Page 62 of Devil's Claim

They were a passionate, fiery couple. Just like the way Christine and I were with each other.

Not that we were a couple.

A series of sensations crawled into my system. I couldn’t think about my sweet guest without becoming aroused. Dangerous. Fucking dangerous.

Jago finally pulled away, his entire face contorted. “You’ve been going behind my back, my sweet wife.”

“Since you’re determined to continue ruling the world with an iron fist instead of finesse, I knew I’d need to keep abreast of our possibilities. We need to consider Kruz’s idea. Which I’ve already done, including finding the perfect location for a sexy jewelry store. If we want to flush out Fassi, that’s the quickest way. Hit him where it hurts.”

“Again,” I added.

She nodded. “Again. If we do so legitimately, my guess is the man will lose it. Now, by legitimate, I’m not suggesting we cease all other activities.” Her smile was even more mischievous than normal. The woman always had an angle.

“You have this all figured out,” Jago told her.

Her sigh was heavy. “I’ve been paying attention, husband. Men like Fassi aren’t easily threatened. We need to simply hit him where it hurts. We could be up and running in less than a week.”

Jago rubbed his jaw, his eyes finally lighting up. “Okay. Not bad. Let me think.” He paced the pool deck, suddenly stopping and glancing in my direction. “Admittedly, not a bad idea, but you’d need someone to work with you, someone we can trust.”

When Genevieve turned her head toward me as well, I could swear I noticed her eyes were twinkling. What the fuck? Then it dawned on me. Oh, hell, no. I bristled noticeably and Genevieve laughed.

“I think we have a willing captive who might enjoy working with me,” she added. “And don’t you dare say she’s not up to the job. I heard how she held her own with you.”

There were no secrets within the organization.

“Fuck, no,” I interjected. “Christine is a goddamn teacher, not some entrepreneur.”

“Oh, yes,” she cooed. “That’s even more perfect. The bastards won’t know what hit them around her. If I know you, Kruz, and I do, you’re trying to figure out how to make it acceptable in your head to keep her.”

“She’s not a dog.”

“No, she’s a woman whose life was just destroyed. Because of you. I think you need to make it up to her. Plus, I can teach her a few things about how to handle the Torres boys.”

“Except I’m not a Torres,” I told her, wrestling with the idea. “Plus, she’s hardheaded.”

“Absolutely perfect,” Genevieve threw in. “That’s exactly what we need in an all-boys’ world. You’ve seen how powerful men react to my presence. They’re uncomfortable. Why not continue the effort?”

Navarro chuckled under his breath.

“What?” I demanded.

“So many things have changed,” he retorted. “But it’s not a bad idea. Plus, Fassi won’t see it coming. A female-run operation with powerful soldiers behind them.”

“I said no.” I was a little too vehement.

“Well. Well. Well,” Navarro teased in his usual nasty way. “It would seem our boy has a crush on a woman he just met.”

“I don’t have a fucking crush.” That time, my answer was a little too quick. Huffing, I looked toward Jago.

I could tell by the look on his face he was as hesitant as I was. While his wife was a fighter and had proven herself time and time again, he didn’t like her in the killing field.

That much I could understand. I wouldn’t allow Christine to touch a weapon.

Inwardly laughing, I knew that would go over well. She’d do the exact opposite just to spite me.

“Not a bad idea,” Jago finally said. “But if we do this, we do so with strict rules.”

“You can’t be serious,” I interjected.