“Provided she says nothing to him. She’s not exactly reliable.”
“You leave Anais up to me. I know how to handle her.”
We conduct a quick conference call with Don Greco, and he approves Caleb to approach Anais to spy on her husband. I really hope it doesn’t blow up in all our faces. Then Sierra calls us in for dinner. I take a seat at the farthest end of the table from Gia, sitting beside Sierra and Serena’s mother Georgia and her husband David and across from Rowan and Raven. With twenty-five around the table, it’s easy to avoid looking at her.
But my reprieve ends twenty minutes after dinner when Gia charges over to me with a determined look on her face. Caleb chuckles as we finish stacking the dishwasher. “She’s going to roast you over the coals, brother.” He slaps me on the back. “You should just fuck her and get it over with.”
I glare at his retreating back as Gia stomps up to me. “I’m done with this avoidance bullshit.” She tugs on my arm. “We’re going for a walk.”
“I have nothing to say to you,” I calmly reply, removing her hand from my arm.
“Well, I have plenty to say to you.”
“Don’t care.” I cross my arms over my chest.
She waves her finger in my face as her nostrils flare. “I didn’t take you for a coward, but you are one.”
“I’m not a coward. I just don’t want to talk to you.”
“Liar, and you don’t get to say that.” She cocks her head and smiles sweetly. “You’re my handler on this assignment. You need to make yourself available to me.”
“You want to talk about work stuff, fine? But everything else is off-limits.”
She glances over my shoulder and smirks. “We’re having this conversation whether you like it or not. It’s your choice if you want to do it with an audience.”
I briefly close my eyes before turning around. Mom, Sierra, Serena, and Frankie are stopped in the doorway watching our interaction go down.
“Want some popcorn?” Caleb asks them with a wicked glint in his eye.
“That’s not a bad idea.” Sierra grins.
“Fine,” I grit out, glaring at Gia. “I’ll walk with you.”
“I’m not mad if that’s what you’re thinking,” I say as we’re walking through the woods at the rear of the estate. It’s dark out now, but there are spotlights bordering the path, guiding our way, and tall lamps are sprinkled along the walking trail every now and then.
Her brow puckers as she rubs her hands through her gloves. “Why would you be mad?”
I pull my collar up and tighten the scarf around my neck. “I know you had to do it. He backed you into a corner.”
“You think this is about Liam?”
“Isn’t it?” I arch a brow as we walk close together.
“That’s not what I wanted to talk about, but if you need to get something off your chest, go for it.”
I don’t hesitate to accept the offer, which is not usual for me, but I’ve been feeling out of sorts for weeks, and I’m sick of it. I’m going to put it all out there, and she can do with it what she likes. “I hate you have to spend time with him. I hate you have to kiss him. I hate your mouth was anywhere near his vile dick.”
“How do you know it’s vile?”
“Are you saying it’s not?”
“I’m just wondering when you got up close and personal with McDermott’s cock.”
“Gia. Stop.” I rub at my temples. “You’re giving me a headache.”
A pregnant pause ensues for a few beats. “Why do you hate him so much?” she asks in a softer tone.
“Because he gets to do the things I’ve been fantasizing about doing,” I blurt without a second thought.
