It hadn’t occurred to me because he didn’t treat me the way he was talking about me now.
The utter contradiction between his words and his actions was confusing.
That was a thought spiral for later. Right now, all my instincts were howling at me to remain quiet and watchful. There was a sense of danger in the air, like a gasoline vapor just waiting to ignite.
Leona waved a hand. “I’m not saying we should slaughter them, but to threaten my son’s life over one seems excessive to me.”
I clenched my teeth to keep from blurting out that it didn’t seem excessive tome,but I didn’t want either of them remembering that I was nearby.
Daniel’s eyes sparked again and this time the inner light remained. Leona seemed unfazed by his fiery stare.
“Your son was visiting my town, my resort, and, while I dislike saying negative things about others, his behavior was unacceptable. Even before Cari and I arrived, he physically attacked the others, tore up the conference room, and acted like a toddler having a temper tantrum. Attacking a human was the icing on the cake.”
“Perhaps if your town was a bit more welcoming to my family, he wouldn’t feel the need to defend himself when he comes here.”
Daniel cocked his head and stared at her as though he were a cat examining a bug it wanted to crush. “And perhaps if you hadn’t raised your son to be a self-indulgent asshole, we wouldn’t have problems with him every time he’s here.”
The tension in the room ratcheted up another notch and I eased back a step. I didn’t want to be in the line of fire if it exploded into physical violence.
My movement drew Daniel’s attention. And when he looked at me, Leona turned toward me as well, her arm draped casually over the back of the chair. She crossed her legs toward me and leaned forward just a bit.
“Eavesdropping, human?”
“Is it eavesdropping if I’ve been invited here?” I asked.
To my utter shock, my words came out even and calm. I wasn’t sure what possessed me, but I moved deeper into the office and around Daniel’s desk. I perched a hip on the arm of his chair and lifted my hand to place my arm across the back.
Somehow, I managed not to visibly jump when Daniel’s hand landed on my knee, branding my skin with heat beneath my jeans.
Leona watched me with those frozen amber eyes, a detachment in her gaze that assured me she wouldn’t hesitate to break my neck and then she’d get a manicure after.
“I suppose not,” she finally relented.
“Leona,” Daniel said, bringing her attention back to him. “If you want to continue to do business in Devil Springs, you need to get Leo under control. Until then, he’s no longer welcome here.”
“Are you banning us from town?” she asked, her voice dangerously low.
“No, just Leo. And only until he proves that he can behave himself.”
“How can he prove it if he’s not allowed within the city limits?” She leaned back in the chair and arched her brows at him.
“I’m sure I’ll think of something,” Daniel answered. “But a good start would be a genuine apology.”
“I see,” Leona said. She rose to her feet, graceful as a cat, and lifted a clutch from the desk. “Well, I’m sure you’ll be hearing from us then.”
She walked out of the room, her body swaying like a catwalk model.
I started to stand up, but Daniel’s hand tightened on my knee. I looked down to tell him to let me go and he glanced up at me, shaking his head.
He mouthed, “Wait.”
Though I didn’t understand why he wanted me to stay there, I didn’t move until the front door of the office opened and shut with a light tinkle of the bell.
After another fraught fifteen seconds, Daniel released my leg. I got to my feet and rubbed both hands over my arms where goosebumps had spread over my skin beneath my sweater.
“Am I crazy or was she ready to hurt both of us?” I asked him, walking around the desk to pace back and forth in front of it.
“Oh, she’s always ready for violence,” Daniel answered, remaining in his chair.
