“The discussion is a long one,” Lana said. “I can’t see her directly, but I’ve caught several glimpses of her reflected in the computer screen. Can you enhance that, Code?”

Maestro looked to Code, the miracle worker. Code immediately tried to adjust the screen on the scene he’d frozen. He stepped closer as if that would get him what he wanted—her safety. Could he leave her hanging out there virtually unprotected to finish what they’d started more than two years earlier? Did having relationships make you indecisive?

“I’m sorry, Savage,” he murmured aloud. “Really sorry, brother. I’ll go to Seychelle and apologize to her.”

“You did apologize to her, multiple times, Maestro,” Savage reminded him.

“Yeah, I know, but I didn’t mean it the way I do now,” he admitted. “I told her I was sorry, and I was, but it was because I hurt her. Seychelle isn’t a woman who ever deserves that kind of hurt. She didn’t think I wanted her with you. I’m sorry for making her feel that way. I was trying to save the two of you, keep her from getting hurt when things got extreme, but I still didn’t understand.”

Savage touched him briefly on the shoulder. Savage rarely touched anyone other than Seychelle unless he was interrogating them—and no one wanted to be the man Savage was questioning. It was shocking to Maestro that Savage gave him that brief moment of affection and reassurance. And it meant a whole hell of a lot, especially when he felt so confused and frustrated.

Maestro didn’t do well in the world of confusion or frustration. It was the reason he always maintained control and demanded it in his life. It was safer for him and everyone around him. Not knowing whether to allow Azelie choices when her life could be in danger was maddening. He was a decisive man. He was in charge.

He guarded their vice president for a reason. Every move was instinctive and precise. He could easily run an army if need be. His brain worked at high speed to solve puzzles, particularly problems that put those he cared about in jeopardy. Yet now, when he needed clear thinking the most, he found emotions hampered him.

“I can see her reflection much clearer on the screen,” Lana reported. “What about everyone else?”

All of them could lip-read, but Reaper was particularly adept at it. He appeared totally absorbed as he stared at the screen.

“She’s telling him she doesn’t have the skills to track money that was stolen from the accounts. She’s being upfront with him about what kind of specialist he needs.”

It was all Maestro could do to keep from laying his hand on the screen. He wanted to touch her. To hold her close. In the reflection, her expression appeared surprisingly serene, but they had the evidence of a pounding heart to clue them in to the fact that she was terrified.

“Look at that woman of yours holding it together,” Reaper said, awe in his voice. “She knows he’s an asshole and dangerous, but she’s standing up to him. I have no idea what he’s saying to her, but she’s not letting him walk on her.”

“Can you tell what the conversation is about?” Lana asked. “It seems intense.”

Reaper shook his head. “She turned her head, and I can’t see her mouth anymore. I suspect she’s looking directly at him.”

“Another spike in her heart rate,” Code reported. “Big-time.”

“I’m looking as close as possible at her reflection in the screen,” Reaper said. “I can see the side of her face, but there doesn’t appear to be a change in her expression. That woman is pure ice.” He grinned at Maestro. “You’ve got your work cut out for you living a lifetime with that one.”

“I can read her.” Maestro was confident he could. She might try to hide from him, but he was too adept at reading people. It was a gift, instincts he’d developed and honed over the years. He didn’t miss the slightest nuance when he was with others. He knew when someone lied. He knew when they were uncomfortable. He knew when women were attracted to him. He was always aware of the most dangerous man in the room and kept his eye on him. He knew who was a bully and who was the real deal.

He’d started out learning the hard way about deception and betrayal. After years of living with both deception and betrayal on a regular basis, it wasn’t difficult to begin to see the signs in people the moment he met them. He had been so ready to condemn Azelie, and yet, despite what she’d gone through, she was honest. A ray of sunshine in his dark world.

“She has a protective streak in her a mile wide,” he informed the others. “She actually tried to protect me from Billows. No doubt, she will again.”

Lana and Alena flashed him a smile. Savage scowled. The others exchanged worried looks.

“Spit it out,” he invited.

“You can’t have your woman standing in front of you, Maestro,” Savage counseled. “I’m serious. You’re going to have to stop being the good guy and make it very clear she’s to do what you say. She’s in a very dangerous position and she needs to understand you’re the man to trust. What you say goes.”

Maestro didn’t need to be reminded. “Not a pussy, Savage. And I’m not whipped. I’m still feeling my way with her. I trust her, but she isn’t there with me yet. Her instincts are to run.”

“Girl’s got good instincts,” Alena murmured. “You can be overbearing, Maestro, sweet and gentle, but you’re always going to want your way. That can be trying to independent women.”

“She’s a pleaser,” Maestro said. “She thinks for herself, but she likes to do things for others. If I can find a way to win her trust completely, I’ll have it all.”

This time he did touch the screen, his touch as gentle as Alena had claimed he was. There was a lump in his throat and a fist of heat in his gut just looking at her.

TEN

“I thought we were past this,” Maestro said, leaning down to cup Azelie’s face between his palms.

“I told you not to come here, Andrii.”

She not only sounded terrified, but she looked it as well. It was all Maestro could do not to pull her tight against him.

“He has people watching me.” That came out a whisper.

Maestro straightened to his full height. “Are you talking about the idiot who parks across from the complex, pulls out his phone and plays games on it? Babe, I clocked him the first time I was following you like the worst of stalkers. He’s never seen me, and he won’t. I’ve had my friend looking out for you when I couldn’t be here, and that idiot never saw him either.”

“You have someone looking out for me?”

She had beautiful eyes. When she looked up at him under that thick veil of lashes with a mixture of trepidation, desire and interest, his heart melted. Damn, but she was adorable.

He slid the pad of his thumb along the full curve of her bottom lip. It felt like silk. “Yeah, baby, I’ll always have someone looking out for you when I can’t do it myself. I’m not taking chances with your safety.”

Her long lashes fluttered. “You’re taking chances with your safety, Andrii. Billows is very dangerous. I’ve always known I would need to find a way to get out from under him, but I’m beginning to suspect he’s far worse than I originally thought.”

“Get ready while you’re talking to me. Jeans, comfortable shoes, the blue top. We’re in a time crunch.”

“I can’t be seen with you in public. He might find out.”

The fear was real. He could see it on her face. In her eyes. Her lips trembled. He wrapped his palm around the nape of her neck. “I want you to trust me to take care of us. He isn’t going to see us together. I want to take you out, Solnyshkuh. It’s important to me. I planned for this, and I think you’re going to love it. We can talk while you get ready.” Deliberately, he ran his thumb along her high cheekbone, tracing it gently, feeling her shiver in response. “Can you do that for me?”

Her little studio apartment was small enough that if she dressed in her bathroom, they would have no trouble hearing each other.

She reacted to his voice, the one he used that was velvet soft yet compelling. He’d become a master at using that tone. The fact that Azelie responded to it every time was not lost on him. And she didn’t want to disappoint him.

Maestro could see the conflict in her eyes—the need to protect him warring with her need to please him. Her teeth bit into her bottom lip and then she capitulated, going to the small closet to pull out the clothes he’d brought for her a couple of days earlier. She disappeared into the bathroom but didn’t close the door all the way.

“I need to tell you something about Billows, Andrii. It’s important.”

“I’m listening, Zelie.”

He was. He was also moving around her apartment looking for the necklace that held the key to the underground rooms.

“Months ago, when I was in the office, I heard a woman scream.”

His head went up sharply and he froze, turning toward the bathroom. “A woman screamed?” he echoed, willing her to keep talking.

“I’m not ever supposed to leave my office when I’m working, and I never have. The offices are located directly beneath the Adventure Club.”