Page 31 of Tempt Me
“Who is he?”
“Family.”
“Vik,” I growl.
“Distant cousin on my uncle’s side. He left Arachon years ago. He wouldn’t hurt Rue.”
“You don’t know that.”
“He knows that if he even touches her, I will skin him alive before setting him on fire to burn in hell.”
“He is my number one suspect. If the snake was put in the box on the premises, then it’s an inside job, plain and simple. Despite your pretty idiotic staff, no one could’ve gotten onto the grounds and into the house without someone noticing.”
“Hey,” he drawls. “That’s not nice.”
“They should be trained better to speak up and act.”
“Who in particular are you referring to?”
“The gardener, for one.”
“Oh, him. He’s new. He’ll learn.”
“When Rue is hurt, or worse?”
“Okay, keep your hair on. I see what you’re saying.”
“This isn’t adding up. You know how bad this shit can get, Vik. I’m not buying this laid-back attitude. What aren’t you telling me?”
He lets out an epic huff and spends a moment lighting his cigar. He blows the smoke in my direction.
Glaring at him in disbelief, I figure it out. “It was you.”
“You are the biggest pain in my ass, Isaac, but you pass.”
“Excuse me?”
“You pass.”
“This was a test? For me?”Fuck, he’s a dick.
“I needed to know that your head was on the job and not elsewhere. You intercepted the package before it got to Rue, keeping her safe, and you did your job until you found the answer. You also used your instincts to find weak links.”
“So that’s what this was really all about.”
“Maybe.”
The urge to slam my fist into his face is intense. “You don’t trust Luca either.”
“That’s putting words in my mouth. I wantedyourthoughts.”
“Well, now you have them. And here’s another. You’re a fucking cock. She could’ve been killed.”
The look of scorn he throws me as he opens his desk drawer is meant to disarm, but he knows me better than that.
“You have the antidote.”
“Of course. You think I would bring a deadly snake into my home without precautions.”
