Page 57 of A Touch of Treachery
Niles latched onto my elbow like a cobra striking a mouse.He was quicker than he looked, and his grip was surprisingly strong.He definitely had some enduro magic to go along with his high IQ.
I tensed, contemplating the quickest—and most painful—way to remove his hand from my body.I hadn’t always enjoyed my father’s relentless training, but it was useful when dealing with unwanted attention.
A shadow fell over Niles like a storm cloud sweeping across a field, and a faint crackle of static electricity rubbed up against my skin.I shivered, welcoming the sensation.
Desmond stepped up beside me and glared at Niles with barely restrained fury.In that moment, he looked eerily similar to General Percy.“Take your hand off Charlotte,” he growled.“Or I’ll break your fingers one by one.”
Niles scoffed at Desmond, completely unconcerned by the cold menace rippling off the cleaner in palpable waves.Arrogant idiot.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a couple of people looking in our direction, sensing the brewing drama.Some of Henrika’s guards were also watching us.Well, if they wanted a show, I was more than happy to give them one.
“It’s okay, darling,” I replied in a breezy tone.“I’m more than happy to break Mr.Perran’s fingers myself.In fact, I would prefer it.”
Niles’s gaze swung back to me.Instead of being cowed, a lewd smile spread across his face, and he tightened his grip.“So you like it rough, huh?So do I.”
I smiled at the disgusting creep, picked up the glass he had given me earlier, and tossed the champagne into his face.
Niles sucked in a strangled breath and staggered back, finally releasing my arm.I watched him carefully, but his skin didn’t start blistering and burning with whatever drug he’d slipped into the champagne.What a shame.
“You looked like you needed to cool off,” I said.“If that doesn’t work, go jump in the lake until your dick shrivels up like a raisin and your balls fall off from frostbite.”
Champagne dripped off Niles’s glasses and spattered onto his clothes.An angry flush swept up his neck and stained his cheeks a bright crimson.“You bitch!”he hissed.“You’re going to pay for that!”
“No, I’m not,” I replied in a calm voice.“Weasels like you only target people they think are weaker than they are.And I amnotweak, Niles.You would do well to remember that.”
I turned to Desmond.“Let’s head back to our room, darling.I want to take a nap.”
Desmond grinned, and his eyes glowed with pride as he held out his arm.I took it, and together we left the still-sputtering Niles behind.
CHAPTER TWENTY
DESMOND
CharlotteandIwentback into the hotel, got into an elevator, and rode up to the eighth floor, one level down from Henrika’s penthouse.
We stopped in front of a door with a brass nameplate that readHoneymoon Suite.Charlotte studied the electronic lock, then peered at the wooden door.Her eyes glittered with magic, as did her aura.After a few seconds, she shook her head, indicating that no one had tampered with the lock and was waiting inside to surprise us.
I held up a finger, silently asking Charlotte to wait, then swiped my keycard across the reader and went in first.Bryce loved ambushing people just when they thought they were safe, and I wanted to make sure he hadn’t set up any nasty surprises in our suite.
A short corridor opened into an area with a large kitchen and an even larger living room.The back wall was made of glass and offered a sweeping view of the resort grounds, and a door led out to a stone balcony with a table for two.Off to the right, an open door led to a master bedroom with an attached bathroom.
No trip wires were strung across the floor, and I didn’t spot any other booby traps, either with my eyes or with my galvanism.“Clear.”
Charlotte stepped into the suite and closed and locked the door.She came into the living room and glanced around, her lips curling back with disgust.“It looks like a bridal suite.Henrika is really playing up the honeymoon angle.”
All the chair and couch cushions were white and accented with red heart-shaped throw pillows.A bottle of champagne was chilling in a silver bucket filled with ice on the white marble kitchen island, next to a white wicker gift basket full of chocolates.Red rose petals had been scattered over the floor leading into the bedroom, and more rose petals were strewn across the bed, looking like blood drops staining the white comforter.
“Henrika probably thinks she’s being clever,” I said.
Charlotte shook her head.“Henrikaisclever—clever enough to get us here and tie our hands, waiting to see what she does next.”
“Then let’s untie them.”
Charlotte nodded, and we went into the bedroom.Our luggage was sitting on a bench at the foot of the bed, and we unzipped our bags.
All the guns and knives were still hidden in my suitcase’s secret compartment.My comms-filled watches, cufflinks, and tie pins were still in their velvet boxes, along with the innocuous-looking toiletry gadgets Joan had packed from the Section armory.Nothing was missing, but the clothes and other items were slightly jumbled, indicating that someone had pawed through the suitcase.
Charlotte let out an annoyed huff.She tilted her head, and I followed her into the living room.Charlotte opened the glass door, and we stepped outside onto the balcony.I shut the door behind us.
