“You can’t look at me like that, Seraphina. It makes me want to cross this room and—” He cuts off. “Heads up. Something’s happening.”
It takes a second for the words to register through the haze. Then I see Henri rushing toward Etienne and immediately blank my face. After a few words, Henri changes course, heading straight for me.
“There’s been an accident. We need to secure the jewels.”
26
LIEV
Torturing Sera in a public place has been one of the hottest experiences of my life. However, it is also proving to be the most painful. I’d been so lost in the fantasy, thinking about what I wanted to do with her, I’d actually forgotten about Anton.
It takes me a second to calm myself enough so that I can walk over to where Sera is speaking in hushed tones with Etienne and Henri.
“What happened to Anton?” I hear Sera demand as I get closer.
“I don’t know. It looks like he slipped in the kitchen and hit his head…” Etienne darts a look my way. “We can’t rule out it’s a distraction in order to get the rubies. I’m heading to the hospital as soon as we get the jewels in the hotel safe.”
“If there is a threat to?—”
“Nothing happened anywhere near your client.” Etienne snaps at her.
“Watch your fucking tone,” I growl.
The man rolls his eyes at me. “Apologies,” is his less than sincere response.
“What about Vegas? We’re supposed to leave tomorrow.” Sera pushes.
“The event isn’t for a few days. In that time, we will brief the museum, and they will decide if the parure will continue to be a part of this…” He waves his hand.
“Are we in danger? Is it those tree-hugging assholes?” Keke snipes, when we hustle her, Dani, and Marco into the elevator.
“It was an accident.” Sera jabs at the button for our floor repeatedly, as if it will make it move faster.
The second the adjoining door clicks shut, and Keke is safe in her room for the rest of the night, Sera folds her arms over her chest.
“Start talking, Gangster.”
I open my mouth to lie but stop. “He threatened you.”
Her eyes narrow. “What did he say?”
I hesitate. “It wasn’t the words exactly. It was how he looked at you.”
I’m bracing for her to push back, to be horrified at how extreme my response was. Instead, she surprises me.
“If there’s anyone who doesn’t need threats explained, it’s me.” Her hazel eyes cut straight through me. “You think he would have hurt me.”
“No doubt.”
The floor feels unsteady under my feet. I still can’t read her.
Is she upset? Afraid?
“Thank you.”
I blink, unsure I heard her correctly. “What?”
She studies me for a second, then rises onto her toes and presses a soft kiss to my lips. “You said you’d protect me,” she murmurs. “And you did.”
