Page 66 of Shield

When her sights set on Matti, the woman practically jumps to her feet, nervously bringing her fingers to the delicate necklace adorning her slender neck as she subtly pushes her chest forward.

Fuck, I shouldn’t have taken off Matti’s pendant. It didn’t go with the outfit, but a wave of panic hits me as I realize I should have at least given it to Matti. It’s a protection necklace, after all, and we’re about to—

“Hello, Mr. Dragovari,” she purrs. “So nice to see you again.”

Again? Has he brought women here before to buy them jewelry?

I glance at Matti, but if he notices her attention, he doesn’t show it. His face is impassive as he nods and places a protective hand on the small of my back.

She shifts her attention to me, taking my hand in hers. “Oooh, you came prepared I see! I’m Rebecca.”

I glance at Matti, confused, and Rebecca notices.

“No jewelry,” she says lightly. “That way there’s nothing distracting you from all the beautiful pieces that you deserve. Come with me.”

She leads us further inside, her hips swaying with calculated precision. I look up at Matti, wondering if he’s watching her, but he’s looking at me instead, fingers lightly tracing up and down my spine.

Leaning in, he whispers in my ear, “I can’t stop thinking about ripping that blouse off and fucking your ass, kitten.”

A purr escapes me before I can stop it. Just before his mask of control slides back into place, his lips barely tilt into a smirk.

Rebecca leads us to a table in the center of the room. Only two other employees are here, one behind a jewelry counter and another rifling through papers.

Matti pulls out his cell phone and begins texting. “This won’t work. We need a private room,” he says.

Rebecca doesn’t blink. “Of course, sir. Right this way.”

She guides us to another opulent space with glass walls and lush seating, everything in muted ivory tones.

Matti barely glances up. “No.”

This time, Rebecca falters. “Sir, this is our nicest room, I assure you.”

“Privacy is more important than luxury,” he says, leveling her with a cold stare until she nods nervously.

Her smile tightens. “Of course. I know exactly what you need.”

She guides us past mahogany-paneled walls, down a hallway, into a lush office filled with heavy furniture.

Matti glances around. “Too many windows.”

Rebecca clenches her jaw for the briefest second, then smiles brightly. “No windows? Well, that leaves only one option: our vault room.”

Ah.

I dart an appreciative glance at Matti. No windows. No visibility. And in the vault room, we’ll be stationed exactly where we need to be.

The vault room is beautiful as well, featuring navy blue carpeting so thick that my heels sink in, exposed stone walls that match the table, and seating upholstered in ocean blue mohair fabric.

There’s also a heavy black metal door with an intricate entry pad beside it that appears to take biometrics as well as a numerical code.

Phone in hand, Matti pulls out one of the seats for me and then settles in beside me to answer texts that are coming in as Rebecca walks around the table to sit across from us.

“Not you,” he says without lifting his eyes from his phone.

“I’m sorry?” she asks, looking from me to him and back.

Matti finally lifts his gaze, cold and impassive. “I scheduled an appointment with Lorenzo Marino, did I not?”

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