Second (Betrothed 6)

I knew Conway Barsetti had a closer relationship to him based on what he’d said in passing, but I didn’t know the nature of the connection. I assumed he used him for protection for his models, something of that nature. So I called him next, ignoring the late hour.

He answered after a couple rings. “Do you always call your clients at two in the morning?”

“Only the ones I like.”

He sighed into the phone. “What is it, Damien? The government better be seizing my assets right now.”

“You said you were a night owl. That you designed your best work after midnight.”

“That was before I got married. Now I’ve got a kid and another one on the way…things change. And you’re lucky you didn’t wake up my wife when you called because she would have thrown my phone in the toilet.”

“She sounds lovely…”

He chuckled. “She just likes her sleep. She doesn’t get a lot of it as a full-time mother.”

“Maybe you need to step up.”

“I bring home the bacon. That’s my job. Anyway, what the hell do you want?”

“I just got off the phone with Bones. Tried to hire him for a job, and he said he was out of the game.”

Conway suddenly became stern. “Yeah, he retired a while ago.”

“Well, I need him to do this for me. There’s no one else who can take care of it.”

He was quiet.

“I know you’re close to him. Ask him on my behalf. If money is the issue, I can give him whatever he wants.” I needed to get rid of the Skull King at all costs. Any amount of money was a small price to pay.

“Money isn’t the problem. He’s just out of the game.”

“Conway, come on—”

“The answer is no.” His response was firm, his tone suddenly turning cold despite our long history. “I’m sorry I can’t help you.” He hung up.

I let out a quiet growl before I shoved my phone into my pocket. I wasn’t used to hearing the word no, not getting what I wanted. If only I could convince him to handle this, most of my problems would be solved.

I just needed to see Bones face-to-face…then I could convince him.

But how?

Charlotte must have heard my heated conversation, and she came outside in my t-shirt, her makeup a mess because of how sweaty we both got when we fucked. She came into my side and linked her arm through mine. Her face was tucked into my neck, and she pressed a subtle kiss against my warm skin. “What’s wrong, Damien?”

I kept my eyes on the city. “Nothing.”

She moved closer into me, placing her body between me and the stone wall. She ran her hand up my chest and sprinkled kisses along my jawline. “Then let’s go to bed. I miss you…” Her hand moved to the back of my hair, and she forced my chin to tilt so she could kiss me. She was demanding of my attention, like she didn’t get enough of it every night.

I almost caved until I remembered something. I was bedding the woman who worked with Conway every day. She could actually help me with this, could get me to change his mind. “I want you to do something for me.”

“Anything.” She kissed the corner of my mouth and fisted my hair, smelling of perfume and sweat mixed together.

“I want you to get Conway and his wife to have dinner with us.”

“Why?” She pulled away and looked at me.

“I need him to do something for me…but he’s being stubborn.”

Both of her hands slipped into my hair, and she stared at my lips like she couldn’t wait to kiss me again. “Consider it done.”

14

Annabella

Liam and I fell into our old routine. I’d come home from work, and he would have dinner on the table. He spent the day training and doing stuff around the house, so when I came home, he spent all his time with me. We’d watch a movie before bed, and then we would be together under the sheets, the sex good the way it used to be.

I refused to think about Damien when I was with my husband. I wanted to get over him and move on with my life. But when I was at work, he popped into my mind. When I saw Hades stop by Sofia’s office, I thought about him. Whenever Liam wasn’t around, I couldn’t control myself.

I set my purse on the table and shed my coat when I heard Liam speaking.

“Alright.” His deep voice traveled to me down the hallway. “See you then.”

I turned the corner and joined him in the kitchen. “See who when?”

He pulled a pan out of the oven and set it on the kitchen island. It was baked chicken slathered in balsamic marinade. Noodles were in the pot on the stove. “I invited Hades and Damien to dinner, to make up for…” He pulled off his oven mitts and never finished the sentence. “So, we’re going out tomorrow.”