Page 43 of Filthy Little Lies

He grins. “Between the two of us, I’m not the professional con artist.”

He has a point. It’s not a great one, seeing as he runs an illegal network of criminals right out in the open, but still a point. And he pulls ahead with another score.

I look at the list of heavy equipment over again. “So if you’re not trafficking women, what are you moving through the border?”

“Weapons, mostly. And I’m smuggling them out, not in. The documents are for ports around the world.”

“Like guns? You’re an arms dealer?”

“Among other things. I keep a diverse portfolio.” He steals the last strawberry from my plate, bringing the ripe berry to his lips.

My mouth waters as he wraps his full lips around the juicy berry and bites. His tongue appears for a brief moment, licking the juice before it has a chance to drip onto his freshly pressed black button down.

“Drugs?”

He raises his brow. “No. I stay away from drugs. Too much bloodshed in that business. My logistics company gives me a smokescreen for most things coming and going through this state and others, all the way to the seaside ports. Drugs would mean a different sort of distribution set up.”

“And you stick to easy money?” It’s meant as a shot, but it comes out as a tease.

“There’s no such thing as easy money when there’s this many moving parts. It’s why it takes a whole army to keep things running smoothly.”

“And that’s what Roman is for?”

He nods. “My brother has his work just like I do, and our cousin, Lucian, has his part. The three of us together keep our family at the top.”

“And your men are your little worker bees?”

His face hardens. “Our men share the risks and the rewards of our businesses, but they understand their place.”

“And now that I’m working for you, I should get to know my place, too?” There it is again, the little flirtatious tilt. I clear my throat, needing to get it together. He’s infuriating, I need to remember how infuriating he is, even when he’s sitting so casually with me, acting like we’re friends instead of the enemies we should be.

“Your place is where I say it is,” he says firmly. “You’ll have those documents done by tonight.”

It takes a beat for the change in subject to register.

“What? Tonight, you want all of this by the end of the day? I need a little more time. There’s a seal that goes on the customs declaration I might not have. I’ll have to check it against the countries you have listed here.” There’s one country I’ve never even heard of before listed, so I can be sure I don’t have anything that will mimic what they put on their customs paperwork.

“Tonight, eight o’clock. You’ll get it done,” he says confidently. “But first, I want to show you something, come on.” He helps me from my chair, sliding his hand into mine as he walks me from the kitchen and down another hallway.

I haven’t taken the time to explore the house or the grounds, so I have no idea where he’s taking me. Other than his office and a formal living and dining room on the first floor, I have no idea what else is on this level.

We walk down a hallway with floor-to-ceiling windows as the exterior wall. It looks out over the back yard. A pool. It’s been drained and cleaned for the upcoming winter. The pool chairs are neatly stacked near a smaller building just outside the gates surrounding the pool.

“You have a pool house? I could be staying there.”

“You’re exactly where I want you to be.” He squeezes my hand.

There’s no reason for it, but a warm current runs through me. Maybe it’s the soft way he said it, or how he keeps holding my hand as we walk through more hallways.

Or I’m delusional.

A part of me hopes it’s the last one. Because maybe there’s a chance I’ll snap out of it and remember what a ruthless, arrogant prick Gabriel is.

Then he ruins everything, and all my hope of finding my brain is dashed with one opened door.

“Here you go.” He pushes the double doors open and steps out of my way so I can step inside.

It’s my apartment. Well, most of it. All of my books are lined up neatly on the shelves. A plush loveseat faces an electric fireplace with a flat screen television mounted above it.