She checked her itinerary. "Tomorrow, all that’s scheduled is the team meeting, and then it says we have free time.”

  Middleton frowned at that. "Well, usually during free time, everyone unofficially hangs out and stays together. We explore the vineyards near the villa that we'll be staying in. It allows for great bonding time."

  I glanced over at the other employees and their furrowed brows. The woman started furiously typing on her phone at that point. God, never once have I wished I was East more. I could hack her phone and find out who the hell she was texting and why she looked so damn confused. I looked back at Middleton. "Well, since it says free time, I will be taking my wife sightseeing. We're going to enjoy the day together."

  He rolled his eyes. "As long as she's back for the team dinner."

  "Oh, she'll be back. And it does say here that spouses are invited. So I'll make sure I'm in attendance."

  He frowned again. "Bridge, I'm so glad that you could join us. It's not impeding our work at all,” he said sarcastically.

  "I'm so glad to hear that."

  I didn't have any proof, but he wanted Emma for himself. And he’d thought Barcelona would be an opportunity for him to make his move. I was going to have to be a lot more careful of him than I thought.

  Thirty-Three

  Emma

  Barcelona started rocky and only got worse from there. On the second day when I had a free morning, Bridge took me sightseeing around the city, but we lost track of time, and I was twenty minutes late for the team meeting.

  When I walked into the villa, I smiled apologetically at Middleton. "I'm so sorry. The traffic was so much worse than we thought. We were down by the wharf."

  Frances scowled at me. "Are you serious about this job or not?"

  "You know I am."

  I needed to be done with this. I just wanted to be done and free. Why had I ever thought this was going to be a good idea?

  You were trying to avenge your brother.

  "If you're ready, I have the client files right here."

  He slammed his hand on the desk in the conference room.

  "What's the problem?"

  "The problem is you're fucking with me."

  I scowled. "No, I'm not."

  "This is not a holiday for you and your husband. Your attention should be focused on me, on this company, on the obligations that you have. Instead, you're traipsing around at beaches?"

  He was furious. I could see it on his face, the anger, the betrayal. "Hiring you was a mistake. I thought you were going to be something shiny to show off, keep the male clients interested. It turned out you are halfway decent at the job, but I can't fucking count on you, can I?"

  I frowned. "I haven't missed a single item with a client. My work is impeccable. You're just pissed off."

  He rounded the table, and I backed up a step. "Yes, I am. What makes you think it's fucking okay for you to be on your goddamn honeymoon right now?"

  I tilted my chin up. "You can't talk to me like that."

  "I'll talk to you however the fuck I like."

  I smiled and tried to hide my horror as he approached. "No, you can't. Unlike your previous employees, I will not tolerate it."

  When he reached me, I stared him down. Oh, God, this was a mistake. A huge mistake.

  "If you put your hands on me, that's going to be a problem. Because not only will I file a lawsuit against you so fast your head will spin, you will also likely go to jail or be dead. You're going to hope for jail because my husband will make sure that you die if your free."

  He laughed. "You think I'm fucking afraid of your husband? It's him who should be afraid of me. You really don't know what I'm capable of, do you, Varma?"

  I could smell the scotch on his breath.

  "I understand that you're angry, and clearly you've been drinking a little. So maybe if you want to have a conversation about what's going on here, we can."

  He blinked rapidly. I needed to get out of this safely. No more backtalk. I just had to get out.

  Out of the blue, he said, "You're off the Price account."

  "Why? I handled it perfectly."

  "Because I say so."

  "You're angry with me for some reason. Maybe you can tell me why you're so angry and I can help you address the problems." As I spoke, I inched my way around the table, putting more space between us. I was closer to the door then. "What's wrong with my work on the Price account?"

  "He's unhappy with how you're dealing with the situation with his wife."

  "Well, I'm sorry he's not happy, but it is what it is. The police are going to ask questions. They’re going to want answers. There's nothing I can do about that. We have managed to keep it out of the press. We have also managed to keep him out of jail, so I don't understand what the issue is."

  "I don't like your handling or your attitude. From now on, I'll be dealing with him."

  "As you wish. It's your company."

  "Also, the Zicks account with London Lords, I'll be dealing with it. I wouldn't want to make things difficult for you and your husband. I’m sure you assumed you would be primary.” He waited for a response, but when I didn’t reply, he continued. “So, what? No complaints that I'm keeping you away from your precious husband?"

  "This is my job. I can separate anything personal."

  He studied me long and hard then with his brows drawn down. "Why did you marry him?"

  "Because I love him."

  "You don't love him. You don't know him."

  "I do know him. I've known him my whole life. Any other questions about my personal life?"

  "You're such a little bitch."

  My heart started thudding, and I knew that I was in trouble. If I wasn't careful, I was not going to get out of this.

  Stay steady. Stay even. Get the fuck out of dodge.

  "Look, you're unhappy. I was late today, and I do apologize. It was unavoidable. In the future, should I be late, I'll make sure to give you as much advance notice as I can."

  He inched toward me. "Do you know why I hired you?"

  I tried for a tremulous smile. Inch. Inch. Inch. Closer and closer, almost near the door.

  "I hired you because I felt sorry for you. Orphan girl who didn't know what happened to her brother. And I hate to admit it, but I was always a little obsessed with you. Do you know what’s so attractive about you?"

  I swallowed hard and shook my head, inching just a smidgeon closer to the door.

  "It’s because you're fire. I never met anyone quite like you. Always ready to run straight into danger, but feisty about it. I didn't think you were for me, but I can't get you out of my head, Emma Varma. And then you chose him, which was wrong."

  I swallowed hard. "I recognize that you don't really like Bridge. But you are going to be working together."

  And with those words, it was as if he blinked himself awake. He glanced around and saw me. "What?"

  "You and Bridge and the London Lords? You do have an RFP from them, right? To manage one of their largest accounts?"

  His brow furrowed, and then he nodded. "Yes." Suddenly, his stance changed. He was more relaxed. It was like the fury had either been bottled back up or just flew off him somehow. He tried to force a small smile. "Obviously, I've had too much to drink. I'm sorry, Emma. I thought maybe you and I could have a drink, get to know each other better, and then I started too early when you were running late. Obviously. And I'm sorry. My behavior tonight was completely inappropriate."

  What was happening here? "I—"

  "You don't have to say anything. I overstepped and have put you in an awkward position. Please forgive me. I am going now."

  He started marching toward the door, and I had no other recourse but to scoot out of the way and back toward the window. He noticed that, and his upper lip curled just a hint. The derision was clear there, but he nodded and walked out without further comment.

  Fuck. With shaking hands, I reached into my purse, pulled out my phone, and then quickly dialed Bridge. "Bridge, please hurry and get up here." I gave him directions to the conference room I was in, then grabbed one of the alcohol bottles from the cabinet as well as the ice pick. I positioned myself just behind the door. I only had to wait three minutes. That was exactly how long it took to get upstairs. Three fucking minutes.

  I wasn't sure what had happened tonight with Middleton. Did something flip in him? He was no longer in any kind of mood to be affable or to pretend. The mask had slipped, and when he readjusted it, it wasn't a good fit anymore. It was like I could see the monster on either side of the mask. And once he revealed it, that was all I could see. If he’d had the time and opportunity, he could have killed me.

  Easily.

  Thirty-Four

  Bridge

  My hands shook. "I'm going to bloody kill him."

  In the living room of our villa, I stared at Emma, unable to believe or comprehend what she had been telling me. Francis Middleton had threatened her. He was dead.

  All that rage I usually kept banked, the fury, the anger, a complete lack of remorse about how other people felt, I wanted to let it all out. He’d threatened what was mine. And for that, he had to die.

  Emma watched me pace. "Bridge, we still have a job to do."

  I turned around and glared at her. "You're kidding me."

  "I wish I was, but you know I still have a job to do. I know it, and you know it. This changes nothing."

  "You want to go back?"

  "I need to. You, of all people, know that. You know what all of this means. We still don't have anything we can use. You can't burn him. Ben's hands are tied. What are we supposed to do?"

  I still hadn't told her what her father had said. Unfortunately, what he told me mirrored this. Unless we had a reason to get rid of Middleton, there would be no getting rid of him.

  And he’d remain free, while Toby was dead, and Emma was always afraid. And I could do nothing to protect her, nothing to save her.

  On the video monitor, we had East and Telly, both on their different screens. Telly’s voice was concerned. "Ems, I'm so sorry we don't have enough to put away Middleton. It’s all minor. Things that can be explained away. The reason we couldn’t decrypt that drive was the sheer amount of data packets in it. It's the kind of thing you need a supercomputer for.”

  Emma chewed her bottom lip. “So after all this time, we still have nothing actionable?”

  East shook his head. “Not exactly. We have someone who might be able to decrypt his phone and we’re sending it to them. In the meantime, one piece of information we did find is a hospital stay at Danbury Hospital. I’m working my way into patient records. He wasn't admitted as himself, so I have to figure out the alias used." East's gaze was on me. "Mate. I can see it on your face. Stay cool."

  "Stay bloody cool? He threatened her."

  "And I'm just as furious as you are, but we need something on him that’s irrefutable, methodical. You’re being reactive."

  "Fucking hell. After everything we've done in the last few weeks, and we still can't pull this off?"

  He sighed. "We can. But we need more information to pull this off cleanly with no reverb on any of us. I don't know about you, mate, but I have zero intention of ever going anywhere near a prison. Can you imagine Nyla in a prison cell?"

  I sighed. I knew he was right. "I'll burn him. I want him gone."

  My mate ran a hand through his dark hair. "Yeah. I hear you. There’s nothing to be done yet, but I'm on it." His gaze shifted to Emma. "How you doing, Little Tobes?"

  She shrugged. "Fine. I really wanted to stab him in the eyeball, but I felt like that would be overreacting. He wanted to scare me. And all I wanted to say to him was that he was unworthy of my time and attention. But I’m not going to lie. He managed to scare me. I’m just trying to keep my head.”

  “Give me a break, Ems.” How the fuck was she so calm?

  "You think I don't want to kill him? I do. But let's not make this all for nothing. I don't want him to be a thorn in my side forever. I don't want him to be a problem we're forever dealing with. I want him gone. Once and for all."

  I inhaled deeply. "I don't want to be rational. Not when he went after the woman I love."

  "I know. I understand the sentiment. But we have work to do. And I'm okay. East and Telly are looking for information we can use. Eventually, we will find something."

  I turned back to the screen. "Let us know what you find."

  Both nodded and signed off. I tugged Emma into my lap and dropped my head into the crook of her shoulder as I cradled her. "You sure you're okay?"

  "I'm shaken up, but I'm okay. And trust me, all I want to do is sneak into his villa and stab him in the eye with something very sharp and pointy so I can hear the satisfying pop as his eyeball goes…"

  I frowned at her. "So violent."

  "Yes. Also, I love horror movies."

  I nodded slowly. "Of course you do." I hugged her tight. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. I will be there next time, okay?"

  Even though she tucked into me and whispered that she believed me, I worried that I was lying, even to myself.

  What if I couldn't protect her? What if I had to let her go to protect her, to keep her safe? I'd already tried that once. But I knew I couldn't live without her. And so we were going to have to find a better way to deal with Middleton once and for all.

  Thirty-Five

  Bridge

  Emma was sleeping fitfully. She'd roll over then toss and turn. It didn't matter how many times I'd made her come. It didn't matter the exhaustion she was feeling, her dreams were keeping her from sinking into oblivion.

  And the fault lay with me.

  When she started whimpering in her sleep I gave in and woke her. "Sweetheart, love, wake up."

  She blinked sleepily. "Was I dreaming again?"

  I nodded. "Do you want to talk about it?"

  She shook her head. "No."

  I pulled her close. "Might help."

  She swiped a lock of hair out of her face. "What would help is if I could actually fucking sleep. I just need something. Something to put me out.

  I smirked and said, "I've already tried twice. You took a sleeping pill earlier, right?"

  She nodded. "Yes, but I don't know, I just can't get past… everything. I close my eyes and I just start spinning. I need a super sleeping pill."

  She snuggled in and I held her tightly to me. "All right, let me help. And remember, this is all about you and not at all about me. I’ve got something for you."

  She giggled. "Baby. That's not what I meant."

  "Maybe not, but you can't sleep. So just go ahead and call me NyQuil."

  She snorted. "Oh my God."

  "But am I lying? I am NyQuil to you."

  And then like always, Emma's eyes darkened, the rich chocolate color going obsidian. "So you're saying this is all about me right?"

  I nodded. "Oh yeah. I get nothing out of this at all." I said smirking at her. "Lie back sweetheart."

  She laughed. "Bridge."

  "I'm serious. This is strictly for medicinal purposes only. If I happen to enjoy applying the medicine, that's, you know, between me and my dick. It's got nothing to do with you."

  Even under all the stress, I could still make her laugh. "Bridge, you are incorrigible."

  "Yes, I know. Now you do as you’re told and lie back."

  She finally did.

  I knew what she expected. But like I’d told her, this wasn't about me. So I need it to give her the unexpected. I started with dusting kisses along her jawline, then moved to her neck. I drifted kisses onto her clavicle before moving to her sternum.

  When my tongue peeked out and tasted her honey skin, she arched her back. I knew what she was trying to tell me to do. But that was not part of the plan. She was trying to distract me, my little vixen.

  "Emma, remember we talked about this being just for you?"

  She giggled, and that was the sound that I wanted to hear, always. The sound I wanted to be responsible for. The smile in her voice was what I wanted to capture, always. When I kissed her belly button, her hips rotated. Even under stress and pressure, this tension between us, the fireworks, the crackling, was a real, tangible thing. And it was about more than just sex. While the sex was fantastic, it was about us being connected, a unit, a team.

  And when I kissed down to the top of her mound, a strip of soft springy curls met me and I inhaled deeply. I could live here. I had joked that this was all for her, but honestly, I knew if I could wake up like this every day, I'd be in heaven.

  Dipping my head low, I gently stroked my tongue over her clit.

  The moan she rewarded me with was deep, feral, and told me how much she needed this. I used my broad shoulders to part her legs, making space for myself before settling in, and she sighed. I licked and stroked and sucked. Planting my lips right over her clit and not easing up on the pressure. And just when she was close enough to break apart, I shifted. Pulling her back from the edge instead and using my tongue to fuck her. Deliberate, strong strokes. Enough to make her legs start to shake.

  "Bridge, you're killing me."

  "Am I? That is the highest compliment. But you know, this is for you, not for me.”

  She laughed again, but it was cut off when my fingers replaced my tongue, and my tongue replaced my thumb. I hooked my fingers to find the raised bundle of nerves, gently massaging. Emma's hand gripped my hair by the roots, telling me how much fun she was having.

  I kept up the onslaught, kept her riding that edge until her breathing came out in short, ragged pants. And once again, I pulled back.

  "Jesus Christ, please, I'll do anything. I'm begging you. If you could just…”

  I grinned up at her and went back to town. I had zero intention of letting up. I wanted her so desperate for me that she couldn't remember her name, so that when I finally did let her come she'd be exhausted enough to sleep. Wiped out enough to shake the worry for at least the rest of the night.

  When she gripped my hair tightly and started to rock her hips up against me, I knew we were there. Or at least really close.