Chapter 6
Chapter six
Barrett
I’m enjoying this. Too much. Sage is intriguing, smart, and has enough of a backbone in her that garners my respect. The fact she blackmailed me at her own risk to save her sister deserves respect.
“Yes, pet. We have a deal.”
Killing Pierson was my pleasure. Men like him belong six feet under, and if I could be the one to put every single one of them there, I would. Free of charge. But this little thing decided to blackmail me, and I won’t let her off without some sort of payment.
Reading her body language is difficult. I’m positive she only has the robe on—no pajamas beneath it.
The fabric clings to her in a way that shows the flare of her hips similarly to the dress she wore at the club.
She kept her shoulders back and spine straight, even when trying to appear unassuming by dropping her gaze.
But when claiming her terms, she looked me in the eye. I’m fucking impressed.
“Go get your phone.” I back up, giving her only enough space to slip away.
Light steps carry her up the stairs and back to her bedroom.
I want to know what’s going through her head.
How did she think I’d demand payment? Her puckered nipples beneath the floral pattern of her robe gave me a clue.
Her gasps and tremors, they urge me to kiss her. But this is a business deal.
Sage comes back, swiping her thumb over the screen. She stops a few feet away from me and holds it out with the screen facing me. “There they are.”
I take the phone and scroll through her images to see exactly how many she has. A grin pulls tight at my lips. She only has the same three pictures I found on her computer. These images wouldn’t have caused me much trouble, but that didn’t stop this little warrior.
The most pressing question I have is how she knew to approach me. Glancing over the phone, I see her inching closer, ready to take her phone back.
“Sit.” I shoot my eyes toward her couch.
She hesitates. “No. Delete the pictures and give me my phone.”
I let her own words sink in before repeating myself. “Sit.”
Sage moves around to the front of the couch without turning her back on me. I wait until she’s sat herself down before taking the other side for myself, relaxing into the corner with one arm along the back and the other hand scrolling through her phone.
I delete the pictures and go through her backups to delete them from there as well.
No chance of recovery. But then I search through the rest of her phone.
Pictures of her family, her sister, cousins and their children.
Selfies of her hiking, at the beach with friends, and skiing in the mountains, all showing her active lifestyle.
One image of her shoving a burger too large for her hands into her mouth forces me to hold back a laugh.
She has a separate folder of homes, exteriors and interiors, and head shots of herself.
The agency she works for is a prominent one in the city and surrounding communities, but I’ve never seen Sage’s face on signs, benches, or buses. She’s young and it might be that she doesn’t have as large of a profile as others.
“What are you doing?”
“Getting to know you.” I answer without looking up, maneuvering myself into her contacts. Too fucking many, but I scroll through the list. Reaching the end, I don’t recognize any of them or a connection to me. “How did you find me?” I set the phone, screen down, on my thigh and meet her stare.
“I think I’d like to keep some secrets.” She pulls her feet up and tucks them under her, pulling the ends of the robe down over her knees.
I drop my chin and narrow my eyes, surprised when she doesn’t crack. “Fair enough.”
She blinks, but not before I see her shock. I’ll need her to cooperate from here on out, and giving her what little space I can will help that goal. Besides, I’ll find out eventually.
“Did you find what you’re looking for?” She points to her phone.
“No.” Not a single damn connection.
“Are you finished?” Irritation tightens her voice, holding most of the sound in her throat.
“Also no.” I pick the phone back up and add my number to her contacts, pausing over the empty field for the name. Daddy. I grin to myself. It will do. I send myself a message reading, Yes, Daddy. Passing it back to her, I watch her face as she takes in the new contact.
“Daddy?” She swallows. “Really?” The crack in her voice is cute.
“Can’t very well put my own name in there.”
“Why not? Only I know who you are. No one knows I even thought about…”
I cut her off. “Doesn’t matter.” It isn’t that important.
I haven’t made it this far in my career without knowing how to protect myself and keep from getting caught.
Sage having my name and number won’t cause any harm.
But I enjoy watching her fight to keep her composure.
I move to sit beside her, grasping her chin between my index finger and thumb.
Grinning, I pull down with my thumb to part her lips. “Don’t worry. It’s temporary, pet.”
She pulls back. “I have a name.”
“I like mine better.” Significantly better.
“Fine.” Sage stands, getting away from my hold and crossing her arms over her chest. “If we’re done for tonight, I’d like to go to bed. I’m exhausted.”
“I imagine you are.” I hadn’t checked in that first day, but I have periodically since. There are ways to find out what goes on behind closed doors—and open ones—without being in the room. She trapped herself in a house with horrible, selfish people for a solid week to be with her sister.
“How would you know?”
“I’ll know everything you don’t want me to know. This is the first night you’ve been home since. And it doesn’t look like your sister is doing so well.”
Her hazel eyes widen and her arms loosen, but don’t drop.
“Yes, pet. I know you were protecting your sister. Now, go to bed. I’ll be in touch.”
“Leave first.” Her crossed arms shift to bar across her middle, gripping her vulnerability attempting to escape for that unguarded moment.
Nodding, I concede and stand. “Sleep well, pet.” I turn off the lamp beside the couch and make my way toward the back door of her little townhouse. Slipping outside, I wait for Sage to go back to bed before leaving the property.
I lied when I told her I don’t have details of the first job I need her for. I hate to use her in something involving big names, but we’ll need the extra people to take out Dorian Campbell. I’ll be calling her before the end of the day tomorrow.