Page 87 of Receiving His Mercy
“I don’t like them!”
People gasped around him. And he glared at them all until they stepped back.
“Not because they aren’t amazing,” he added. “They are! She deserves a Pulitzer Prize for these images.”
“From your lips to the Pulitzer Prize committee,” a male voice said from behind them. “Glad you are enjoying the images. They are meant to provoke a lot of feelings, including anger.”
His words calmed the people around them and they all nodded, moving away to give them some space.
The man was older, impeccably dressed and had a younger, beautiful woman standing next to him.
Travis’s scowl deepened. The girl’s eyes widened.
The man sighed. “She’s not my girlfriend, she’s my niece. You don’t know me and you’re judging me?”
Shit. He was acting like a complete prick.
Prick? Now he was starting to sound like Caren.
“Sorry,” he said gruffly. “I’m on edge.”
“Yes, I can see that. Caren’s work can do that to people. I’m Oliver Wells, her agent. And you all are?” He eyed them like he didn’t quite believe they were in the right place.
Which was probably a fair assessment.
“I’m Rory Mathers.” Rory stepped forward and held out her hand. “I know Caren.”
“Oh, Rory, yes.”
His niece whispered something to him and he nodded, his tension easing. “Yes, you’re Lacey’s sister-in-law, right?”
“You know Lacey?” she asked.
“Caren’s spoken about her so much, I feel like I do,” he said smoothly. “And these are your companions?”
“Yeah, we actually grew up with Caren,” Jace said when Travis didn’t reply.
“Oh, really.” Something strange filled the other man’s face. “Then I’m glad you could make it. Caren will be pleased to have some friendly faces. She gets a bit . . . nervous during these sorts of things. Now, I must go check on her, she should have been here by now.”
Tension filled him. “Caren’s missing?”
“No, of course not. She’s just late. Come, Isabel.”
The niece sent them a tight smile and hurried after her uncle.
“I don’t like him,” Travis stated.
“You never like anyone,” Jace said dryly.
Not true. He liked Caren.
Shit.
Where was she? And what the hell was she thinking putting herself in danger to get magnificent photos like this?
It wasn’t happening anymore.
At least, not without him there to protect her.
