23. Twenty-Three
Twenty-Three
THREE HOURS EARLIER
Lila
I meet Jaxson Gibson in the back of an unmarked van parked two blocks away. The space is cramped with surveillance equipment, and Jaxson’s team moves with practiced efficiency as they prep for tonight. We have a few hours before dinner service begins at the Davidson mansion.
“These are your points of contact,” Jaxson says, indicating one man that I recognize from my staff interviews last week. “Ryan’s posing as one of Marcus’s household staff, Curtis as your sous chef. They’ll handle the technical aspects—you just need to create opportunities. ”
“The study is our primary target,” Curtis explains, showing me blueprints. “But we need his personal devices, too. Marcus keeps his phone close, but he’s careless with his tablet.”
My hands are steady as I take the small device they give me. “And this will copy everything?”
“Just needs thirty seconds of contact. But Lila—“ Jaxson’s expression turns serious. “Ryan will gain access to the study. We’re only giving you a drive in case an opportunity arises for you to use it—understand?”
“I’ve got it,” I confirm, meeting his eyes.
“Lila, If anything feels off about this entire plan—you abort. Luke was explicit about keeping you out of this. I’m already risking his wrath involving you at all.”
“Luke doesn’t get to make my decisions.” The words come out sharper than intended. “I’m doing this for Jim,” I say in a softer yet still firm voice, “For all of Sterling Motors’ employees who’ll lose everything if Marcus succeeds.”
A tech suddenly interrupts with last-minute equipment checks. I use the time to review the plan, trying not to think about Luke’s reaction if he discovers my role in this .
The Davidson kitchen is controlled chaos when I arrive. Curtis seamlessly integrates with my regular staff, while Ryan circulates with the household servers. Everything appears normal—exactly as it should. Then Luke walks in.
Even though I prepared myself for this, the sight of him hits me like a physical blow. He looks devastating in a charcoal suit that emphasizes his broad shoulders. Crystal hangs on his arm, picture-perfect as always, and the reminder stings more than it should.
I focus on plating the first course, hyperaware of his presence but maintaining professional distance. The preparations proceed smoothly until I see Marcus’s tablet, temporarily abandoned on the table, while he joins Crystal as they greet the first arriving guests.
My heart begins to pound. I give a furtive glance around to see if anyone is near. Taking a deep breath for courage, I connect the copying device. Thirty seconds. Just thirty seconds...
Footsteps approach the dining room, and I freeze, feeling lightheaded.
“Daddy,” Crystal’s voice carries through the opening. “The Hendersons just arrived...”
The footsteps move away, and I give a shaky exhale. With trembling fingers, I disconnect the thumb drive from the tablet, my pulse racing. Hurriedly, I place the drive in my pocket, where its weight feels like it’s burning a hole. I slip back to the kitchen, my heart in my throat, expecting someone to call out at any minute, revealing my deception.
The real test comes later when Ryan needs access to Marcus’s private files. The diverted tour to the wine cellar buys him crucial minutes, but I can barely breathe until he’s clear.
Now, watching Luke follow Marcus and the other men downstairs, I pray we got enough. The weight of everything Jaxson’s team hoped to discover rides on how successful we are tonight. They are looking for proof of Marcus’s plans, his offshore accounts, and the shell companies he’s using to orchestrate Sterling’s hostile takeover. Hopefully, we have all the evidence we need.
Luke’s gaze catches mine one last time before he disappears down the cellar stairs. The suspicion there makes my chest ache, but I’d do it again. Some things are worth the risk, even if it means making Luke angry by not following his orders.
I head back to the kitchen, where my staff is preparing dessert. There’s still a dinner service to complete and appearances to maintain. Curtis glances over at me with a single nod, and I let out the breath I was holding.
I silently slip him the thumb drive, and his eyes widen in surprise and approval. That one look makes me feel lighter. In less than four hours, I’ve committed corporate espionage, betrayed Luke’s trust, and potentially saved Sterling Motors.
Not bad for a night’s work.
Now, I just have to survive the fallout when Luke finds out.
I haven’t seen Luke in a while when Crystal approaches. “Lila, thank you for making this evening a wonderful success for Luke and me,” she says with a wide smile. “I’m sorry he couldn’t stay to thank you himself. Something about an early morning rehearsal.”
“It was a pleasure,” I murmur, the lie awkward on my tongue. I return to the kitchen, grateful that her father didn’t feel the need to acknowledge the success of the dinner party.
It’s an hour later, after the last guest leaves, before my staff has the kitchen cleaned and ready to go. Ryan and Curtis stay until I exit the house, ensuring I make it out safely without mishaps or delays.
The cool night air greets me as I step outside. The drive home feels strangely anti-climatic, the adrenalin still humming through my veins. Once home, I start toward my apartment, my shoulders aching with tension, but I stop short when I see him.
Luke.
He’s leaning against his Jeep, arms crossed, his suit jacket unbuttoned. His tie is loose, and the faint glow of the moonlight catches the sharp lines of his jaw. He doesn’t look angry, not yet, but there’s something in his expression that makes my stomach twist.
“It took you a while,” he says, his voice calm but tight.
“I was just wrapping up,” I reply, gripping my bag a little tighter. “Long night.”
He nods, his eyes slightly narrowing as they drift to my hands. “You seem tense.”
“Just tired,” I say quickly. “It’s been a busy day.”
Luke pushes off the Jeep, taking a slow step toward me. “Lila, do you have something to tell me?”
“About the dinner?” I ask, my voice a little too high. “Everything went fine. ”
“Did it?” he asks, his tone harsh. He steps closer, his eyes searching mine. “Because you weren’t supposed to be involved with what went down tonight.”
My breath catches, and I force myself to hold his gaze. “I’m not sure what you mean.”
His jaw tightens, and he looks away briefly, exhaling sharply. “Right.”
I hesitate the words caught in my throat. Every instinct screams at me to tell him the truth, to explain why I did what I did. But the memory of Jaxson’s warning—about Luke’s wrath stops me.
“The dinner seemed to go great,” I say finally, keeping my voice steady. “Crystal loved it.”
Luke studies me for a long moment, his eyes flicking to the tension in my stance. “Of course she did,” he says, his tone unreadable. “The meal was superb. You did a fine job.”
The weight of his words hangs between us, and for a moment, I think he’s going to push further. But then he steps back, his hands sliding into his pockets.
“Get some rest,” he says quietly, his voice softer now. “You look like you need it.”
I nod, my throat too tight to speak, and turn toward my door. The tension doesn’t leave my shoulders until I’m safely inside.
As I shut the door, I glance out the window. Luke is still standing there, watching me, his expression shadowed by the night.
The weight of the evening presses down on me, and exhaustion tugs at my limbs. But it’s not just physical—it’s emotional. The thought of Luke finding out what I’ve done, the anger that will undoubtedly follow, makes my chest tighten.
I should sleep. I need to sleep. But instead, I sink onto the couch, my mind racing. Tonight was a victory—a small one—but the battle is far from over. And with every step we take, the stakes only get higher.
I didn’t lie, but I don’t know how much longer I can keep this from Luke. For now, all I can do is hope we’re one step closer to stopping Marcus.
About an hour later, I stand up from the couch without turning on the lights and turn toward my bedroom. A shadow moving on the back deck catches my eye. My heart jumps to my throat as panic rushes through me. But when I see it’s Luke, the moonlight revealing his shaggy blonde hair, I give a sigh of relief and move to the glass sliding doors. Unlocking them, I slide them soundlessly open.
His eyes are dark and dangerous. I’ve never seen him like this—coiled anger radiating from every inch of him.
“Were you going to tell me?” His voice is deceptively quiet.
I lift my chin. “Eventually.”
He stalks into my apartment, and I take an involuntary step back. Not from fear—Luke would never hurt me—but from the raw intensity rolling off him.
“Jaxson just called.” His jaw clenches. “He told me everything. About how you were involved in tonight’s operation.”
“Luke—“
“Do you have any idea what could have happened if you were caught?” He advances until I’m backed against the wall. “Any concept of the danger you put yourself in?”
“I knew what I was getting into.”
“The hell you did!” His palm slams against the wall beside my head. “You’re a chef, Lila. Not a goddamned trained operative. Not someone who knows how to handle—“
“I’m also not a child!” I push against his chest, but he doesn’t budge. “I saw an opportunity to help, and I took it.”
“To help?” He laughs, but there’s no humor in it. “You could have been arrested. Or worse.”
“It was worth the risk.”
“Nothing is worth that risk. Nothing.”
“Your father is worth it,” I snap. “The people who’d lose their jobs if Marcus succeeds—they’re worth it. And you...” My voice catches. “You’re worth it.”
Something flashes in his eyes. “I didn’t want your help. I never asked you to risk yourself for me.”
“You didn’t have to.”
The admission hangs between us, charged and heavy. Luke’s breath comes fast, his body caging mine against the wall. I should be intimidated by the barely leashed violence in his posture, but all I feel is heat.
“If anything had happened to you...” His voice is rough.
“It didn’t.”
“But it could have.” His fingers thread into my hair, gripping just shy of painful. “Do you understand what that would do to me?”
“Luke—“
His mouth crashes into mine, desperate and demanding. There’s nothing gentle about this kiss—it’s all teeth and tongue and furious passion. I meet him with equal force, my fingers digging into his shoulders as he presses me harder against the wall.
When he raises his head, his eyes are still burning but with a different kind of heat. One that makes my heart pound inside my chest and my panties dampen. He roughly leans his weight against me as his hands hurriedly strip off my clothes and shoes, leaving me naked and vulnerable before him, my back still pressed against the wall.
I feel his hot breath as he leans forward, his hand still tight in my hair as he urges my face upward. His hand reaches out and boldly squeezes a breast. He gives a light nip as he closes his teeth around a nipple, and I give a soft gasp at the slight sting.
As he continues to ravish me with his mouth and lips, his free hand travels between us, and I hear the sound of his zipper. Before I can even think, he lifts me farther up the wall, sliding his thigh between my legs. Holding me in place, suspended above him. He rubs his fabric-covered leg suggestively against my core, eliciting another gasp from me.
Without letting my feet touch the floor, he grips me around the waist and raises me higher before bringing me down onto his hard, thick shaft, filling me completely.
The fullness of him stealing my breath. He begins to move, his hands tight around my waist, anchoring me between him and the hard wall as he surges into me. His thrusts are rough, forceful—and thrilling.
The only sound is our harsh breathing, my helpless whimpers, and his occasional low growl as he continues to relentlessly pound into me. Taking me roughly up against the unyielding wall.
Only when the storm is over, and he slumps against me, his forehead resting against mine, can I take a breath. His smell, mixed with the musky scent of our lovemaking, fills the air around us, making it hard to think as our breathing slows.
He finally raises his head and slowly releases his harsh hold on me, allowing me to slide down the wall until my feet touch the floor. I sway, my legs unsteady, and his broad hands steady me .
He finally speaks, breaking the silence between us. “Get some sleep. Don’t turn on any lights. There could still be a risk of danger.” He demands gruffly.
With that, he turns swiftly and silently. He lets himself out the back door and disappears into the darkness.
I stand where he left me, leaning back against the unforgiving wall, my heart still pounding in my chest. I think of his words of warning, ‘a risk of danger,’ might still remain, and I shudder. The real danger was Luke, and it’s already too late to save me from him.