Page 90 of Red Retaliation
“I don’t know that, do I!” I can’t help but smirk.Interested in what I’ve got to say now?“But I know this event was mentioned.” I frown, trying to remember the exact words. “One of them said something about an ‘opening’, which would be passed on with the other info when ‘he’ wasn’t breathing down their necks.”
“And who the fuck is ‘he’ supposed to be?” Red’s voice takes on a low hiss.
“I thought they might be referring to you and... well... erm... me.” I fidget slightly. “If I remember correctly, there was something about ‘not firing on all cylinders’ and being hung up on a ‘stupid bitch’.”
Red’s handsome face morphs into a scowl. “Who exactly were they?”
“I couldn’t see.” I shrug. “But...”Do I say this or not? Yeah, why not!“The voices sounded like... like your brothers...”
Red stares at me for a moment and then laughs - and it’s a hearty laugh at that. I blink, confused. He thinks this is funny?
“Dear God, Arianna. Is this the best you can do?” Taking back hold of my arm, his other hand grips tightly around my waist as he steers me back into the throng. All anger has now magically dropped from his face, but it’s present in the words he hisses in my ear. “We all know there’s no love lost between you and my brothers, but aren’t you above resorting to bullshit to drive a wedge between me and them?”
I open my mouth, then shut it again and glare at Red defiantly. If he believes that and thinks I’m making it up for effect, then on his head be it!
If he’s so sure he knows everything, then he can work out who believes that he’s lost control over his own firm and deal with whatever that brings himself!
With all niceties gone now that we’re out of the orbit of anyone closeenough to see the icy glare in our eyes, my heart sinks as we head toward a group of women.
Staff wives, their eyes light up at Red’s approach, but change to resentment with me at his side.
“Evening, ladies.” Red turns on a megawatt smile that’s guaranteed to impress. “I hope you’re having a good evening?”
“It’s fantastic, Mr Bateman!” A surgically enhanced blonde twirls her long-taloned fingers in her hair extensions. “It’s good of you to include us wives in this.”
“And why would I not? Your husbands do an excellent job,” he drawls. “Have you met my wife? This is Arianna.”
The mood of the sycophantic women immediately shifts. It’s so blatant I could laugh, but instead I react as expected. “Hi there.”
Red drops his arm to my waist and pulls me towards him. It takes all my strength not to push his hard body away. It’s too much of a temptation, as well as an insult after how he’s just brushed off what I told him.
“I’ll be back shortly,” he whispers. This time his lipsdobrush my ear, and the memories of where else that mouth has been and where I’d like it again, barrel back into my brain. My cheeks color, but the stab of arousal doesn’t detract from his words.He’s leaving me here with these women?“Where are you going?” I hiss. “Don’t leave me talking to...”
“I won’t be long.” Knowing he’s got a captive audience, Red cups my face, his lips graze mine and then he’s gone.
I watch his fine figure cross the room as he heads towards the door of the conference suite, then lose him in the crowd. It is only then that I turn towards the collection of unwelcoming Stepford wives.
I want to kill Red for this. I want to kill him formanyreasons, but instead I’ll just have to pull on deep reserves and make conversation with these hostile bitches.
CHAPTER
65
Red
“LOVELY VIEW ISN’T IT, TOM?” My hands in my pockets, I keep my back to Tom Slater and stare through the huge balcony doors over the spectacular vista from the room at the top of the Phoenix hotel. Arianna will love this view of London, and she’s welcome to see it once this is over.
The thought of getting her to myself again later brings mixed feelings. I want her more than ever, but things are even more strained between us now. But I have to concentrate on the job in hand.
The smell of fear hit me as soon as I let myself into this room. Just as I expected, Liam’s done a good job making Slater realize he’s in deep shit. Another reason proving that Arianna’s pathetic attempt to turn me against my brothers is pointless.
Despite this, I’d be lying if I said the other theory regarding who has been feeding the Bristonis information isn’t rearing its head once more.
I’m aware that when the first “honor warning” arrived yesterday, what happened to Steve wasn’t public knowledge, so the words on that note couldn’t be from anyonebuta Bristoni.
The only other explanation being that someone - someone frominsidemy firm - is behind all of this: the warnings, the heart...
As much as the thought horrifies me, it’s still true that there are two other people with the knowledge, who also have a major issue with my decisions of late.
