Page 39 of Ravaged With You

“Why’d he say no?” I ask. “I’d jump all over that.”

“They’re yours,” Renly said. “I offered them around the office, but everyone’s booked. Next Saturday. I’ll be enjoying Italy from a comfy bed with a view.”

“Thanks. I’ll drag Red with me.” I glance up, and he nods. “But I don’t want to steal them out from under the new guy. He really doesn’t want them?”

“His exact words were that he’d rather eat glass than walk the red carpet.”

“Weird,” I say. Personally, I’d be all over that.

“That’s more than I got from him,” Mario says. “He didn’t say three words when I got his system set up.”

“Ryan says he’s rock solid, but keeps to himself.” That from a stunning redhead who towers over me, especially as I’m still seated. “I’m Emma,” she says. “You’re Red—I’d recognize you even without seeing your picture on Renly’s desk. You two are very much twins. And you must be Jo, the new client.”

“Guilty. Well, not really.”

Emma grins. “I’m sorry I missed that release party you guys had for your rye. Tony and I were grabbing a long weekend hiking in the desert.”

“I’m sorry you missed it, too, but that sounds like fun.”

“It was,” Emma says “But what I really want is to know the details of our new recruit. More than just he doesn’t like the movies. Mario? You’re nerd guy. Don’t tell me you haven’t run his background.”

Mario frowns his eyes darting to me and Red. “Paying clients, Em.”

“Family,” Renly retorts. “Come on, what’s the deal?”

“I haven’t run him,” Mario says.

I almost laugh when Emma crosses her arms and cocks her head.

“Bullshit,” she says.

“Okay, fuck. I tried. I failed. Me. Talk about a punch to the gut.”

“Really?” Emma’s voice rises, and she takes a step back as she says it, her attention shifting toward the glass wall of Ryan Hunter’s office. I see him back there, the head of this agency, looking every bit the part. And right there with him, looking equally commanding and competent, is the tall, muscular, blond-haired god in a suit we’ve all been gossiping about.

I smile.

“Like him that much, do you?” Red teases.

“No,” I say, though I shoot a he really is hot glance toward Emma. “I was just thinking that it’s nice to feel included. I mean, Red’s in with you guys by default, but—”

“You are, too,” Red says firmly. “Isn’t that right?” His eyes are hard on his brother.

“Hell, yes,” Renly says.

“Yes, of course. You’re one of us,” Emma says. “But spill, Mario. His file is really sealed that tight?”

“I didn’t try for that long—oh, hell, yes I did. Couldn’t find a damn thing. All I know is what Ryan gave me to put in his personnel file. His name’s Simon Barré, he was born in France to a French mother and American dad, lived there until he was seventeen, then moved here. He’s working on the trafficking detail, on loan from Devlin Saint. And that last part,” he adds with a look to both me and Red, “really is confidential.”

“The philanthropist?” I remember there was some big scandal about him not too long ago, but I don’t recall the details. “His foundation helps victims of trafficking, right?”

Red closes his hand over mine. “I think Saint does a lot more than philanthropy.”

“What do you know about Saint?” Mario asks.

“My brother was with the SOC,” Renly says. “You know that. He could tell you, but then he’d have to kill you.”

“Forget Saint,” Emma says. “I want to know about Red’s time with the SOC. Seagrave talks about you a lot, you know.”