She’s nothing like her brother. She’s a loner. Existing in a world of her own. Shuffling from work to this dump, if Tony is to be believed. And somehow superb.
What the fuck, Gideon?
I know better than to let her beauty cloud my judgment. In my world, beauty is a weapon, and this woman is the sharpest, deadliest of them all.
I continue to observe her, trying to determine whether she’s strung out. If she’s anything like her brother, fuck the promise I made. Drug abusers are loose cannons, and I don’t have time to babysit.
She does nothing out of the ordinary. Just sits and stares at the building across from her, lost in thought.
I wonder if I should step out of the shadow and tell her she’s in danger. Allow her to take care of herself. Then I won’t have to deal with this ridiculous promise. One destined to end with her writhing beneath me. My willpower is only so strong.
Yeah. That’s exactly what I’ll do. I’ll warn her and leave her to fend for herself.
Wipe my hands clean of this whole mess.
I’m about to do just that when my phone rings.
I hit the answer button, growling out, “Speak.”
Julian chuckles. “Is that any way to answer the phone, darling?”
As my right hand, he’s the only person allowed to speak to me like this. Since Tobias Kosta stepped down, the two of us have run the show.
I keep my voice low. “When it’s you, always.”
He laughs. It lasts a single beat before he clears his throat.
My back goes ramrod straight.
Something’s wrong.
“What happened?”
“How do you know something happened?”
“Don’t draw this out.” My foot taps the ground. “We both know I’m good at reading the room. Right now, the room says you’re calling with bad news.”
“There’s an issue with a package. I need your help.”
“Take care of it. There’s an eight-figure cavity in my wallet that says it’s what I goddamn pay you for,” I snap. “I’m currently indisposed.”
“Stalking…”
I hang up without a word. When I step out from my hiding spot, Sasha Lennox is no longer there. Pity. I’ll have to deal with this later because, unlike her, my shipping problems can’t wait.
Well, maybe for a couple more minutes…
Just long enough to get a closer look.
2
SASHA
“How’d you do?”
Johnny asks the same question every time I clock out. And every time, I offer the same half-hearted shrug.
He adjusts his apron, which has his Head Chef title stitched onto the breast. “That bad?”