Page 58

I pause. "Please get out of my way." I say it low and quiet, meeting his gaze.

His eyes are a pale yellow, green…reptilian. His skin shiny with sweat making his grey pallor moist. “Look, sweetheart—"

"I'm not your sweetheart." I grit through my clenched jaw.

He grins.Every woman is his sweetheart."I want you to do this for me."

"And I want you to get out of my way so I can leave."

His smile widens. "That Temperance is a genius. You know there are a lot of you. Hollywood types working for us."

"Us? Last time I checked, the election wasn’t decided.”

His face goes a little blotchy at that, adding spots of color to his livid skin. "You are going to help me." A spark comes into his eyes, one that I recognize—an anger fueled by righteous rage. He thinks everyone should do exactly what he wants, and when they don't, it pisses him off.Men."I'll send you a note with a name,” he says.

This is dangerous.I go to sidestep him, and he blocks me, grabbing my arm. I twist out of his grip, holding back a punch to his stomach.

Stepping to the side, I go to move around him, but Grand reaches out and grabs me again, tighter this time.

"Let go," I hiss.You’re not the only snake in this room.

"You'll get the note," he says, spittle stinking of coffee and bad teeth spraying my cheek.

"I don't work for you."

"I'll expose you," he threatens, a smile pulling at his wet lips. We are almost the same height, he’s only got about an inch on me, but the grip on my arm is iron tight. He leans closer as if to kiss me, and I rear back, twisting free from his hold and moving quickly to the other side of the table, my heart hammering.

He is very dangerous.

Grand does not follow me. He's between me and the door I came in. Will he let me through?Should I just lie, tell him I’ll do as he asks?

I relax my shoulders, allowing them to slump into a position of defeat. He smiles, predatory and victorious. A stupid, arrogant man. Why do so many of them have so much power?

"Fine," I say, straightening up. "I'll look at your note." A flicker crosses his gaze.Mistrust.I'm agreeing too easy. "You've left me no choice," I point out. The mistrust eases, and the thrill of victory sparks again.

"Come here," he says, waving for me to move closer to him.

He's not done with me yet. "I'm leaving," I say, sidling toward the door that the waiter passed through. I might end up in the kitchen, but that's better than going through Grand.

Color infuses his cheeks again as he recognizes my intention. "Come here." He says it more forcefully, his voice deep and rough.

I'm at the door now, Archie's bag gripped hard against me. He squirms his head out and looks at Grand with sleepy eyes.

"If you walk out that door, I'll expose you," he says. "Get over here."

My lips purse. He's a loose cannon. Or a liar. Probably both. “Expose me," I taunt, stepping back into the swinging door. It opens, and he starts toward me.

I turn, pushing into the hallway, the door swinging shut behind me. I break into a run, my sneakers quiet on the linoleum. He bursts through the door behind me, his dress shoes clacking.

Risking a glance over my shoulder, I see him slow to a stop, his breath huffing. I keep running. He doesn't yell any final threats. But I feel his eyes on me, boring into my back, hot as a laser, as I reach the end of a T and take a left.

I slam into Steven, who falls back with a yelp of surprise. “Sorry,” I say, reaching out a hand to steady him.

He rubs at his chest where I barreled into him. “You okay?” he asks, concern wiping away the shock and pain.

“Yes. How do I get back to the lobby from here?” His eyes raise to stare down the hall behind me. “Not through the restaurant,” I clarify. “I need another way out.”

He nods, his jaw tightening.He can guess what happened in there.