“That’s unsurprising to hear, considering what happened last week,” Adrianmused.
“People should keep hands off,” Alexei said with a shrug, not letting goofSean.
Sean rolled his eyes. “I don’t know how you became chief operating officer with an attitudelikethat.”
Alexei smirked. “Is because charmingpersonality.”
Chloe laughed. “You two certainly are something. But let’s get you both a drink before we start the introductions, shall we? This party is for you,afterall.”
Just the thought of needing to smile his way through business contacts that he’d never remember was enough to give Alexei a headache. He knew better than to show his true feelings though, so he lied through asmile.
“Thank you,” Sean replied politely for them both. “As much as we appreciate your hospitality, I’m not sure talking about our stay in New Miami is really agoodidea.”
“Nonsense, Riley,” Adrian said with a shake of his head. “Everyone we’ve invited tonight are close friends or business associates. Their values alignwithours.”
“Which is why we’re all here,” Jansen addedpointedly.
Sean nodded acknowledgment, the calm expression on his face impossible to read. “Ofcourse.”
Chloe patted her husband on the arm, smiling winningly up at him. “I’m going to go check on some of the other guests. I’ll send a server around with drinks for allofyou.”
She gave him a kiss on the mouth, her lipstick staying firmly on her own lips, before wandering off to play hostess. Before anyone could even start up the conversation again, a server came by with a floating tray of drinks containing beer and wine. Alexei let go of Sean’s hand to grab two short glasses of a dark beer and passed one overtoSean.
“So you’re in the business of security?” Declan asked, cutting right to thechase.
“Cybersecurity,” Sean corrected. “But yes. We do our best to keep our customershappy.”
“And we’re very pleased with the results of their programs,”Jansensaid.
Declan glanced at Alexei. “You don’t strike me as a computer typeofguy.”
“I wrangle people. Is Ekaterina’s job to hack,” Alexei said. “Riley doesnumbers.”
Declan’s gaze tracked quickly up and down Alexei’s body, taking his measure. “That I wouldbelieve.”
“Hear you also in security. How isbusiness?”
Not that Alexei cared, but it was something to help get the spotlight off of them. Declan looked about as willing to talk about his business as Alexei, which was to say, notatall.
“We do all right,” Declanreplied.
“Except for last week,” Adrian said with a coldsmirk.
His tone was a weird mix of joking-not-joking that Alexei always had a difficult time feeling out, and he didn’t have Kyle here to steer him in the rightdirection.
Declan shrugged off his brother’s words. “They’ve been dealt with and you made it back in onepiece.”
“Thanks toAlexei.”
“Antonovich asshole. Deserved worse,”Alexeisaid.
“That we canagreeon.”
“Alexei here does have a way of dealing with people who get on his bad side. He’s ex-military, like you,” Jansen said, nodding atDeclan.
“So I read,” Declan replied, proving that he’d done his own background check on them. “Marines,right?”
Alexei didn’t look away when Declan’s gaze methis. “Yes.”
