Facade

She already belonged to someone else.

But why the hell did I care? Why did that make me angry inside? Was I really that taken with a simple kiss? I’d been kissed multiple times, numerous times by plenty of women. It was just a kiss. Not even tongue.

Why was I dwelling on this so much?

I leaned against the kitchen table and watched the two of them talk. She was strong and alluring, with her arm muscles flexing against the black of her dress. John was smiling down at her, his hands tucked away in his pockets. His skin was tan, and his eyes were dark like hers but held a light hers didn’t.

At least, not until she looked up at him.

They looked good together, and that made me angrier. There was something alluring about her, and now I didn’t have the room to figure out what the fuck it was. I could feel the alcohol rushing through my system, clouding my judgment in the first place.

Maybe that was what all this was, all the whiskey and the champagne working its way through my body.

“Mr. Steele?”

“Yes?” I asked.

Sam was staring at me from the hallway, a confused look on her face.

“John will be staying with you tonight. I have to go back to my hotel room and pack. I need a list of all the employees who work at your company including the full name of Miss Emma.”

I grinned at the way she said her name. I knew that tone of voice. It was clear to me that Emma was jealous of Sam’s presence and of not knowing why Sam was suddenly here in the first place.

But the twinge of annoyance in Sam’s voice told me she was jealous too.

“I’ll compile that and get it to John tomorrow,” I said.

“No. You will get it to me,” Sam said.

“Figured it would be easier to give it to the behemoth standing here.”

“If you make any more quips, I’ll order him to hover over your bed all night.”

“Then I’ll give him a show to watch,” I said with a grin.

“You go, Sam. I’ve got this here. And I’ll make sure he gets that list straight to you first thing in the morning,” John said

I rolled my eyes at his soothing voice as Sam grinned up at him.

“Thanks. I’ll be back tomorrow with coffee,” Sam said.

“A double nonfat Americano with room for cream, please,” I said.

“Two black coffees will be fine,” John said.

I watched Sam as she left my home, leaving me with the tall, dark behemoth. I leaned against the table as I listened to her walk away, her feet smoothing across the driveway as I sighed.

“You won’t win,” John said.

“Come again?”

“If you try to defy her or take control back, you won’t win. She’s dealt with bigger bastards than you. It’s easier if you just do it her way,” he said.

“So, she’s a domme. Anything else I should know?”

John shook his head as he turned his gaze out the window toward the perimeter of my yard. Reminding me of the fact that someone wanted me dead.

Great.

Chapter 8

Sam

I WENT TO THE HOTEL to pack my bag for Los Angeles before I buzzed on home. I did have a home base in San Francisco, but it wasn’t something I advertised. Just like Derek, I kept my personal life and my professional life separate.

And like him as well, my professional life dominated my personal one.

I didn’t like how close people were getting. Someone got into his fucking room, and that screamed “inside job.” Someone who knew him intimately. Personally. More than he could’ve ever imagined or wanted from someone.

I had to place some phone calls after I was done packing.

I set my bag at my feet and went into my room. I shoved my clothes to the side and pressed the wall behind it. The hidden door gave way. I slid it off to the side and then clicked on the light that illuminated my private stash.

Guns and knives and pocket pen cameras. Bracelets that doubled as close-range weapons and rings that delivered multiple thousand volts of shock. A walking cane with a protruding knife at the end that flew out with the touch of a button as well as a cane with a sword stashed inside.

My eyes lingered on all of it as I began plucking a few things from my hidden treasure trove.

I needed to call Lance. I needed to know if he could gather intel on what happened at that damn event tonight. I needed to know details. Numbers. Body count. Anything he could give me on what the police had found thus far. I stuck a few things in my bag to go with the outfits I had packed and then armed my hips and pockets with everything else.