“How the fuck does it make sense?” He jabbed the cigar in the air, punctuating each word.
“She needs his strength.” Before he could interrupt with some macho bullshit, I continued. “We both know she’s at a disadvantage right now. She doesn’t have the money or the guns to take on all of Maeve’s squabbling family right now. Redmond Orchard has all that and more. Bringing their two families together makes sense.”
“The Servants won’t go for this.”
“The Servants are out of the picture.”
He chomped down on the cigar. “Why’d she leave them, anyway?”
“It’s complicated.” I looked down at my hands, trying to mask the fact that I didn’t fully understand what Erin’s motivations were.
She intrigued me. She was smart and driven, even if she was physically weak. I liked her ruthlessness and her desire to do what was necessary to achieve her goals, but some of her actions to this point were—puzzling at best.
That was one reason I hadn’t shoved a knife in her back yet. I was too fascinated to end this little game.
Working for Erin’s mother had been so dull. I’d been a glorified personal assistant.
But with Erin? I was a warlord queen.
And I liked that.
I liked it a lot.
“Orchard’s going to be a problem.” James started pacing again and puffing away, hands clasped behind his back. “He’s going to fuck her somehow. I don’t know how and I don’t know when, but he’ll do it.”
“I agree,” I said, even though I didn’t. “Did you know I saw them kissing?” Which I hadn’t, although I noticed the looks they shared, and guessed something happened.
James gaped at me.
The cigar fell to the ground, the ash splattering across the wood floor.
I darted forward and stomped it out before the cherry could light the rug. He blinked and turned from me, staring out the window, leaning against the frame like he’d been punched in the chest.
I picked up the chewed cigar. What a disgusting habit. I threw it into the garbage.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not. I saw them kiss. Something’s going on between those two and it’s more than business.”
“God damn it,” he said, hanging his head. “Do you think she loves him?”
“No,” I said, and it was true. I didn’t think Erin loved Redmond.
I suspected the girl wasn’t capable of love at all.
“Then why kiss him?”
“She’s playing the game. And you can kiss a man and not love him.”
He looked back at me with malice in his eyes. “I don’t need a lesson on romance from you.”
“Then take a lesson in politics. Erin needs Redmond, and she’ll do whatever it takes. If that means kissing, she’ll kiss. If that means sucking his cock—”
“Watch your fucking mouth,” he said, lips curled into a snarl.
I held up my hands for peace. “She’ll do what she has to do,” I said, keeping my voice level and calm, like I was talking to a rabid dog.
I shouldn’t have riled him up so much, but James was useful.
He was very, very useful.
I was in too deep with Erin. I found her interesting and I enjoyed our work together, but I wanted more from life, much more than being her attack dog and bodyguard. One day I could take what I wanted—but first, I needed her gone.
“She’s making a mistake.” He stood up straight and balled his hands into fists. “Orchard’s going to ruin her if we don’t do something.”
“I can talk to her—”
“Talk,” he said, shaking his head. “Talk’s not enough.”
“What do you recommend?”
I tried not to let him hear the eagerness in my tone.
“I don’t know what.” He began to pace again. The uninspired jackass. “A bullet would help him.”
“You can’t kill an Oligarch.”
“I can. They’re only men.”
“You understand what I mean. They’ll hunt you down, hunt down your whole family, all your friends, anyone that ever knew you, and kill them all. You can’t do it.”
“No, maybe I can’t.” His voice went distant as he looked at the door. “But someone else can.”
I turned my back to hide the smile.
He and I, we thought alike.
I couldn’t kill Erin. It would be much too obvious.
But someone else could.
James was useful. He felt too deeply—that was his problem.
I didn’t have the same hang-ups.
“I’m walking away from this conversation,” I said, approaching the door, and lingered with my hand on the knob. “What you choose to do is your business, but don’t act against Erin.”
“Never,” he said with passion in his voice. “I’d never hurt her.”
“I’m sure you wouldn’t.” I smiled, grinning readily. “But I’m guessing Redmond isn’t so lucky.”
“No, he’s not.”
I opened the door and walked out, leaving James alone to plot.
Chapter 9
Erin
Redmond strode across the living room, glaring at the floor.
He always paced when he was thinking. It was exhausting. I wished he’d sit down and relax for a few minutes, but I understood his discomfort.
I hated being in this place.