Love Thy Enemy (Red Stone Security Series) (Volume 13) (2 page)

Viktor’s business acquaintance gave her a soft smile. “Of course.”

Once she’d disappeared into the crowd as well, he turned back to Maxwell. “She doesn’t seem like your type.” Much too innocent and soft. And if the rumors were true, Maxwell had a darker side to him, liked rougher sex.

“She’s just a friend,” Maxwell said through gritted teeth.

Ah, so she was definitely not sleeping with him.

“She’s Keith Caldwell’s niece,” Maxwell added.

Well that was interesting. He made a note to find out more about her. Anyone related to the Caldwells would be important enough to keep on his radar. Especially since Harrison Caldwell owed Viktor a favor. One he’d been sitting on for many years. Frowning, he wondered if she was the woman Porter Caldwell had contacted him about—the one who’d been drugged at one of Viktor’s clubs. He dismissed the thought for now. He’d see when he reviewed the video footage.

“Who is the blonde she was talking to?” There was no point in pretending he didn’t want to know. Not when he was certain Maxwell had figured out the only reason he’d approached the Brit was for an introduction. Even if they had mutual acquaintances, they weren’t friends and didn’t move in the same social circles.

“Name’s Dominique. Works for Red Stone, but I’m not sure what she does.” He lifted a shoulder, clearly not interested in the woman.

Which soothed something jagged and unexpected inside Viktor. His half-brother was right—she wasn’t for him. He slept with paid escorts for a reason. It kept things simple, uncomplicated. The women he used went through an agency run only by women, and all the escorts worked there willingly and were paid well. It was illegal, sure, but he’d done a lot of illegal things in his life. As the son of a dead mobster, he’d learned young that the world operated in shades of gray. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d used the escort agency, though. Over a year ago, at least.

A loud shout drew his attention to one of the restaurant displays. There were twelve celebrity chefs on site and anyone who was anyone in Miami was here. For the most part. The event was mostly outdoors in a park-type area. Twinkly lights and a huge gauzy canopy were high above everyone, strung between two buildings: an art center and a convention center.

He turned to see Grant Caldwell race toward the convention center, shoving a waiter out of his way as he ran. His two brothers, father and one of his brothers’ wives were all behind him, moving at a rapid speed.

Maxwell murmured something next to him before hurrying in that direction. Viktor was mildly curious about what was going on, but the majority of his focus was on finding the woman again.

“We need to go,” Abram said quietly, appearing at Viktor’s side out of nowhere. Like a ghost.

Because that was what Abram did. He moved with an impressive stealth. Which was good for getting into places he didn’t belong. “Why?” he asked, scanning the area, still looking for the blonde.
Dominique.
He wanted to say her name out loud, to feel it on his tongue.

He wanted to feel
her
against his tongue.

Annoyed with himself, he rolled his shoulders once.

“You have a meeting and I don’t like whatever that just was.” His brother frowned in the direction the Caldwell brothers had gone.

“Let’s go. The display tonight…” He trailed off, feeling a little guilt that he hadn’t paid much attention to their newest investment. The restaurant he’d just taken over had an exhibit here tonight—the whole reason he’d even come. And he’d been by only once to speak to the chef.

Abram nodded. “Good. Everything is good. Lucy has everything under control.”

Viktor held back a snort. Lucia—who insisted they call her Lucy—was the new assistant they’d recently hired and he knew his brother had it bad for her. He looked at his watch. “Stay until the end of the event. One of us needs to be here and I want to make sure Lucy has an escort to her vehicle.” The last part was true.

He could tell his brother wanted to argue, probably because he didn’t want to be around Lucy even though he was attracted to her, but Abram would watch out for her because he cared for her and because they looked out for their employees. In the past more so than now, Viktor and Abram had engaged in…more than one illegal activity. They’d made enemies, so all of their employees could be potential targets. Especially one who worked so closely with them. They never forgot that.

Abram straightened stiffly. “I’ll make sure she gets home safely.”

Viktor nodded once and headed out. Going into business with Abram two years ago had been one of the best decisions he’d ever made. He hadn’t even
known
he had a half-brother until three years ago.

He texted his driver as he headed toward the art center and away from whatever commotion had just happened. It was fairly late for a meeting, but there was a piece of property he’d had his eye on and the real estate agent couldn’t show it until tonight.

The art center was silent as he stepped inside, his shoes almost completely noiseless as he headed down a long hallway that would exit onto a quiet side street. Instead of parking in the main garage attached to the convention center he’d had his driver drop him off. It made things easier when he wanted to leave. No traffic to deal with.

There were a few staff from the Celebration of Chefs and probably from the art center itself along the hallway, acting as ‘security’ so people wouldn’t wander into closed display areas they weren’t allowed in. But everyone was silent as he passed, simply smiling politely and nodding.

When he pushed open one of the glass double doors at the end of the long hallway, the salt-tinged, slightly humid Miami night air rolled over him. The heat of summer could be sweltering during the day but at night it was more than bearable, especially with the breezes.

Not that he cared about any of that when he spotted the tall, sexy Dominique talking quietly to a man around her height. At least with her heels they were the same height. They were standing near a built-in bench along the sidewalk next to a cluster of palm trees. Even though it was evening there were enough lights around the center, including one nestled in the palm trees, to illuminate her perfectly.

When she shifted her feet he realized there was another woman next to the man. A petite brunette with Mediterranean coloring who was tucked up against him, her arm wrapped around his waist. They were all murmuring quietly.

The goddess had her back to him, showing off the sweet curve of her ass and her toned calves. It was like she’d walked out of his fantasies. Her long, blonde hair cascaded down her back in big waves and he wondered what it would be like to run his fingers through them. To wrap his fingers around a thick section and hold her head back, nibble along her neck and jaw before he claimed her mouth.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Beautiful women in Miami were a dime a dozen, but she was…stunning. There was no other word for her. Something about her poise and confidence called to him. The way she walked and moved was like…a goddess. Like she didn’t give a fuck what anyone thought about her.

As if she sensed him watching, she turned around. Her dark eyes widened, then just as quickly narrowed in clear anger.

At
him
.

He stilled, watching her carefully. Her reaction to him was unexpected. They’d never met. That much he was sure of. He didn’t date. And she was someone he’d never be able to forget.

Her jaw clenched as she watched him for a long moment, the anger there so clear, so potent, he felt it like a body blow.

She broke eye contact first, turning away from him, her body language changing in an instant. Her back was ramrod straight and he could practically feel the tension rolling off her.

Frowning, he headed in the other direction to where he knew his driver was waiting, but he kept her in his peripheral vision.

Only once he was inside the back of the armored vehicle did he text his half-brother.
Find out who the blonde is. Her name is Dominique. I want everything you can dig up.

He wanted to do the checking himself but Abram was a genius with computers and getting into places he didn’t belong. While Viktor could eventually find out what he wanted, Abram would do it in a quarter of the time.

Right now he wasn’t feeling patient where she was concerned. He wanted to know what the hell he could have done to warrant such a reaction from a stranger.

Consider it done.

His brother’s responding text soothed a fraction of the tension surging through him. But he wouldn’t be satisfied until he found out exactly who she was. And until he met her in person.

“You don’t have to stay and help. I’m fine getting out of here by myself.”

Abram watched as Lucy slid the clean champagne glasses into the storage container. She was so methodical in everything she did, so damn organized. She was the best thing that had ever happened to him and his brother. Business-wise.

Because if his brother had ever looked at her in a sexual manner, Abram would have lost his mind. Which was stupid, because she was just an employee.

He placed a hand over hers, even though he knew he shouldn’t. Touching her was dangerous to him. To her as well. He had no business wanting her, for too many reasons. The least of which was that she worked for him and his brother. But mainly because she was too good for him. He’d told Viktor that the blonde from earlier wasn’t for him and he hadn’t been kidding. He knew he should take his own damn advice, but… “And you don’t
need
to even be here anymore. The restaurant staff should be cleaning up.” He ground out the last couple words, beyond annoyed that she was still here. She worked too hard as it was.

He glared at one of the waitstaff of the fusion restaurant he and his brother had just acquired. They were getting paid double overtime for this event tonight. He’d had to take a phone call and when he’d come back he’d found Lucy helping with the breakdown of the tables, moving around like the Energizer bunny.

“Hey, I tried to tell her she shouldn’t be helping.
Three
times.” The employee whose name eluded Abram held up his hands in mock defense before he went back to stacking the tea light candles. “Maybe she’ll listen to you,” he tacked on.

Abram nearly snorted. Doubtful. She never seemed to stop, no matter what task she took on. She was a dark-haired little pixie. Her espresso-colored hair fell in a sharp bob around her face. Usually she kept it stick straight but tonight there were soft waves in it and she had some sort of sparkly headband on. It should have looked ridiculous but it just made her look like a fucking princess.

Another reminder he had no business wanting her. She was too sweet and innocent for him.

She pulled her hand away from his, frowned up at him. Even in her four-inch heels she was only five feet four inches. “The faster we get this done, the faster everyone gets out of here.”

“It’s not your responsibility. They’re getting paid handsomely for tonight. Now let’s go. Viktor made me promise to get you home safely.” Using his brother as an excuse usually worked.

Her expression softened then. “That man is so sweet. Fine. Let me grab my bag.”

Abram gritted his teeth as she turned away, the fluffy skirt of her blue strapless dress twirling out as she moved. There were little sparkles in the skirt too. His brother wasn’t sweet, but Lucy seemed to think he was a big teddy bear. It was ridiculous. With him? She usually just seemed frustrated. He didn’t understand why.

She pulled a big black bag she called a purse out from behind one of the folded-up tables. It was her ‘work bag’ and he’d rarely seen her without it. The thing was so big he was surprised she didn’t topple over with it. On instinct, he plucked it from her hands.

She let it go with a sigh and he was glad she didn’t argue. By now she probably knew it was pointless.

He grunted, hoisting it onto his shoulder. “What do you have in this thing?”

“I can carry it for you if it’s too heavy,” she murmured, giving him a mischievous look.

God, what he wouldn’t give for a taste of her. Just one. “I think I can manage.”

“If you say so.”

He found himself grinning at her slightly sarcastic tone. At least she didn’t seem annoyed with him anymore. The woman made him crazy. “Did you get enough to eat tonight?” He knew she usually skipped lunch and basically seemed to exist on caffeine.

She snorted. “I didn’t get anything. I meant to, but got too busy. Hey, why are we going this way? My car’s in the parking garage.”

“I had one of the guys take it back to the office for you.” It was a company vehicle so they all had keys to it. “Viktor wanted to make sure you got home safely tonight. My driver will take you.”

“Oh…thanks.” There was an odd note in her voice, one he couldn’t define.

“Besides, I heard you say you wanted to see the Sanchez exhibit. I asked one of the staff from the art center if we could check out the display and they’re allowing us in before we leave,” he said as he opened the door to the art center. But he would make sure she got something to eat on the way home.

Sanchez was an up-and-coming photorealist artist in Miami. Abram didn’t give a shit about art but he could appreciate the man’s talent. The images were all of places in Miami or Florida and had soul.

Lucy blinked up at him, paused in the open doorway. “That’s very nice.” Did she have to sound so surprised by that?

He lifted a shoulder, uncomfortable with the way she was watching him.

She gave him a soft half-smile he felt all the way to his core. “Thank you.”

It took a moment for his legs to catch up to his brain. He fell in step with her in two strides then had to slow down because of their height difference.

After walking through the exhibit—which she seemed to thoroughly enjoy—they finally left the art center. His current driver, Kir, was waiting by the curb, just like he’d instructed.

He held open the door for Lucy before Kir could get out and do it. When he slid into the backseat after her, she looked almost surprised. Maybe she hadn’t realized he was coming with her. He didn’t care that Viktor had just said to make sure she got to her car safely. He was making sure she got
home
safely. There wasn’t even a threat against them at the moment, but he still wanted to take care of her.
Because she is a good employee
, he told himself. That was it.