Chapter 12 Sera
SERA
The cyber room is quiet, the only sound being Finn’s and my keyboards tapping. I’m supposed to be scrolling through emails for a client, but I’m barely skimming the words. Too distracted by the meeting that is supposed to take place this morning.
“He’s here,” Finn says.
My head jerks up, and I swear he’s hiding a smile when he gestures with his chin toward the security feed pulled up on the far wall. The parking lot camera feed is split into quadrants, crisp and clear.
My gaze is glued to Liev dressed in dark pants and a white dress shirt as he locks his car, pivots toward our building, and strides for the main entrance. He stops at the panel and looks up at the camera, waiting to be buzzed in.
I swallow hard. Finn laughs out loud, shaking his head when he pushes the button to unlock the door.
“Knock it off.”
“Sorry, I’ve just never seen you like this.” Finn grins at me, which is in itself unusual. He’s not grumpy… exactly… but he’s quiet and speaks only when it’s necessary. With a grin stretching across his face, I’m reminded that he’s not much older than I am.
“Like what?”
“Happy.” He shrugs and turns his attention back to his monitor, obviously done with the conversation.
I hear voices out in the bullpen, and even though I know I should stay away, I stand. “I’m going to get coffee.”
Finn doesn’t even look up. “Uh, huh.”
I pause in the doorway, pretending to check my phone.
Get it together. Finn’s right. I’m not acting like myself, or at least not like the Sera the people here have become used to.
Brady and Vincent cross the bullpen toward the front entrance where Liev is waiting. Brady’s frame is rigid, his shoulders squared. Vincent is standing next to him with his normal taciturn expression.
I can’t hear the exact words from this distance, but Brady gives Liev a curt nod and spins on his heels, heading for the stairs that lead to the upper levels. Vincent shakes Liev’s hand, and they follow Brady across the wide room.
Liev’s gaze flicks sideways, landing on me. His lips tip in a hint of a smile, but then his eyes drop and he frowns.
Immediately, I still my pointer finger worrying the cuticle on my thumb. Then I curl all but my middle finger into a fist.
He glances forward at the men walking ahead of him, and then sends me a wink and grin, before lifting his hand and flipping me off.
I roll my lips in to keep from laughing, but I can’t help the smile.
“You really need to work on your poker face,” Finn teases from behind me. “You’re cheesing so hard I’m worried we’ll get mice.”
The smile falls from my face. “Mind your own business.”
Finn exhales a heavy sigh. “I have a feeling this is about to become all of our business.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I whirl around to face him.
“It means you’ve got a massive crush on someone your brother is going to be absolutely furious about.”
“I do not.”
Finn stares at me for a long second, then shakes his head. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Heat creeps up my neck. “I’m not doing anything.” He arches a brow. “We’re just friends,” I add. “Sort of.”
“So, you friend-zoned the gangster,” Finn says mildly. “And you definitely weren’t flirting with him just now or smiling like I haven’t seen you do in years?”
I scowl. “Shut up.”
He moves past me, but not before adding. “The problem is going to be that it’s not one-sided. We all saw it that day he came with his cousin after Elizabeth was rescued.”
My pulse jumps, hope flaring behind my breastbone. “Saw what?”
“He couldn’t take his eyes off you.”
“That’s not—”
“Why else do you think your brother nearly lost his mind over the idea of him working here?”
“Brady’s just worried because Liev’s a criminal.”
Finn gives me an incredulous look. “Except for you, every single person who works here has been called a criminal by somebody. Government labels don’t make saints or sinners.”
I try to work. I really do, but I can’t stop thinking about what Finn said.
Liev seemed happy to kiss me the other night, but he didn’t want to take it any further.
The entire evening has left me so confused.
I’m still not sure what to expect from Liev.
Does he want to be friends with benefits? He’d been the one to stop.
Had it really been just an experiment?
An incredibly delicious, toe-curling, best kiss of my life experiment.
I bite back a groan and click open another email, forcing myself to concentrate.
Footsteps sound outside the door moments before Vincent and Liev enter. Vincent waves his arm. “You’ve already met.”
“Yeah.” Finn glances up momentarily before his eyes return to his screen.
I’m not sure if I’m included in the you’ve, so I opt to stay quiet.
“Good to see you again,” Liev’s voice is neutral, but when I finally look over, it’s to find him staring at me. My stomach swoops, and I force my eyes back to the screen, hoping my cheeks aren’t as red as they feel.
Vincent claps his hands together. “All right, Elizabeth’s client arrives in thirty minutes.
Liev, you’ll need to sit in for that. In the meantime, work with Finn to get set up in our system.
We have our own servers, so he’ll need to show you how to access intel.
” Vincent looks at me. “Sera, can you get him settled with a phone?”
I nod.
“Also, he’s going to need a credit card and both a hotel and vehicle kit.”
My stomach tightens.
“Hotel kit?” Liev stills.
“This is a travel assignment.” Vincent gestures to Liev’s gun not subtly concealed at his waist. “You’ll be flying private so you can keep your own weapon but be sure you pack extra magazines.”
“I didn’t realize I’d be going out of town.” He frowns.
Neither did I.
I’d assumed he’d be around. That I’d see him.
I shove down the unpleasant feeling clenching in my chest.
“Is that a problem?” Vincent asks, his face expressionless.
Liev flicks a glance at me, but I keep my face blank. “Not at all.”
Vincent grunts.
“Who’s the client?”
“Keke Novak,” Vincent says over his shoulder. “Who will be here soon.”
Keke Novak? As in the famous lingerie model?
Fan-fucking-tastic.
Elizabeth is already waiting near the front when the security panel chimes. She checks the monitor, taps the release, and the lock disengages with a soft click.
Keke struts in as if she’s stepping onto a runway, not waiting for the stressed-looking man in a suit behind her as she gives Elizabeth air kisses on both cheeks.
The knot in my stomach pulls tight. She’s tall, unmistakably feminine, narrow at the waist with soft curves carried on long legs.
Tight black jeans and knee-high boots accentuate the effect, and a bright blue turtleneck clings to her so tightly I swear I see her nipples.
A mink coat hangs loosely around her shoulders, framing her slender body.
Thick blonde hair falls in glossy waves around sharp cheekbones and bright blue eyes that roam the room with bored curiosity.
I always thought the life-sized posters in my favorite lingerie store were airbrushed because nobody could be that beautiful. Now I know they weren’t.
Her gaze skims over me briefly, registering my presence only long enough to decide I’m not relevant, before moving on.
My shoulders clench, and I’m uncomfortably aware of my plain black crewneck shirt, tech pants and boots. And then I immediately tell myself not to be stupid.
Her manager scans the empty bullpen and then says something to Elizabeth I can’t make out.
Keke wanders a few steps farther in, fingers brushing absently over the edge of a desk. “So quiet,” she says lightly, the words almost playful. “Your boyfriend owns the place, right?” Her lips tip in a smirk. “Is this where the magic happens, or is that somewhere more private?”
Elizabeth doesn’t rise to the bait and Keke pouts. “Where are the men? All the big, bad bodyguards?”
“This is their operations floor,” Elizabeth explains evenly. “We’ll have the meeting upstairs, where you’ll meet your security detail.”
I pivot toward the cyber room, just as Finn and Liev step out of the kitchen at the far end of the bullpen, coffees in hand. Keke notices the new arrivals immediately.
Her eyes widen slightly and sharpen with interest as she gives both men an extremely obvious once-over. “Very nice,” Keke purrs.
My lip curls, and even Elizabeth’s normally unflappable expression grows tight.
Finn comes to a dead stop. Even though he’s like an annoying brother, I can admit that he’s attractive. His fitted black T-shirt shows his lean, muscled build, and with his tousled hair, tattoos, and black-frame glasses, he looks like a nerdy bad boy. But it’s not Finn Keke is staring at.
Something ugly twists in my stomach, and I clench my teeth to keep from saying something rude.
Liev has rolled the sleeves of his white dress shirt, exposing the tattoos on his powerful forearms, and when I see Keke lick her lips, her expression almost predatory, I want to punch her in the face.
Her lazy smile grows as she paces forward. Finn stiffens, but Liev’s body remains relaxed. He looks… amused.
Stopping in front of him, Keke does another appraisal, her attention lingering on his torso, before she trails a red fingernail down his forearm.
“Uh uh uhhh.” Liev shakes his head with a flirtatious smile. “No touching.”
My chest clenches. I don’t want to watch this, but the scene unfolding holds my gaze like a magnet.
“Keke, these men are professionals, and you need to treat them that way.” I’m grateful that Elizabeth sounds as annoyed as I am.
“Relax. I’m just enjoying the view.” She smiles at Liev.
With her height and the heeled boots, she’s almost eye level with him.
Her voice pitches low, but I can still easily make out the words.
“I’ve had a lot of bodyguards, but unfortunately, they aren’t always a good fit. They can’t all keep up with my… needs.”
“Keke,” her manager snaps.