El Diablo (Killer of Kings 6)

Recon.

Check out a potential crime lord.

The black tie they were going to was a front for trafficking women and kids. Boss wanted a look on the inside and to check out the layout of the house. If Xavier saw anything, he wasn’t to react, only take note.

This was going to be hard for him. Women were a weakness. Especially women who were in danger. He had an instinct to protect them, and yesterday’s events were fresh in his mind.

“So, we’re supposed to be engaged?”

“It’s all fake, remember that,” he said.

“I’m not going to forget. Don’t you need this to look authentic though?”

“What do you mean?” he asked, navigating the roads.

“We’re engaged. That means there has to be a ring. I don’t have a ring.”

He held the wheel with one hand, and reached into his jacket pocket. “Already done.” He held it out to her. “Here you go.” He’d picked up the simple ring to use as a prop.

“Do you think it’ll fit?”

“It better. We don’t have time to get you another ring.”

She took the ring, and he glanced over at her, watching as she slid it onto her finger. “It fits. Really well. It’s pretty.”

Alesha rested her hands on her thighs, and seeing the ring on her finger, it looked good. It looked like it was in the right place. He felt guilty for not picking out something even nicer. Alesha deserved something that had meaning to it, not just a prop. Still, this would do the job.

“What else are we doing tonight?”

“Mingling. Don’t start conversations, just laugh at the appropriate times. I expect you to look at me adoringly and to pretend that you’re in love with me.”

“Wow, you didn’t tell me that before you forced me out here.”

“We’re engaged. It’s a given.”

“I’m not an actress. I can’t pretend like this, Xavier. What you’re asking for is too much.”

“I’ve seen the way you’ve checked me out when you think I’m not looking. You don’t love me, but you certainly want to fuck me. When you look at me, just imagine you want to fuck me and I’ll deal with the rest.”

“You’re a fucking asshole,” she said, her arms folded.

“Do you want to deny it?”

“I’m not going to do or say anything. You don’t have to point it out. Wow, now I feel like the loser housemaid that has the hots for her boss. How are you going to look at me? Or do you plan to be the guy that has one woman on his arm while looking for another to screw with?” she asked.

“Simple. I’m going to be looking at you like I’m hungry for you. How one taste will never be enough and if I didn’t have to attend the stupid event, I’d be balls deep inside you.”

“You don’t mean that.”

“Don’t I? It’s funny because the moment you came downstairs, I could think of doing anything else.”

His honesty silenced her. Good.

“In all seriousness, I think you should pick someone else.”

“I don’t have time. If you don’t handle tonight well, you can kiss your job goodbye.”

“Why? I’ve done nothing wrong. I helped you. Remember last night when you couldn’t even get into bed?”