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I’d been too lost in thought that I didn’t catch Caleb moving until his fingers bit into my waist as he pulled me flush to his side. A silent declaration of ownership. One that, a few short weeks ago, I’d have stabbed him in the groin for, but now I relished his possessiveness because I knew it ran both ways. I’d still stab him if he pissed me off, just somewhere that wouldn’t hinder his ability to drive his cock into me.

“She’s definitely a catch. We’re working on her sass outside of the bedroom,” Caleb commented.

I wrapped my arm around his back, gazing at him like a doting wife while pinching the skin above his ass cheeks as hard as possible. Fuck him and his taut body. It would’ve hurt more if he had some fat to grab on to. Caleb’s jaw ticked at my assault, both of us fighting to keep on the proverbial masks we wore tonight.

Maxim’s contemplative hum had me turning my attention back to him. “Is that what you do, Scarletta? You’re a housewife?” he asked, amber eyes locking on to the slight movement of Caleb’s thumb brushing along the curve of my breast, heating with lust and envy. Tingles ran up my spine when Maxim pulled my hand to his lips, but they had nothing to do with attraction. My instinct screamed that danger was near, but my entire life had been spent living in danger and learning to take the fucking hearts of those who tried to make an enemy of me. Maxim would be another name on my list.

The billionaire paused at the smile I gave him.

Shit. Too much deranged killer in that one.

His own subconscious probably picked up on the shift in energy.

“Shall we sit at our table while we wait for Dominick?” Caleb asked, using his hand to direct me back to the others while keeping his body between Maxim and me.

“Oh, he didn’t tell you? He won’t be meeting with us tonight. He said it would be a good opportunity for us to get acquainted,” Maxim said from behind me.

Thank God my back was to the men, because there was no hiding the bloodthirsty smile that pulled at my lips. Hacking text messages was such a handy skill. Made it much easier to plan dinner murders.

CHAPTER 39

CALEB

SPIT IN MY MOUTH

She was brilliant.

Her ability to morph into any role was a wonder to watch work. She’d clocked Maxim from a mile away. The prick wanted things that weren’t his, and tonight it was her. The entire night, she’d been playing him, a perfectly timed comment here, a sensual smile there. Every time she leaned forward, her shirt dipped low, giving him an eyeful of her cleavage, but not enough to show the pert nipples I knew were hidden under the silk.

Crescent-shaped marks were probably permanently indented in my palms because, as much as I loved the view, I wanted to carve out Maxim’s eyes for every look he took. Smug bastard didn’t bother to hide that he was ogling another man’s wife.

“Boys, should we retire to the lounge for an after-dinner drink?” Scar asked, slurring her words as if she were drunk. She trailed a finger down my chest, eyeing me like she’d like to ride my cock right here. That part wasn’t an act. We’d been caressing each other all night, and my dick was about to burst out of my pants. Knowing what we were about to do to Maxim just made it harder.

“Are you going to join us, Maxim?” she asked, resting her head on my shoulder, her hair fanning across my chest, reminding me of how she looked when I fucked her. “We have so much fun in there together.” She leaned forward, crooking her finger in a come hither motion, and Maxim complied without question.

I glanced toward his bodyguards. Their postures relaxed about thirty minutes into the dinner, which had been filled with false laughter and superficial topics. But it had served its purpose, making them drop their shields.

“There aren’t any cameras in there,” she whispered.

His tongue swiped across his bottom lip at the wink she gave him, and fury raged in my veins. Kenji’s whole body was rigid, and he’d been uncharacteristically quiet the entire time. Niko was always the silent one, adding a comment here and there, but tonight he’d been chatty. Entertaining Maxim on talks of St. Petersburg and the Bratva. “I’d love to join you, love,” Maxim answered before addressing the two goons at his back. “You two stay here. Order yourselves something.”

A smile threatened to creep up on my face, but I bit it back.

The lounge was a smoking parlor, dark and intimate. Wood paneling covered every inch of the space, low lighting shedding only enough light to see the person seated in the leather club chair across from you. And Scar had been correct. This room didn’t have cameras or mics, and it was soundproof.

I sat down in the tufted chair, pulling Scar into my lap. Hooking my ankles around hers, I pulled her legs apart, my thumbs coming to rest in the crease of her thighs. She stiffened for a split second before melting into the touch. Putty in my hands.

I tugged on her lobe with my teeth, savoring the hitch in her breath. “Your pussy is radiating heat, wife. How fucking wet are you right now knowing what you’re about to do?” She ground her ass against my cock, not bothering to be subtle about her movements.

“She is quite the specimen, Caleb. Have you considered sharing her?” Maxim asked, practically drooling over the show he was getting. His slimy voice itched at my skin, and my grip tightened on Scar.

“Scar honey, why don’t you get us some drinks?” I asked, locking eyes with Maxim as I ran my tongue up the column of her throat, lapping up the salty flavor of her skin.

She rose obediently, and the loud snap of my hand slapping her ass echoed in the small space. Her head flicked toward me so quickly that I was surprised she didn’t crack her neck. I choked down my laugh before she added me to her list of people she was killing tonight.

“Drink of choice tonight, gentlemen?” she asked as she sauntered over to the drink cart, adding an extra sway to her hips. She looked at Maxim expectantly, a perfectly manicured eyebrow quirked.

“Let’s do tequila. That’s the kick I’ve been on lately. A new business partner of mine has a club in Tucson that serves the best tequila,” he responded.