“No,” Louis bit out.

  Not letting go of Louis’s arm, Vance used his elbow to press the elevator call button. The doors slid open, and Vance simultaneously threw Louis inside and grabbed the keycard off his belt.

  Using the side of his fist, Vance hit the lobby button before shoving the keycard into his pocket.

  Louis glared at Vance. “Mr. Bertrand’s going to hear about this.”

  “Excellent, make sure you tell him I have the keycard, and I’ll be giving it to Miss Malcher,” Vance retorted as the elevator doors slid shut. Turning to me, he calmly straightened his cuffs. “You okay, darling?”

  I should have demanded my phone back and told him to leave before he did any more damage, but for the first time in as long as I could remember, I was looking at someone who had stood up for me.

  Before I could stop myself, reckless words I had never spoken aloud came out of my mouth. “Joseph has something on me.” It was as close to the truth as I felt safe saying in that moment, which was more than I ever thought I would say out loud to anyone.

  For a brief, reaffirming second, a look of sincerity crossed Vance’s face, and his voice softened. “I figured, love.” Then the moment was gone, and his gaze focused over my shoulder as his expression locked down. He stepped around me. “Is she all set?”

  “Yes, Mr. Victor.” Rosaline pushed the larger of two rolling suitcases toward him. “She will have enough for a short while.”

  “Thank you.” Vance nodded at the smaller suitcase she had not pushed over. “And yourself?”

  Rosaline’s face flushed, and she looked down as she clasped her hands. “I thought I would leave with you two.”

  “Rosaline,” I whispered in shock. She had been with Joseph since before I had come into his life, and even though she was kind to me, she had always been loyal to him. In fact, I had always wondered if she was in love with him, or had been at one time. “Are you sure?”

  The woman, who I had watched be subservient to Joseph for years, squared her shoulders and looked directly at me. “Yes. This is something I should’ve done a long time ago.”

  “Excellent,” Vance interrupted. “Shall we?” He took my suitcase, rolled it toward the elevator and pushed the call button as his cell made a buzzing sound then rang.

  Rosaline stepped beside me, silently looping her arm in mine.

  Vance frowned as he glanced at his phone, but then he swiped his thumb across the screen and answered it as he had before. “Victor.”

  Standing close enough to him to hear the yelling that was coming from the caller, I involuntarily shuddered at the sound of Joseph’s anger.

  Rosaline squeezed my arm. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “I think this Victor is a good man. If he can get me a new job, he can get you out of here too.”

  She did not understand, but it was not her fault. “Thank you, Rosaline,” I quietly responded, but I knew what Joseph was going to do. He was going to do what he always did. He would make it so that none of us walked out of this penthouse.

  “I’ll get back to you.” Vance hung up and looked at me as he spoke to the older woman holding my arm like a life preserver. “Rosaline, give Sabine and me a moment, please.”

  The elevator doors opened and she glanced between us before looking back at Vance and shocking me for a second time today. “We have to leave now before he comes back.”

  “I understand.” Vance held my gaze as he replied to Rosaline. “Take the lift or give us a moment,” he quietly ordered.

  Rosaline turned and walked back toward the kitchen.

  Vance let the elevator doors close before he spoke. “He wants to negotiate.”

  Vance

  Looking defeated as hell, her shoulders slumped. “He is lying.” She glanced toward the hall where the older woman had gone. “Joseph does not negotiate. He threatens and he bullies until he gets what he wants. He has probably already called the police.” She looked back at me. “You should go. I will stay, but please, take Rosaline with you.”

  I didn’t know if I was more impressed with her bravery or angry with her for being stubborn. “First, I already told you, I’m not leaving without you. I can handle Bertrand and whatever he throws our way. I’d feel more prepared if you told me what he has on you, but right now, my priority is getting you out. Understand that doesn’t mean I walk away once I get you out the door. I’m following this through. I’ll make sure the threat’s eliminated, then I’ll get you set up somewhere safe.” Most likely at my penthouse in Miami because I was already out of my fucking head, and I didn’t want to walk away from this woman.

  “Set up like Rosaline?” she asked.

  “Yes.” If that’s what it took to get her out of here of her own free will. “Second, you were half right. He doesn’t want to negotiate per se, and he did threaten, but it wasn’t about calling the police.” I knew he wouldn’t the second he’d threatened it. If he did, he’d have to explain why he had a priceless stolen painting in his living room, which I could give two fucks about. I was more concerned with watching her face closely for any change in expression or tells as I gave her the rest of it. “He said if you’re at the Miami event tonight and Vienna the following day, then you can walk away—his words, not mine—free and clear.” Which was a fucking setup, but I still didn’t know what he was after.

  Inhaling sharply, she turned away from me.

  “Sabine?”

  “I should call him,” she murmured. “I should speak with him.”

  “I’ve already spoken with him, and I’ve told you what he said.” At least the pertinent details, the other ninety percent I wasn’t going to fucking repeat because she didn’t deserve to take any more of his bullshit. “But if you feel the need to hear it for yourself, we can call him.” On speaker, because no fucking way was I giving him unfettered access to her under my watch.

  “Fine.” She turned to face me, and the same damn look of resignation as before was back, haunting her gorgeous eyes. “When do we leave for Miami? You said thirty minutes?”

  Goddamn it, I needed to talk to November. “What does he have over you?”

  Ignoring me as if I hadn’t asked the question, she gave me more closed-off bullshit. “I am going to do what he asks, and while I cannot stop you from doing what you are going to do, I would prefer it if you did not stop me from doing what I am going to do.”

  Fuck, this woman was fierce in her stoicism. I forced a smile. “Well played, love, using my own tactics against me.”

  “I can assure you this has nothing to do with you.”

  “I know.” That was both the allure and the problem of it. I didn’t need a shrink to tell me I was out of my mind. I knew I couldn’t save this woman to exonerate myself from my past. The last person she needed at her back was me, but here I was. “Does this have to do with the stolen art hanging on the wall?” I tipped my chin toward the living room.

  “Pardon?” She followed my glance, then frowned. “Oh, no, that is a replica. A very good one, but nonetheless an imitation.”

  “Right.” I glanced at her ring and took a wild stab. “Is your diamond fake too?”

  She covered the ring with her right hand. “When do I leave for Miami?”

  Fucking hell, I didn’t know if she was covering for that asshole or actually believed his lies, but the fact that she was willing to walk blindly into this trap wasn’t sitting well. “I can’t in good conscience recommend you do this.” I didn’t even know if it came down to it, if I would physically let her walk back into that asshole’s web.

  “I understand, but if two events mean a clean break and he drops this investigation, then so be it.”

  “I can guarantee that nothing about this will be clean.” And Bertrand wasn’t going to drop shit. She knew who the fuck she was dealing with. “He has no regard for your safety or well-being. At a minimum, he’ll pull something over on you, and the fact that I can’t anticipate what that is because I don’t have all the details has me far more alarmed than if he went to the district attorney with his trumped-up allegations of corporate espionage.”

  Her gaze drifted past me, but she didn’t respond.

  “I need to know exactly what I’m protecting you from.” I knew pushing the issue was the wrong approach with someone like her, especially with what she’d clearly been dealing with for years. But this was what I did. This was what Trefor had hired me for.

  I fucking pushed.

  I unraveled. I peeled back layers. Then I flushed out secrets.

  Stripping people back to their motivations, unveiling what made them tick—it cut to the chase. I’d get to the bottom of what she was hiding. Everyone I’d ever met was driven by one of two things, money or love, sometimes both. I suspected she was no different, but the devil was in the details.

  Details she still wasn’t giving up.

  Switching up my tone, dominant, controlled, but low enough not to frighten her, I used her name. “Sabine.”

  She looked up at me, and for two seconds, I thought I had her.

  Then her eyes and her expression shut down. “No charges have been filed. I have done nothing wrong. There is nothing to protect me from.” She turned her back on me. “Rosaline!”

  The woman instantly appeared from around the corner. “Are we leaving now?”

  “Not exactly,” Sabine replied. “I am going to Miami with Joseph for the preview party, then on to Vienna for the live auction.”

  Rosaline blanched. “But—”

  “All is well.” Sabine put her hand on the other woman’s shoulder. “I am going to quickly pack what I need for the two events, but I suggest you leave with Mr. Co—” Sabine stopped herself and corrected. “With Mr. Victor.”

  Fuck this. “Nice try, pet, but I’m not going anywhere without you.” I looked at the older woman. “Do you have somewhere safe to go?”

  Rosaline glanced at Sabine, then back at me. She nodded hesitantly.

  I pulled my cell out and dialed.

  November answered on the first ring. “Echo filled me in, and I’m working on it, but Alpha’s been trying to get a hold of you. The client’s blowing up his phone, leaving threatening messages. What happened?”

  “Later. I need a driver sent to the penthouse ASAP.”

  “What happened to the McLaren?”

  “Nothing. This isn’t for me. Pull Echo back, and let Zulu know we need to be wheels up in thirty. We’re heading back down to Miami with a plus one, and I’ll need you and Echo tonight.” I was all about working alone, but in this situation, if I couldn’t get her to change her mind, then even I wasn’t arrogant enough to walk into that fucking party with her without backup. “I’ll update you on the rest in-flight.”

  “Copy,” November replied as he typed on his laptop. “Car’s en route. Filing a flight plan now. The Gulfstream will be ready when you are. Do you want me to arrange to have Prestige pick up the McLaren at Teterboro, or are you handling it?”

  I told myself I was remembering Zulu’s warning and not stirring the proverbial pot, but in truth, I had a sudden aversion to any woman in my past colliding with the woman standing in front of me. If that didn’t spell fucked, I didn’t know what did, but I didn’t have time to dwell on it. Bertrand could show up any second, and I wanted Sabine out of here before that happened.

  “I would appreciate an assist on that, and send the driver into the lobby for pickup.”

  “Copy and consider it done. Driver’s downstairs. I’m relaying pickup instructions now.” November hung up before I could thank him.

  I glanced at the older woman. “A driver’s waiting downstairs in the lobby. He’ll take you wherever you want to go.”

  She looked at Sabine.

  Sabine nodded.

  “Then it’s settled.” I hit the elevator call button. “Don’t speak to the doorman, and leave your phone here.” I fished out two of the three grand I had in large bills in my wallet and handed them to her. “Have the driver make a stop to buy a new phone before you have him take you somewhere safe. Once you’re settled, contact the woman I told you about, but under no circumstances do you call Sabine, Bertrand or any other staff member from here. Understand?”

  Clutching the money, she nodded with the same fear in her eyes I’d seen in Sabine as the elevator doors opened.

  “You’ll be all right,” I assured. “Just remember, clean break.”

  Tears welled and she nodded. Then she turned toward Sabine and hugged her before quickly getting on the elevator. As the doors closed, she looked at me. “Thank you.”

  Sabine waited until we were alone. “Joseph is not going to forget this. Rosaline has been with him longer than I have.”

  I watched her for a moment, wondering if she knew.

  “I see that look,” she accused.

  “What look is that, pet?”

  “First, you are calling me pet now instead of love, and second, you are either assuming she was once involved with Joseph or asking yourself if I see what has been right in front of me all along. Most likely the latter, and you are judging me for it.”

  I wasn’t judging shit. “I’m in no position to cast judgment on you or her. Trust me, love, I’m saving that for Bertrand. But otherwise, you’re right. I’d bet my life he went through her before he spied a younger, prettier punching bag.”

  She dropped her head. “He does not punch me.”

  “Doesn’t he?” Repeatedly, every goddamn way he could. “What do you call the fresh bruising on your wrist, the fabricated paperwork to put you behind bars, the way he speaks to you?” Every damn hit he was taking at her was fueling my rage, but I didn’t have time to hash this out here, nor did I want to. I needed to get her the fuck out of here, find out want she was hiding, then decide if I was going to let her attend that goddamn party in Miami. “We’ll revisit this later. Go pack what you need. I have to make a call.”

  Without a word, she turned toward the hallway.

  I dialed Trefor.

  He answered on the first ring. “You never call me when you’re on assignment.”

  I watched the curve of her perfect ass as her heels quietly clicked across the marbled foyer before she disappeared around a corner.

  “You never text me, demanding that I do,” I countered.

  “I’ve never had a client call to say he’s pressing kidnapping and assault charges against you for taking his wife, as well as aiding and abetting a felon.”

  I glanced at the painting again. “Didn’t know there was a wife, and the bastard needs to pick a side. She’s either his wife, or she’s a felon.” I didn’t know shit about art other than what I liked, but there was no way a prick like Bertrand would hang a fucking replica in his living room.

  “The problem is none of us knew he had a wife, so we don’t know what she’s capable of.”

  “The problem is Bertrand,” I corrected. “Not her.”

  “Echo filled me in, and from what we know so far, I don’t disagree, but November’s working on gathering more intel. So far, there’s no legal documentation, at least not in the States, that says he’s married to her or anyone else, and November’s still coming up short on her background.”

  “He may not have married her, but she’s been living with him for almost seven years, taking his shit, complete with fresh signs of physical abuse.”

  Trefor exhaled audibly. “Understood. What do you need from me?”

  “I need to find out what Bertrand has on her that’s making her stick around, and I need that intel yesterday.”

  “There’s not always a reason in domestic situations,” Trefor cautioned.

  I refrained from telling him to fuck off. “There is in this one. Bertrand’s demanding she attend a preview party in Miami tonight and the live auction in Vienna on Saturday. Then he says he’ll let her walk, free and clear.”

  “She agreed?”

  “She’s packing a bag as we speak.”

  “You think he’ll follow through?”

  “Not for one fucking second.” Something was going to happen at one of the events, I’d bet my life on it. “Bertrand said if I don’t deliver her to his private jet at Westchester by oh four hundred, then his attorney is locked and loaded, ready to press charges on all counts of espionage, and I’m being thrown into the mix for everything he mentioned to you.”

  “Christ,” Trefor muttered.

  “If I can’t talk her out of going, I want Echo and November at the party with me tonight. Then, depending on what happens, I’ll need a team on standby for Vienna.”

  “Done, but for the record, any other woman, you would’ve already removed her from the situation and done damage control postcoital.”

  “I’m not fucking her, Alpha,” I warned.

  In a rare show of emotion, Trefor laughed. “I’m Alpha now?”

  “Fuck you,” I bit out.

  His tone sobered. “What’s really going on?”

  “I just fucking told you what’s going on. Tell November she’s French and to start with the Harrington’s Paris location seven years ago. Then we need to get into Harrington’s main servers and find out what the hell is going on.”

  “Copy that. Can I ask one more question, or are you going to bite my head off again?”

  “This isn’t me biting.” Not even close. “If I was going to bite your fucking head off, you wouldn’t see it coming.” Just like Bertrand won’t know what’s hit him until it’s too late.

  “I’m well aware. All I need to know is if you’re solid.”

  “I’m going to ignore the fact that this is the second time in twenty-four hours that you’ve questioned my judgment.”

  “Then I’m going to ignore the fact that Sanaa called Maila this morning.”

  “What the fuck for?” They weren’t friends, they were acquaintances.

  “Coffee.”

  “You’re saying that or your woman said that?” I didn’t have time for this, but I also didn’t need my brother’s wife talking shit about me to my boss’s woman, which would invariably get back to Trefor.