Page 57 of Damaged Beast
“Sure will. Doesn’t matter if we’re married. Prime’s going to work me to the bone.”
Ricardo booms a laugh. “Wonderful! Good to hear! Love that about you, Prime. Listen, we’re having another get-together, another little fund raiser for a politician friend of mine. I hope the pair of you can attend next weekend?”
“We wouldn’t miss it,” I say and Deanna smiles and nods like she can’t wait.
“Listen for Marco’s call. It was good seeing you both. I’ll let you get back to work!”
His window rolls up and the car pulls away. I watch until Ricardo’s gone from the lot and I’m alone with Deanna again.
“That was good, wasn’t it?”
She doesn’t look happy when I take her arm and start walking again. “It might be.”
“You want them to want you. That’s why you played it so cool. That’s why you took that file.”
“The closer I can get, the easier my life will be.”
“Why? What do you care about these people for?”
“Ricardo’s the way in. Marco’s the key on the next step.” I look at my wife, wondering if I’m fucking this up. “The next party… maybe you don’t need to attend.”
She stiffens and slows. “What are you talking about?”
“Maybe it would be better?—“
“This is what you need me for, isn’t it?” She clutches her clipboard against her chest. “I’m the reason they’re inviting you in the first place. Now that you’re a happily married man, they’re taking you more seriously. You can’t leave me at home. They’ll start to ask questions.”
She’s right, as much as I hate it. This is the whole reason we made our deal, and now I’m already trying to find a way to shield her.
“Our marriage is enough. You don’t need to be there.” I move closer and touch her. Fuck, I have to stop doing this, but I’m like an addict. I can’t help myself. When Deanna’s around I want to graze my fingers over her bare skin. I want to taste her, listen to her whimpers and moans. Even the rage and hate in her eyes gets me fucking hard.
She looks uncertain and chews the edge of her thumbnail. But the girl’s made of harder stuff. That’s what attracted me to her in the first place. I didn’t hire her because I thought she was beautiful—although that didn’t hurt—but because I could see the iron in her bones even during that first interview.
I knew she’d be impressive. I didn’t realize how right I’d be until recently.
“You need me.” She straightens, knuckles whitening around the clipboard’s edge. “I’m not staying home.”
“Deanna—“
“No, don’t try to change my mind. I’m a good distraction, right? And a good excuse if you get caught.”
“That trick we pulled last time won’t work again.”
“Maybe not, but I can still help.”
“No. My work is my own.”
“You need me,” she repeats more firmly this time. “I’m coming to that party, Prime.”
“Why are you insisting so hard?”
“You don’t see it, but I’ve been taking care of you since we first met. I’m not going to stop now because things got more dangerous. We made a deal and I’m going to honor it.”
I slip close and tug her tight against me, one hand locking against the small of her back. I dip down and kiss her neck. The clipboard clatters to the ground.
“You’re starting to like this, aren’t you?”
“Not even a little bit.”
