Hostile Territory (Blackbridge Security 1)

I can’t think of Deacon right now or how I’d never do something like that to him because it makes me acknowledge the feelings still swirling around inside me that are forbidden. It would make me want to walk out of this room, walk away from my best friend and chase after a man that has proved time and time again that he has no interest in me other than sating a sexual need. Just like I wouldn’t use a man for riches, I won’t be used for sex.

“A private jet or commercial?”

It takes all my strength not to roll my eyes and huff at her question. “Private.”

She perks up at this, a slow smile spreading across her face.

“Just how much money is that business of his making?”

My skin crawls with the salacious look in her eyes. When she and Deacon got together, he didn’t have much, and what? Now that he’s successful in life he’s an option once again?

I clench my hands at my sides, but she has her back to me as she pulls expensive clothes from the closet, placing several pieces on the bed before her nose scrunches up.

“Can you call housekeeping to pack all of this up? I just don’t have the energy for it after what happened today.”

She turns, walking past me without looking back.

“And have them do something about the broken door,” is what she tosses over her shoulder before walking out of the suite.

“With friends like you…” I mutter before picking up the damn room phone and doing her bidding.

I have some serious reevaluating to do when I get back to the States, but I’ll keep my mouth clamped closed, jaw aching with the force until then. I don’t want to make any more trouble for Deacon, and pissing Dani off more than she already is only means trouble for everyone involved.

***

I’m not surprised that Deacon won’t look in my direction on the flight home. It honestly fits his MO perfectly. If I caught him glancing in my direction even once, it would probably send me into arrhythmia.

I’m also not surprised to watch Dani flirt with him like eight years and a divorce doesn’t separate them. She came back to the room last night drunk, skin flushed and smelling of men’s cologne, and I let my mind go wild with the possibilities that she spent the hours she was gone in Deacon’s arms, but the way he seems disgusted with even the sight of her today has alleviated those questions. But then again, I spent a night in his arms and got the same response, so who freaking knows.

Any attempt to sleep is thwarted by her incessant need to make every second about her. If she isn’t cooing at Deacon’s guys, no doubt trying to get a rise out of her ex, she’s insisting on engaging me in conversation loud enough for every person on the plane to hear. I’m surprised the pilots haven’t closed the door to the cockpit to get a little peace and quiet.

“Have you picked your dress for the Grand Gala?”

“No.” The Grand Gala is months away, and fortunately the very last one of the year that I’m obligated to attend. Even with the loads of fun I had with Wren, they no longer have the appeal they did weeks ago.

“Really?” She snaps her head back, aghast that I haven’t taken time out from the recent attempts on my life to go shopping for a damned gown. “Whatever you pick it better not be emerald. Mine is, and I don’t want people to think we’re dressing like twins.”

I turn in my seat, lips in a thin line and lean in closer to her. “My apartment was trashed by your Russian friends. Some street thug broke into my hotel room with the intent to abduct me and beat your location out of me. I had a gun pointed at my face just yesterday. No, Dani, I haven’t had the chance to go shopping for a gown.”

“Trashed?” Her face falls, and it’s the first time she’s shown an ounce of care for what others have been going through while she was drinking cocktails on the beach and entertaining buff cabana boys.

“Torn to shreds,” I explain. “They destroyed everything. Ripped my couch to shreds. There wasn’t a thing left to salvage.”

Her hand covers her face, and for a split second I think she’s going to have some empathy.

“That couch was hideous. So maybe it’s for the best.”

I do my best to hide my disappointment, but it’s impossible.

Dani merely chuckles absentmindedly when I huff and turn toward the front of the plane. Maybe complete isolation from everyone is best.Chapter 35Deacon

One Month Later

“This is fucking subpar work,” I snap, tossing the dossier back at Gaige.

He glares at me, but he’s a smart man because he keeps his mouth closed.