Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

Cain

"Boss."

I stare at the screen in front of me, half aware that I'm not alone but still too busy reading the latest report to really focus. Someone clears his throat. I look up to see Joe, my employee and friend, standing in the doorway with two steaming mugs of coffee. "You got a minute?"

I nod, shut my laptop, and gesture for him to take a seat. "Yeah, of course. Make it quick, though, Violet and I need to get ready for Monstraut tonight."

"Ah, Monstraut," he says with an air of dignity as if he's narrating a high-end travel show on the Home and Garden Network. "Mandy Fontaina's family residence, located in Manchester-by-the-Sea, the private, single-family home sits eighty feet above the impressive rocky shoreline so nothing but the Atlantic separates you from Europe. With elegant Italian travertine flooring, cathedral ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows, you'll enjoy a touch of privacy with a flair of elegance."

I roll my eyes at him as my phone chimes, and when I see it's from Violet, I quickly tap it. A picture pops up with her standing in the middle of our walk-in closet wearing nothing but a little robe. Her hair's in a towel. Joe's words fade and I quickly glance at the clock to see if I have time to pay her a quick visit.

Fuck. I don't.

What do I wear tonight?!

I smile and tap out a response.

Something gorgeous that doesn't let anyone see what's mine that's also versatile enough for you to run in if you need to.

Ah….

I put my phone down to see Joe looking at me with a knowing twinkle in his eyes. "Violet?"

I don't bother to respond but just grunt at him. "What do you need? And how did you know that was Violet?"

He leans back and laces his fingers behind his head, untroubled by my irritated tone. "You don't get a look like that on your face unless you're talking to her."

Whatever. So they've never seen me in love before.

"You come here to give me shit about being a human fucking male with a pair, or you got shit to say?"

At that, he sobers, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "We've got trouble. Armand's talking shit."

I blow out a breath. "I fucking knew it."

Armand has an ax to grind, and dealing with him won't be easy. I let him go for fucking up. He had clear instructions but decided to go about them by orchestrating a car accident with Violet. He could've fucking killed her. And I won't allow anyone on my team to do something so stupid.

Should've let him go years ago. Only reason I kept him around so long was because he saved my ass overseas, but I won't let the asshole put Violet in danger.

Problem is, Armand knows shit I'd like to keep between us, most notably when it concerns Violet.

"Have you told her yet?"

I clench my jaw and look away, confirmation enough for him that I haven't. I know exactly what he wants me to tell her. That I knew her long before she ever came here. That I looked into her background, had her fully searched, damn near stalked her before she ever knew I existed.

That I had her play directly into my hands so I'd have her all to myself.

"I need time," I tell him. "I want her to trust me fully, and I want to tell her on my terms."

He gives me a reluctant nod. We both know I don't have time.

"If I tell her now, she'll run. And I can't have that, Joe." I fucking hate that anyone else but Joe knows how this happened, that Armand's got this evidence against me to blackmail me with, affecting the woman I'd give my life for.

But I hate that there's something like a lie between us. I never lied to her, no. I couldn't do that. But I haven't told her the truth, which is as good as a lie.

He swallows.

"I'll take care of it." I will. "Tell me the details about tonight."

I rarely take on security detail cases but thought it would be a prime opportunity to continue Violet's training. She's learned a lot since she first came here and has quickly become the most accurate shooter in our company. That said, what she doesn't know about the jobs we do could fill a small volume, and she still has a lot to learn. Plus, tonight will give us a chance to be close to each other and pad our wallets.

He doesn't respond at first, only straightens his shoulders before giving me a nod.

"Mandy Fontaina's family residence, located in Manchester-by-the-Sea. Two hundred expected guests. Security detail's expected to cover both home and private beach. Our team's already obtained full background checks on the entirety of the guest list, and are on call to safeguard the premises and assets." He leans forward. "Rumor has it Mandy's mom recently obtained half a dozen rare pieces of art she intends to reveal at tonight's little gala, to the tune of a cool six mil." He leans back and shakes his head. "And either she's paranoid or has a real concern about safety, because she wants everything from the beach to the last goddamn bathroom secured."

Huh. Interesting. The teen idol turns twenty-one years old today, and her parents are known for showing off.

"Francine Fontaina wants her home swept for bugs before we go, too."

"Woman hiding something?"

Leaning back, he shrugs his shoulders. "It's a distinct possibility, boss, but I'm just relaying the information to you."

"Got it. They're paying high. You'll each get a bonus for this."

He grins. "Works for me."

My phone buzzes again, this time with Violet standing in front of her full-length mirror wearing nothing but a thong and a bra.

This work? I can move pretty freely dressed like this.

I'll be right there.

An hour later, she's dressed in a slinky navy gown, with a slit to high heaven that allows her to run if need be but paired with knee-high boots to hide her weapons.

I stand behind her in the full-length mirror and rest my hands on her hips, ignoring the way my cock strains the closer I get to her. I pull her closer to me, and when her ass presses up against me, she grins.

"My, my, Mr. Master. If I didn't know you had the gun in your holster, and not your pocket…"

I lean in and drag my lips across the shell of her ear. Inhale her. Close my eyes and relish this brief moment in time when everything's perfect. "Behave yourself, woman. You move one more inch and I'll have no choice but to fuck you right here, right now, against this wall, and then we'll be late." I shake my head with mock regret. "And I'll have to punish you for that."

Her eyes roll back and her head falls to the side, giving me full access to the creamy skin at her neck and her full cleavage. I smack her gorgeous ass, and she gives a little yelp, then a moan. "That's supposed to stop me?"

A knock sounds at the door. With a groan I pull away from her and adjust myself. "Yeah?"

"It's me, boss." Claude, tall, with a shaved head he's had since his time in the service, comes in with a matte black box in his hand. He's dressed like me in a charcoal-gray suit custom-made to hide our harnesses and weapons.

"Oh, you brought us pressies," Violet says, her brilliant amethyst eyes lighting up. She loves weapons like other women love jewelry.

I take the box from Claude. "Give it here. No other man gives my woman weapons."

He grins at me. I open the box. Nestled on the left are sleek black earpieces with mics, but on the right are new, custom-made thin Tantos. I take the slim one made for Violet and give it to her. The silver blade of the throwing knife sparkles like jewels in her slender hand.

I made her learn to shoot because a knife can only go so far, but Violet's real skill lies with a blade. "Show me, baby. Target, ten o'clock."

She wields the knife with the skill of a master, the silver blade flashing in the overhead lighting. She takes her position gracefully like a dancer, and with a flick of her wrist sends the knife soaring into a target we have on the wall for this purpose. It stabs like a dart, straight on the mark.

Claude whistles. "She could slice the hair off my balls and leave ‘em intact," he says.

"You keep your fucking balls away from her or there will be no intact ," I mutter.

Violet grins. "Aw, babe, I love when you get all territorial on me. Gonna piss on me before we hit Monstraut?"

I reach for her, drag her over to me, and stab my fingers in her hair. "Don't tempt me."

"And, that's my cue," Claude mutters. "I'll leave you two to suit up and see you tonight, then." The door clicks shut behind him.

"Aw, honey, you keep embarrassing the children." Her eyes twinkle at me. "Now, leave me alone so I can fix my hair. We'll never get there in time."

"Your hair's perfect as is."

Still slightly damp, it hangs about her shoulders in gentle waves.

"You like the beach wave look?"

"I like every look."

"You'd like me with cellulite and stretch marks after babies?" she asks, her head tilted. Though her tone's teasing, there's a hint of authenticity in her tone I don't miss.

Still, I heard the word babies and my mind's still there, not quite sure what to make of a concept like that . She laughs, a musical, addictive laugh I'd pay good money to hear over and over again.

I lace my hands about her hips and drag her closer. "Of course. Even then you'd be gorgeous."

"Oh? And what if I got into a car accident and they had to amputate my legs or something?"

"Even then, baby."

"What if I?—"

I've had enough of this game. "Violet. I don't like this game. I like you the way you are right here, right now, and don't want to imagine you hurt or damaged."

"Alright, alright," she says. Getting up on her tiptoes, she kisses me. "Let's go. God, I'm starving, though."

"Good. We're getting dinner first."

Her eyes light up. "Are we?"

"Yep. I finally got you out of yoga pants and a tank top and I'm not missing my chance."

She gives me a lopsided grin. "I'd get out of those anytime you ask, Mr. Master."

I slide my hand along the small of her back. "I'm aware, Miss Price. An office perk I like to take full advantage of."

My phone buzzes with a text. I glance at the screen.

Joe: They need us there early. Ready to leave in ten?

"Motherfucker."

"Uh oh. Nothing like thwarted plans to bring out the big gun curse words. What's up?"

"No time for dinner. We need to go."

Violet pouts for about three seconds before she shrugs, turns, and reaches for the dorm-sized fridge I keep in my room. She opens it and snags two protein shakes. I catch one mid-air when she tosses it to me.

"I'll take a rain check."

"Name the place, babe."

An hour later, we're stationed outside of Monstraut. Mrs. Fontaina's given us the full tour of the estate, and Violet intentionally kept her eyes off mine as she did so. Later, she'll give me the full rendition in Fontaina's high-pitched, nasally voice. "The glass staircase accesses the primary suite with water views, marble bath with a soaking tub, and private, ocean-facing deck."

I didn't know anyone hated pretense more than I do until I met Violet.

I recently tried to gift her a diamond tennis bracelet, and she told me that it was lovely, but could I please get her a gun instead?

I did.

That's my girl.

When we're alone on the deck, Claude stationed at the front of the house and Joe on the bottom floor overseeing a small group of my men, I nod my chin toward the office. "You'll be my lead in checking for bugs. Let's go."

"What makes her think her place is bugged?" she asks, her brow puckered with curiosity.

"No fucking idea," I mutter. "Could be she's delusional. Who knows?"

We go through the standard routine, sweep the closets, the corners of the room, under the desk.

"I remember I once thought I was being watched," Violet says with a self-deprecating snort. My heart stops for a full beat.

There was absolutely a time she was being watched. By me .

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. I swear I always felt eyes following me, but it was just in my head."

"Oh? When was this?"

"Few months before I came to see you." She's crouched on the floor beneath the desk, checking for bugs. She rises when she finds nothing, then sweeps across the desk for another quick go.

It's on the tip of my tongue to tell her the truth. I can imagine it, her sidled up close to me while I tell her everything. I have files and files of videos I took of her, photos I shot, reams of background history. Everything locked up tighter than a vault.

One day I'll tell her, but today is not that day.

"And what if you found someone was watching you?"

She looks over her shoulder at me and laughs as if the very thought's preposterous. "Why would anyone want to follow me ?" She shakes her head. "Honest to God, that's the silliest thing. I'm nobody."

I cross the room to her. The look in her eyes tells me she's wary of me, that she knows she's pushed it by calling herself a nobody.

"Okay, so I'm not a nobody ," she begins, in an effort to backtrack that I'm not buying. We've been together now for a few months, but I've known her longer than that.

"You are not nobody, " I tell her when she's within my reach.

"Cain," she murmurs, her eyes focused over my shoulder at the door. She's afraid we'll get caught like this, but I couldn't give a shit. She shakes her head, flustered and frazzled, until I tug a little lock of her hair just at the base of her scalp. Her eyes widen, and her lips part as her gaze meets mine.

"Not here," she whispers, begging me not to dominate her where someone could see us. She gave me her word when we closed our first case together that she's mine. That she'd devote herself to me, give me carte blanche in exchange for my serving her vengeance on a platter.

"Violet," I warn. She promised me. She gave me a vow that she'd give herself to me, and giving herself to me means I take her wherever, whenever, and however I want. I use that to my full advantage. Never said I wasn't an asshole.

"You are not nobody," I whisper in her ear. "You are the most brilliant, the most mesmerizing, the most intriguing woman I've ever met." And I love you, I mentally tack on, but I can't say it aloud. If I do, she'll run. I've worked every day since the minute she stepped foot on my property to build her trust, but we're not there yet. She still occasionally flutters her wings like a caged bird, ready to flee when the door opens.

"Well," she murmurs, placing her hand on my shoulder in an attempt to calm me. It works. "That still isn't reason enough to follow me. So the very idea's preposterous, Mr. Master." She cocks her head and gives me a teasing smile. "Since the only person who finds me so enthralling… is you ."

My heart stops. For one raw moment I think she's actually hit on the truth. But no… she can't know.

The handle to the door behind me turns, and we quickly go back to work. I'm distracted, though, as we do our detail.

Does she suspect anything?

The night goes on without a hitch, other than one minor incident involving an intoxicated ex, but Claude escorted him off the property so effortlessly, the crowd at the beach never knew what happened.

I do my job with only one eye toward the party, though.

As always, my main focus is Violet.

"Has anyone ever told you you're smothering?" she asks, sliding her hand into my back pocket as the evening winds down. She rubs her chin against my chest so briefly she's like a cat scratching an itch, before she resumes her professional demeanor.

"You're the one grabbing my ass in public and painting me with your smell as if to warn off any potential predators."

She reaches for my collar, and I look into her mesmerizing eyes the color of amethyst.

"I've got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them."

"Mmm. Is that a promise?"

She grins, and her belly growls as Joe comes into the room. "House secured. That's a wrap."

"Perfect. How late's Sake and Sushi open?"

She grins. "Late enough." It's her favorite, and I'm kinda partial to the spring rolls myself.

I want to keep her happy. I want to keep her safe.

I want to keep her right here by my side.