Chapter 3

Every time I pulled Julian away from a bad table, she whispered that I didn't trust his instincts.

Every time I made him fix a dirty ledger before it drew heat, she whispered that I was tightening the leash.

Every time I kept him out of a deal he wasn't ready for, she whispered that I was keeping him small.

The higher Julian climbed, the less time he had for me.

I thought the work was wearing him down.

Turns out, he was saving his love, his time, his everything, for Chloe.

I took a man marked for disposal and made him valuable.

What I got back was an ungrateful dog with another woman's hand on his collar.

Fine.

I cut bad investments loose. Julian Cross is no different.

My mind wanders back to the present. Luca is still looking at me with those deep-set eyes.

Almost like a predator watching its prey.

I speak slowly. "You said you can protect me better and know how to keep me entertained."

"For now, the only thing I'm accepting from you is bodyguard work."

"If you can live with that, then we can talk."

Luca's face stays composed, but I catch it in his eyes, a flash of satisfaction, controlled and unmistakable.

"I can live with that," he says. "As long as I'm allowed to stay near you, Miss Vescari."

"Fine. Once we're back home, you get a full medical exam."

"If everything comes back clean, you register through the private security office. Any objections?"

Luca answers quickly, "None."

The private helicopter lands on the rooftop not long after, and Luca carries me aboard.

---

When I return to the Manor, I hear the piano before I even make it past the front doors.

In the main parlor, empty wine bottles are scattered across the rug.

Chloe is curled up in Julian's arms.

He has one arm around her waist, a glass in his hand, and the other moving slowly through her hair.

The second Chloe sees me, she shoves away from Julian and jumps up like a startled rabbit.

"Moira, please don't misunderstand. I was just scared. Julian was only comforting me."

I let out a cold laugh. "What kind of comfort involves getting drunk and wrapped up in each other's arms?"

"Moira…"

"If I hadn't walked in, were you two planning to comfort each other all the way to the bedroom?"

"Enough!" Julian snaps. "Moira, don't be so cruel. We're not your employees, and Chloe is innocent. She's not like you."

"Not like me?" I smile. "True. She's a hell of a lot more shameless than I am."