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Lars looks at Vaughn for a quick moment, then back to me. “Sure, are you okay?”
“I’m fine. I just wanted to talk to you about something.”
“Okay, sure.”
Vaughn's eyes narrow as we leave the office. I know that he’s going to call Hunter as soon as I step over the threshold of the office, so I have to keep my interrogation of Lars brief and to the point. I start my inquisition as we walk down the club's steps to the main floor.
“First, I want to start by thanking you for all your help in trying to find me, Lars.”
“No thanks needed, Megan. It was my job, but it was also my pleasure that you were found safe.”
“Lars, I realize that you work for Hunter, but I’d also like to think that we’ve forged our own friendship amid what isjust workfor you.”
“It sounds like you want to ask me something, Megan.”
Lars is a no-nonsense sort of man. I’ve always appreciated that about him, so I get to the point.
“I know that whatever you feel about me, you feel ten times more of that for Parker. So I’m asking, do you know where he is?”
Lars pauses for a moment, no doubt deciding how much of the “truth” he’s going to tell me. We’ve walked through thekitchen and into the back alley of the club now, which is perfectly safe and private at this time of day.
“Yes, I know where he is.”
My chest tightens as I get closer to the truth.
“Is he being held against his will in this club?” I ask.
Lars’s face hardens. “Do you think I would ever tell you that, Megan?”
“I know that you’re not a liar.”
“No, I’m not, but I also don’t answer to you. You’re my boss’s girlfriend,notmy boss.”
“Humph,” I scoff. “Your non-answer tells me everything I need to know,” I say with a steely glare."Parker trusted you."
“You don’t know anything,” he says thickly and I think I hear a hint of his Danish accent which he has managed to mask most of the time.
Suddenly the metal door to the kitchen swings open, and Hunter emerges dressed in a monochromatic tailored black suit, shirt, and tie. He got here quicker than I expected and damn he looks fucking delicious.
“Megan,” he greets me, staring me down with those deeply cold grey eyes and my thighs tremble.
“Hey,” is all I manage to say.
“Is there a reason why you’ve brought Lars out here in the alley to chat?”
Hunter looks between us both and it dawns on me that I may have just gotten Lars into some trouble.
“I made him come out here to ask him if he knows where Parker is?”
“Still looking for him, are you?” he retorts through gritted teeth.
“May I be excused?” Lars asks. “I need to finish up something.”
“Certainly, Lars,” Hunter replies. “I apologize for this.” He makes a hand gesture in my direction.
“Apologize for what?” I respond, offended by the insinuation that I’m making a scene.
Once Lars goes back inside the club, Hunter walks down the steps and strides toward me.