“And you can call me Maria. It’s so wonderful to meet you in person. Thank you for coming in.”

  “Thank you so much for having me.”

  Maria glanced over at Red and did a double take. “And who is this very handsome man. A new model?”

  “Oh, um, no. This is my, uh—” Laz was about to say personal assistant when Red beat him to it.

  “Private security,” Red said, smiling brightly as he held out his hand to Maria. “I’m Russell McKinley, from Four Kings Security, but you can call me Red. Lovely to see you again, Ms. Vargas.”

  Laz was confused. Had Red and Ms. Vargas met before? Why would Red admit being a King? Laz might not be a client, but he supposed Red was sort of acting as security, but still. Why tell Maria? Some sort of realization dawned on her, and she smiled brightly.

  “Oh, yes! Mr. McKinley, how good to see you too. I thought you looked familiar. Forgive me for not recognizing you right away.”

  “Not a problem. It’s been almost a year since the Sunshine State Awards.” Red turned to Laz with a smile. “Maria is a member of the board for the Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The Kings provided security for the awards ceremony and reception.”

  Oh shit. Maria and Red had met. No wonder Red jumped in when he did. If he hadn’t, Maria would have most likely remembered him at some point and caught Laz in a lie, and that was no way to start a business relationship. But why hadn’t Red said anything earlier?

  Maria’s gaze turned concerned as she looked from Red to Laz. “I hope everything is okay.”

  “Nothing to worry about,” Red replied, his smile sweet and reassuring. “Laz is a personal friend, so I’m helping him out. I hope you don’t mind my being here.”

  Maria waved a hand in dismissal. “Of course not. The Kings are always welcome.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Come with me, please. Let’s go to my office, and we’ll get down to business.”

  They followed her through a set of thick glass doors, past several glass offices and cubicles, to the end of the floor, where her large office was. She stepped to one side and motioned for them to enter.

  “Please, have a seat. I just need to check with one of my journalists on a column that’s due today. I won’t be a moment.”

  “Of course.” Laz took a seat in one of the chairs in front of Maria’s desk, while Red took a seat on the stylish white couch against the glass wall across from Laz. He waited for Maria to walk away before turning to Laz.

  “Sorry, I didn’t realize it was the same Maria I’d met at the awards ceremony. She was Mrs. Maria Vasquez at the time and looked very different. It was her eyes and the beauty mark over her lip that made me realize it was the same woman.”

  “That was a close call,” Laz said, smiling when Maria approached the office.

  “I’m so sorry about that. Deadlines wait for no woman.” She closed her office door before taking a seat behind her desk. “Would either of you like something to drink?”

  They both politely declined, and Maria tapped away at her computer. “You have a stunning portfolio, Laz. I was so excited when I saw it. Your lighting is exceptional, and your colors exquisite. I absolutely adore the way you use them to invoke emotion, but it was the use of lighting and color along with the model’s expressions that captivated me. You have a way of drawing so much emotion and depth from your models. It’s impressive. I think you would be perfect for this job, and the designer who you’ll be photographing agrees.”

  Laz tried not to get too excited. The contract wasn’t signed yet. “Who is the designer, if you don’t mind me asking?”

  “Well, we’ve kept it secret, but if you agree to take the job, I’ll share that secret with you. But first, have a read through the contract.” She slid the document to Laz, and he read through it, his eyes widening at the amount of money on offer, and it even included an advance, the other half to be paid upon completion of the job.

  Laz didn’t usually take jobs without knowing who he was going to be working with, but by the look on Maria’s face and all the cloak-and-dagger surrounding the identity of the designer, he was clearly making the right decision by accepting.

  “This look great,” Laz replied. “I’d love to do the job.”

  “Wonderful!” Maria placed a pen in front of him, and he signed the contract where she instructed. Full confidentiality was required on his part before, during, and after the shoot, but that was nothing out of the ordinary when dealing with high-profile celebrities or industry professionals. He was so excited and couldn’t wait to see who he’d be working with.

  “Once the article is published, feel free to add whichever images you like to your portfolio.”

  “Thank you.” If everything went well, this job could mean a big boost for his career.

  “Would you like to meet the designer?” Maria motioned to a door on her right, and Laz’s eyes went wide.

  “They’re here?”

  “Yes. They wanted to wait until you signed the contract to meet you.” Maria leaned forward, speaking quietly. “They’re a little quirky that way.”

  Laz nodded, and Maria stood. “You can come out now.”

  The door opened, and a flurry of yellow tulle exploded into the room.

  “Lazarus!” the woman squealed, rounding the desk and throwing her arms wide, bringing him into a big hug. “So good to see you!”

  Oh my God. Elena Vicente.

  Laz was momentarily stunned stupid, and he just stood there as she hugged him. Elena was boisterous, charming, and very eccentric. Her hair color seemed to change as often as her wardrobe, and she didn’t believe in simple cuts, since her hair was an extension of her personality just like her clothes. This time her orange-blonde hair was pulled up high at the top of her head, her ponytail green so her head looked like a pineapple, which he believed was her intent, judging by the multilayered tulle skirt and gold sequin top. Pineapples were heavily featured in Elena’s summer collection. Her ballet flats were a neon green, and her many bracelets jangled from her wrists. Her makeup was subtle, except for the pop of pink on her lips.

  Snapping himself out of it, Laz hugged her gently. He’d been at a few of the same events as her, but never as a photographer, and he wasn’t a big enough name to have been so much as introduced to her.

  “When Maria told me who she had in mind for the article, I was so happy! I have heard so many wonderful things about you, and when I saw your portfolio?” She gasped dramatically. “Oh, bellissimo!”

  “Um, thank you so much, Mrs. Vicente. It’s a real honor to meet you.”

  “Oh, no, no, no. Call me Elena.” She looked past Laz, her smile turning coy. “And who is your very pretty friend?” She raked her gaze over Red, no subtlety whatsoever.

  “This is Russell,” Laz explained quickly. “He’s a close friend.”

  Red stood and smiled widely at Elena. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Hello, Close Friend Russell. Such a pleasure to meet you. Russell. It just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? Rrrrrr. Rrrrrussell. I love it.” Elena let out a gasp and swept her arms up and out dramatically. “Sea urchins!”

  Laz startled at the sudden outburst. “I’m sorry?”

  “Sea urchins. For next year’s summer collection. It will be fabulous! Vintage colors. Very Victorian.”

  “That sounds really… interesting,” Laz said, scrambling for the right words, but he had none. What words could he possibly string together that would be appropriate for this conversation? Sea urchins? Well, if anyone could make it work, it was Elena Vicente. He’d heard she was eccentric, but he wasn’t quite sure that was the word he’d use to describe her. She started chatting to herself, as if she were mentally taking notes.

  “No, mustard would be an ugly color. No sepia. Too cliché.” She seemed to space out for a moment before shaking herself out of it and turning her attention back to Laz. “I think you will be perfect for this. Oh, there is someone else I want you to meet. He is very important to me and will also be featured in the article.” She turned to the door, calling out, “Darling, come meet the lovely boy who will be taking our pictures.”

  A tall, handsome man entered the office, and Laz froze, a chill going up his spine.

  “Lazarus, this is Paolo, mio amore. He is my husband. Paolo, this is Lazarus Galanos.”

  Paolo came to a sudden halt, his eyes going huge before he quickly pulled himself together. He smiled brightly and held his hand out to Laz, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes.

  “Laz, how nice to meet you. I have heard so much about you.”

  Oh? From who? My sleazeball ex-boyfriend who you were fucking behind my back, and probably still are? Laz felt terrible for Elena. She was obviously crazy about him. The way she looked at him, her arms wrapped around his. The scumbag. How could he do that to his wife? From the moment they’d married, rumors had circulated regarding Paolo, that he’d only married Elena for her money and status. He’d been a waiter at a luxury resort in Milan where they’d met, and shortly after, the two eloped.

  At the time, Laz thought it unfair that Paolo was judged so harshly simply because he was younger. He’d been in his thirties while Elena was in her early fifties when they’d married, and even if Paolo hadn’t worked a job since, whose business was it anyway? Elena preferred to have her husband at her side, and if he wanted to be there and it made her happy, then no one had the right to judge.

  “It’s nice to meet you,” Laz lied, taking Paolo’s outstretched hand. Laz had defended this man to countless people who’d sneered at his relationship, and now Paolo looked at Laz as if he was the asshole.

  “This makes me so happy!” Elena clapped her hands gleefully. “This article is going to be marvelous!” She turned to her husband, who put his fingers beneath her chin, murmuring something into her ear that made her giggle and blush.

  “I love you, my darling,” he cooed as he gazed into her eyes. She melted against him, releasing a little sigh before whirling to hug Laz again, then turning to Maria.

  “Please, whatever you need for this, you only have to ask. I must go now. I have a lunch meeting with a dear friend down in South Beach, and the drive will be long, but first, I must speak with your assistant to make arrangements for the day of the shoot.” Elena fluttered around the office, talking to herself before heading for the door, stopping to boop Red’s nose.

  “Rrrrrussel. So good to meet you.”

  “Um, thanks. It’s nice to meet you too,” Red replied, amused.

  She fluttered out of the office, and Maria chuckled. “Excuse me, Laz. I need to oversee this. I’ll have my assistant send you the details of the time and place for the shoot. I can have someone show you out.”

  “It’s okay,” Red assured her. “I know the way.”

  “Thank you both so much. I’m so excited.” She shook their hands before hurrying off after Elena, Paolo silently following.

  It was only when the office was quiet, that Laz joined Red, whispering hoarsely, “I need to get out of here before I explode.”

  Red nodded. They left the office, headed back the way they’d come in, and thanked the receptionist on the way out. The lobby was empty, and so was the parking lot behind the building. Laz made it to Red’s car before he exploded.

  “I can’t believe that lying bastard! How could he stand there, look into her eyes, and tell her he loves her, knowing he’s fucking some guy behind her back? And the way he looked at me? Like I was the one who’d done something despicable.”

  “He clearly recognized you. Did you see his face when he realized who you were?”

  “Yeah.” Unbelievable. The urge to plant one in Paolo’s face had been great, but the last thing Laz wanted was to upset Elena. It had nothing to do with the job and everything to do with that lying sack of shit. He felt for Elena, but it wasn’t his place to get involved, which made him feel even worse.

  “He was nervous,” Red stated thoughtfully, “but I have no idea if that’s because he was in the same room with the guy whose boyfriend he’d been screwing around with, or because he was surprised to see you alive.”

  Shit. “You think Paolo hired someone to kill me?” The guy clearly loathed him, but enough to want him dead?

  “Maybe Bryan told him about the photographs, or somehow he found out, but the fact remains that not only is he in the same state as you, but that reaction was not the reaction of an innocent man. We need to let Mason know.” Red unlocked the car when Paolo came bursting through the doors.

  “Hey!”

  Laz turned around, stunned to see Paolo marching toward him, his lips twisted in a snarl. Before he could get any closer, Red was blocking his path, putting himself between Paolo and Laz.

  “Get the fuck out of my way.”

  “I don’t think so. You need to step back.”

  Paolo craned his neck to glare at Laz. “You perverted little piece of shit. How dare you take photos of us!”

  “Excuse me?” Laz’s temper flared, and he moved around Red. “You have some fucking nerve!”

  “I didn’t take what did not want to be taken. You were obviously not enough for Bryan. He’s always going on about how boring you were in bed, how you never wanted to do anything fun. No excitement at all. He needed a real man.”

  Laz’s face burned with embarrassment. It wasn’t bad enough Bryan had cheated on him repeatedly, but he’d badmouthed Laz to this jerk? And while they were still going out?

  “You and Bryan deserve each other. You’re both selfish assholes.”

  “I want those photographs.”

  “I bet you do.”

  Paolo made a move toward him, running straight into the wall of muscle that was Red.

  “You lay one finger on him, and you’re going to answer to me.”

  “Oh, I see.” Paolo looked Red over with disgust. “So Bryan was right. The moment his back was turned, you were offering your ass to jolly Red giant.”

  “Don’t you fucking dare. Also, it’s none of your damn business who I’m seeing. I’m not the one who’s a lying, cheating bastard. I never cheated on Bryan. How could you do this to Elena?”

  “You stay the fuck out of my business!” Paolo stormed off, and Red pulled his phone out of his pocket.

  Laz was fuming. God, he needed to calm down and get his shit together. He’d had just about enough of this. Fuck, even after they’d broken up Bryan was still causing him trouble.

  “Mason? Hey. Yeah, you’ll never guess who we just ran into. Paolo Vicente is back, and he happens to be right here in town. Yep. I’ll text you the address. Oh, and he knows about the photos. Okay. Can you try and bring him in without tipping off his wife? She has no idea her husband is screwing someone else, and I don’t really want her to find out like this. You sure? Okay, we can do that.” Red hung up and ushered Laz to the passenger side of the car, then opened the door for him. As soon as Red was behind the wheel, Laz turned to him.

  “What did Mason say?”

  “He’s going to send someone to tail Paolo and bring him in the moment he gets away from his wife, which considering he and Bryan are in the same town shouldn’t be long. My guess is after the run-in he had with you, he’s going to go see Bryan. Mason wants us to meet him at the precinct.”

  Laz pressed his lips together to keep from saying something nasty. What annoyed him most was Paolo’s accusation regarding Red. Even if Laz had been attracted to Red at the time, and something had sparked between them, Laz wouldn’t have screwed around behind Bryan’s back. He’d made a choice. Even if Bryan hadn’t been a toxic presence Laz needed to escape, Laz would never betray their trust the way Bryan had done to Laz.

  On their way to the precinct, Mason called with an update. They had Paolo down at the station. It had gone just as Red predicted. The moment Paolo could get away from his wife, he’d headed to see Bryan. Unfortunately, Bryan wasn’t home, which meant Mason was still trying to track him down without alerting Bryan that the police were looking for him, afraid of spooking him.

  “I want to be there when Mason questions him.”

  Red pulled into an empty parking spot outside the precinct and turned off the engine before shifting in his seat to face Laz. “What?”

  “You heard me. I want to be there when Mason questions them both.”

  “Laz, I don’t think—”

  “If one of them is responsible for trying to kill me, I want to look them in the eye when they get charged for attempted murder.”

  Red let out a heavy sigh. “I’ll talk to Mason.”

  This time it was a little more like the movies. Mason came out to meet them and escorted them into a room full of what looked like security equipment. Cameras, microphones, and computers. There were several screens, one of which showed the interview room where Paolo was waiting to be questioned by Mason. He sat fuming, his arms folded over his chest, and his foot tapping impatiently, the expensive Italian leather loafers a stark contrast against the light gray floors. His whole outfit was a contrast to his surroundings. From the thick gold chain around his tanned neck and matching bracelet around his wrist, to the skintight white linen pants and short-sleeved button-down shirt with tropical pattern. His black hair was parted on one side, perfectly styled and gleaming. It struck Laz that he’d changed attire. He looked like he was ready for a night out clubbing on the beach. Back in Maria’s office, he’d been dressed in a solid pale blue button-down shirt and gray slacks.

  The interview room was clean but sparse, with only a table against the wall and two chairs facing each other, one presently occupied by Paolo. The room and everything in it was light gray, and set up to record both audio and video. Mason walked casually into the room and closed the door behind him. Paolo’s eyes went huge, but then who wouldn’t be worried when faced with the mountain of a man wearing a double shoulder holster with a gun tucked in each one.

  Mason’s shoulders were impossibly wide, his legs long, and his shirt stretched tight over his biceps, the sleeves rolled up his corded arms. The thick black leather band around his wrist added to his rugged appeal, and his all-black attire made him even more intimidating, if that was possible. His square jaw was full of stubble, and he seemed to fill up the room with his presence. Mason took a seat, his voice low and gravelly when he spoke.