9. Alex
ALEX
The elevator doors open to a flurry of movement. I immediately recognize the shock of golden-red hair, and my body coils tight.
“I told you to keep your hands off me!” Katherine spits the words like a tiny, angry kitten who’s just discovered its voice.
Roman’s right there, stepping in front of her, pulling her behind him as he glares at a man who’s doubled over.
It only takes an instant to catalog all the important details.
Other than the hostess, we’re the only ones in the lobby area. Katherine’s face is etched with confusion, fear, and fury. Roman’s ready for whatever happens next and is moving my woman out of harm’s way.
Which leaves the other guy.
He glances up.
Tyler.
Other than the mask of pain and the way he’s favoring his right foot, he’s the picture of the cosmopolitan man. Sharp suit, fresh haircut, a touch of a tan to his skin.
“I just wanted to talk,” he says, discomfort lacing each word.
“Are you okay?” I check in with Katherine.
She rakes her fingers through her hair, and those lovely eyes connect with mine. A momentary peace settles in my chest, and I can breathe again. “I’m fine.”
“So let’s talk,” I say, turning back to Tyler.
The other man objects with a flurry of sound but no intelligent words. I grab him by the back of the neck and haul him up straight. He tenses in my grasp, and I feel the turmoil in him. He wants to struggle, but he also doesn’t want to appear weak.
I shoot a quick glance back at Katherine and Roman. “See that she gets home safely.”
He nods, already escorting her onto the elevator. As soon as the double doors whoosh closed behind them, I offer the wide-eyed hostess a tight smile.
“We’re personal security. Nothing to worry about.”
I shove the stairwell door open and thrust Tyler through. As expected, he thrashes in my grasp and tries to reason with me, but I cut him off.
“Did you put your hand on her again?”
“I just want to talk to her.”
“She’s not interested in talking to you. I thought she made that perfectly clear. And I made it clear what would happen if you bothered her again.” I cut a look toward the harsh concrete and metal stairs below. This fall probably wouldn’t kill him, but I’d smile at his pain.
“You did!” His voice is loud, almost a shout.
“Let’s go.” I grip his neck tighter, disavowing him of the notion that he could get away. I’ve got half a foot and about fifty pounds on him.
His left elbow jerks back, aimed at my ribs, but I grab his wrist and twist his arm behind his back, giving me complete control.
“Look—”
“I am looking. I’m looking at a spoiled prick who won’t take no for an answer.” I march him down to the next landing. He struggles the whole way.
“I just needed to talk to her.”
“She doesn’t want to talk to you.”
“She doesn’t need to talk. Just listen. It’s about her mother.”
Curiosity prickles. I shove him against the wall, and he cries out.
“My nose!”
“That’s going to be the least of your concerns. Start talking.”
There’s a pause, and he stills, then sighs. He glances at me from the corner of his eye, and when I don’t loosen my hold, he gives a begrudging, “Fine.”
He waits another beat as my patience crackles. “Talk.”
“Are you gonna let me go?”
“It’s better that you face the wall, so I won’t see your face and want to rearrange it.”
He wilts at that, which is what I was after. Maybe he’s never loved anyone before because he obviously doesn’t understand the lengths I’ll go to keep Katherine safe.
“What about her mother?”
“She wants Katherine’s inheritance.”
“Why?”
“The Cort family is selling. She doesn’t have the money, and no one’s going to get into bed with her.”
Well, that’s an interesting tidbit.
“How do you know this?”
“How do you think?”
They’re fucking. Of course.
“Why were you going to warn Katherine?”
“She might not have picked me, but she needs to be aware of just how far her mother is willing to go.”
He was trying to protect her? My grip loosens.
“What do you mean?”
“She’s fighting a dead man. Lucinda will never be good enough in her father’s eyes, and she’ll do whatever it takes to win.”
He sounds almost disgusted by her vendetta, and maybe that’s why he was willing to break Lucinda’s confidence.
“What does she want?”
“Everything.”
I let him go and step back. That’s quite a demon to fight. And I hate that my suspicions were true. That Tyler has laid all out in black and white.
“Thanks for the information.”
“Watch her back.”
“Oh, I will.” And if I’m not there to do it, Kingston or Gabe will be.
Sharing her is suddenly the best idea ever. Knowing that she’s loved and protected on three counts brings me a measure of peace. Not that my shoulders relax.
I take the stairs back up to the restaurant level, open the door, and glance around at the posh space. There’s soft music and even softer lighting. It smells good in here. Gabe would love it.
The hostess isn’t at her station, which has me reaching for the down button to call the elevator. The doors open a split second later, and I step on, relaxing another fraction. I don’t want to have to explain who I am or what’s going on to a snooty restaurant manager. Or worse, the police.
Tyler’s a little banged up, but he’s still breathing.
I hit the button for the parking deck, and the doors begin to close. Pulling out my phone, I open my texts, hoping for an update from Roman. Or Katherine. Or both.
“Hold the elevator.”
I shoot out a hand to stop the doors and instantly regret it.
Lucinda Winthrop appears, shoulders back, chin up, eyes sharp. I swear this woman was a hawk in a past life.
Her lips twitch into some sort of a smirk as she steps into the car. “Mr. Hunt.”
The doors close, cocooning us inside.
I nod. “Mrs. Winthrop.”
“What a lucky surprise. You’re just the man I need to see.”
Unease prickles up the back of my neck. “Is that right?”
I keep my hands loose at my sides and face forward but watch her out of the corner of my eye. Given what I know about her and what Tyler just told me, I don’t trust her.
The elevator starts its journey downward and stops at the next floor. Two men get on, and I take a step back, making room for them. The one on the right jabs a button, and the car descends. Lucinda’s fingers drum against her Birkin bag.
A handful of floors later, the men get off, and she turns to me as soon as the doors close.
“You’re a hard man to get a hold of.”
Which is by design, but I don’t tell her that.
“Did you leave a message with one of my assistants? They’re very good.”
“I’m sure they are.”
What she doesn’t say, but I know to be true because I’ve had this exact interaction with other wealthy people before, is that she’s too important to deal with a lowly assistant. She wants direct access to the top dog.
These types of people are used to getting their way, being put through to CEOs and Chairmen of the board.
The car reaches the parking garage with a ding, and the doors glide open. I step out and quickly turn around when she stays put. There’s a gnawing feeling in my chest, reminding me of what it feels like to be prey. She takes a step toward the panel of buttons.
“My driver will be at the curb,” she says, glancing skyward.
She rode down a level to say whatever it is she wants to say. I reach out and stop the doors from closing because, as much as I’d like to get into my SUV, there’s a burning need inside me to find out what this woman’s game is.
Luckily, she doesn’t make me wait. “I’d like to hire you.”
“I’m not for hire.” I cock my head, studying her, trying to see past the expensive haircut and priceless earrings. What’s her move here exactly?
She waves a hand as if my words are a pesky fly. “Everyone’s for hire. Your best man, then. I need someone to watch out for Katherine.”
“Does she know you want to put security on her?”
She ignores my question and laces her fingers. “I understand that it might be a conflict of interest and all, given your winning bid at the auction.”
I sense a but coming. A big but.
“But you have the best reputation in the city, and my daughter is going to be worth a fortune soon.”
So Tyler was right. Katherine is about to come into her inheritance. Does she know? Surely she has to.
How interesting that this woman had years to care about Katherine’s safety, but only when there’s money involved does she care.
I tip my chin up a notch and let the doors go. “Your daughter already has protection. Mine.”