Page 76 of Wicked Fortune

“Ariadne Parker,” he says, his green eyes hard on me. “I’m Joel Carradine. I think we need to talk.”

“I—” I try to get an actual word out, but my mouth has gone completely dry. I take a quick sip of my margarita, then try again. “Mr. Carradine. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Please call me Ari. I’m Mr. Holt’s new PA.”

The words come out steady and firm, and I haven’t bolted in terror. After a sketchy start, I consider this a total victory.

He glances down, then slowly skims his gaze up until he’s looking straight into my eyes. “His PA? I think you’re more than that. And,” he adds, gesturing toward an exit off the patio that presumably leads to an alley, “I think we ought to have a chat.”

I glance toward Clive, who’s not only moved closer, but has hooked his arm around my waist. He tightens it now, and I take some comfort in the fact that he has my back.

Carradine takes a single step toward the exit, his focus still on me. “Shall we?” When I don’t move, he turns his attention to Clive. “Don’t worry. I’ll bring her right back.”

“I really shouldn’t,” I say. “I made plans to meet Mr. Trent tonight, and I need to find him before⁠—”

“No.”

I lift my chin, giving him my most bitchy glare. “Excuse me?”

“No, you didn’t make plans.” His mouth curves into the tightest of smiles. “I’m Mr. Trent’s right hand. Managing his calendar is the least of my duties.”

I clear my throat. “I meant that I planned to introduce myself.”

“I see.” He slips his hands into his jacket pockets, and I can’t help but wonder what might be in there. A knife? A small gun? A miniature nuclear weapon?

I squeeze Clive’s hand hard, trying to ward off hysteria. “So, if you’ll just excuse me, I’m going to go find him.” I start to turn away, but Joel takes two long steps and parks himself right in front of me. “That’s not happening.”

Beside me, Clive stiffens, but I squeeze his hand and try to telepathically order him to just stay chill. Surely this scary badass won’t pull anything here. The place is overrun with potential witnesses. Granted, no one seems to be paying any attention to us at the moment, but surely if he slit my throat, someone would notice. Wouldn’t they?

I lift my chin. “Look, I get that you’re Trent’s guard dog, but I am going to go find him. So deal with it.” I start to walk away, but he grabs my elbow. “Hey!”

“Mr. Trent isn’t here.”

“Oh.” I frown. “I was under the impression he always attended these events.”

Once again, he points to the exit. “We should talk in private.”

“I’d rather talk here.”

That smile is back. “I’m afraid I have to insist.”

I glance at Clive, who shakes his head.

“Please, Ms. Parker.”

I look at Clive. The truth is, I doubt the guy’s going to kill me in an alley. I open my phone, then text Carradine’s resume to Clive. “That’s got this freak’s name, address, all that info. If anything happens to me…”

“I’m not going to kill you in a back alley,” Carradine says. “No matter how tempting the thought might be.”

He sounds so exasperated that I actually have to fight a grin. So, okay. Maybe this isn’t the scene in the movie where the girl does a stupid thing and gets her throat slit.

I draw a breath, meet Clive’s eyes, then nod at Carradine. “Let’s go.”

I’m right about the gate leading to an alley, but what I didn’t expect was the sleek, black limo idling in the trash-strewn road. I whip around to face Carradine. “There is no way in hell I’m getting into that car with you.”

“Just a short ride and an informative talk.” He reaches for my arm. I knee him in the balls. Or I try. Apparently, the moves from the self-defense class I took in college haven’t stuck with me.

I start to run, managing to pull my arm out of Carradine’s grip. I’m just about to yank open the gate when a familiar voice calls my name.

“Aria! Stop!”