Page 52 of Barristers & Bones

“Over my dead body,” Roman said pleasantly.

Silas’s lips twisted, and he winked conspiratorially. His breath reeked of alcohol and cigarettes, even from ten feet away. “We shouldn’t be at odds. If you want to make some real money, we have a business model that’d make you a very rich man.”

“I’m already a very rich man, and there’s no fucking way we’d use our firm or our business interests to launder money for you. We aren’t stupid enough to get into bed with either you or the drug syndicate.” Roman leaned in. “And if you don’t stay clear of us, I’ll make sure you live to deeply regret it. Or die regretting it. Either works for me.”

Silas studied Roman with bloodshot eyes, then pulled a cigar out of his pocket and sniffed it. “Don’t be offended, Mr. Fowler. We respect your reputation.” His eyes went hard, and he nodded to me. “But Lionel wants the girl. I’ll see Ms. Cross again soon.” My stomach cramped and my knees started shaking as Silas waddled off with his two men in tow.

Roman took my arm. “Let's go.”

He pulled his phone out and called Gideon as we walked. “We’re ready.” He hung up, and we walked swiftly toward the pickup area. When we hit the front entrance of the massive hotel, Roman gently herded me back against a pillar. “I came to an unpleasant realization tonight.”

“That Silas Strack is creepy as hell?”

“That I need to hand your mentorship off to Ivan.”

Adrenaline hit my system, and my body stilled. If he’d let me out of this situation months ago, I would have been ecstatic, but now I felt hurt and betrayed. “Why?”

“I trust Ivan.” He cupped my cheek, and my breath whooshed out. “I also don’t like watching other men circle around you without being able to do anything about it. Even you wearing that goddamned suit couldn’t keep men from eye fucking you tonight.”

“What?” I choked out.

“I want more from you, Luna, so it’s time to hand off your internship.”

My heart sped up, and anger surged through me. “You are such anasshole. First, for not letting me out of this internship to begin with, and then for making me actually like you after the way you’ve treated me–for months!”

A sly grin spread across his face, making my ovaries clench. I stuck my finger in his face and whispered hoarsely, “Get that smile off your face right now.” I pulled away from him and started pacing, my hands gesturing wildly as I ranted. “I’ll admit, I tried on that dress and those shoes. Because I’m curious to a fault, and the dress is gorgeous.” I turned and marched back to him. “But I’m done letting you jerk me around. You want to hand me off? Fine, but don’t try to cock block me, or act jealous, or… buy me clothes ever again!”

“You’re a woman, so technically I can’t cock block you.”

“You know what I mean. Are we clear?”

“No.”

“No?” I sounded strangled.

He reached up and brushed a strand of hair off my face. “From now on, I’ll buy you whatever the fuck I want.”

This was a game to him, but he could really hurt me. Hell, he’d already done that by treating me so contemptuously for months and then coldly dumping me on Ivan. And now the demented Strack family was after me. “If I’ve become such a problem and you plan to pawn me off anyway, then I’ll go back to my original internship. On Monday, I’ll call Klim and let him know.”

As Gideon pulled up, Roman leaned over and murmured in my ear, “The fuck you will.”

Chapter 16

Roman

My patience was long gone. We didn’t say a word during the ride to her apartment, and she unlocked her door and turned. “Tell the partners goodbye for me. I hope you won't be a moody prick if we happen to see each other again.”

I caught the door before she could close it and tsked. “Gideon will be here on Tuesday morning to pick you up.” I leaned in as her beautiful green eyes flared. “Don’t stand him up.” I gently pushed her inside her apartment and closed the door so I wouldn’t be tempted to follow her in and fuck her on the living room floor.

“Everything alright?” Gideon asked mildly as I slid into the passenger seat a moment later. He’d experienced the tense, silent ride from the casino too.

“No. Xander was right, this is a fucking mess.”

Gideon hummed. “Lionel Strack is a misogynistic psychopath. When he gets out, he’ll come after her.”

“Ivan is putting a tail on him.” I sighed. “We met Silas and his bodyguards as we were walking out. She’s on his radar too, and he confirmed Lionel wants her.”

Gideon’s mouth went tight. “She needs protection.”

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