Page 129 of Reveal

“Are you still representing Carter Preston’s wife?”

Her question completely throws me for reasons she couldn’t even know.

I think of the drama this week at work. Bianca revoking my representation in the oddest conversation ever.

“No. I’m no longer representing her. Why?”

“No reason.” Her tone is indifferent when mine is anything but.

“Why did you ask? Is Carter causing problems for you? I can cancel this meeting and be back—”

“Carter’s always causing problems,” she says with a laugh. “It would be stupid for you to jump to my rescue every time he did.”

“Is he bugging you? I can have Stuart—”

“I’m fine, Ryker. Better now that I talked to you. I promise.”

“You sure you’re okay?”

“Goodbye,” she sings the word out.

And just like that, the woman who has had every part of my life in an uproar over the past week ends the call as easily as she owns my heart.

She loves me.

Whew.

I shake my head and smile, then pick my phone back up and dial.

“What’s up, boss? Need something?”

“Keep an eye out for Vaughn, will you?” I ask Stuart, her comment about Carter sticking in my head.

“Will do. My load is light. You want me following her or just checking in?” he asks.

“Whatever you think is best. He’s been too quiet for my liking.”

And she loves me. I have to protect her at all costs.

“Ten-four.”

He ends the call, and I’m left looking at the one thing left I have to do.

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Ryker

James Dillinger’s house stands before me.

It’s quite the spread. There’s no masking the Dillinger money when it comes to this structure. And inside is even more impressive than the outside when the hired help lets me in and has me wait in the formidable foyer.

“Is he expecting you?” the woman dressed all in black asks.

“No. Just a quick visit, really. I was in the area waiting to catch up with his nephew, Chance, and thought I’d stop by to let him know about a little shared connection I discovered.”

“Oh, how sweet of you. He doesn’t get many visitors these days who aren’t here to try to pick that brilliant mind of his, so I’m sure he’ll be thrilled to see someone and not feel obligated to discuss complex dynamic systems or capital theory.”

“Hmm,” I murmur, not caring in the least. The fucker doesn’t deserve any visitors.