name again.
I’ve been obsessed with her for six months.
Who was the woman with the mesmerizing eyes? The first time I saw her, I wanted her. I had to have her. And I haven’t gotten her out of my mind since.
I saw her in one of our surveillance videos. We were monitoring a local shopping mall, and her studio was doing a demonstration. Then there she was. Violet eyes staring at our camera as if she knew who we were, that we were watching her. We were trailing one of the parents in her youngest class, not her, and later found him guilty of cheating on his wife. The man was dumb enough to bring his girlfriend to a jewelry store at the mall. We pocketed half a million for that one.
We got what we needed the first two minutes into the surveillance footage. It was crystal clear. Yet I played that video over, and over, and over again until I could recite every line she said, make every move she made.
And I was obsessed.
I spent the next week learning everything I could about her, and finally had Armand put up video surveillance where she worked out. We stayed out of her home until last night.
I noted the way she held herself. When she wasn’t throwing punches or kicks, she assumed a fighter’s stance, light on her feet, knees slightly bent. The only move she made with more effort than the rest was blocking. No one hit her. Ever. She was a master at self-protection.
It wasn’t until after my initial… obsession… that I unearthed her skillset.
Small and lithe, she’s a fighter to the core. She can hold her own when she needs to, and she fucking will. Skilled in multiple languages, indefatigable, her only real flaw is disrespect for authority. It only draws me to her more, because I’ll teach her that skill. On my terms.
With the exceptions of our doctor and on-site chef, every member of my team is ex-military. Dishonorably discharged. I like it that way, and I have my reasons. I, of all people, should know what it’s like to have to defend your honor and fight for respect. I give my team that chance, and because I have, they’re loyal to me.
Violet isn’t.
How would I keep her loyal to me? She tells me she is, and I believe her. But talk is cheap. She’ll have to show me with her actions that she means what she says.
I’ve never hired anyone like her, someone ruled by emotions instead of intellect.
But I’ll make an exception for Violet.
It’s her fire that fuels her, and that’s what she’ll learn to harness. To use. To finely tune into a weapon.
I planned it this way, her coming to me for help. I need what she has to offer, but on my terms and my terms only.