Page 69 of Faded Gray Lines

Heat.

Not warmth, but scorching, intense heat. I glanced up and scanned the room for a glimpse of his dark clothing, finding nothing but open checkbooks waiting to kiss my mother’s ass. However, the more I searched, the hotter I felt. Mateo was close by. He watched me like he promised, and whether right or wrong, it was the only thing keeping me sane.

If I wasn’t so on edge, I would’ve laughed.

A criminal protecting a criminal from a criminal.

Just a day in the life of a Harcourt.

After two dances with Brody, my mother whisked me away toward a small group of people Finn was currently entertaining. Before I could protest, she’d introduced me to at least four different men, announcing to each of them that I was new in town and single.

The more men I met, the more champagne I drank. Soon, the room spun as much as I did and the heat blazed down on me igniting a firestorm. It wouldn’t be long until Mateo intervened. I felt his anger. It’d long passed simmering and was ready to explode.

I bowed out gracefully. “Well, it’s been a pleasure meeting you all, but I really have to be going.”

“What’s your hurry? Stick around, there’s someone I want you to meet.” By the time I spun around, Finn was already dragging me toward a man in a wrinkled gray suit standing near the edge of the dancefloor. I blinked a few times trying to focus when he faced me, dipping his dimpled chin in acknowledgement. I stumbled, allowing myself only a sharp inhale.

Alex.

“Leighton, I’d like to introduce you to Alex Atwood. Alex is one of your mother’s top campaign investors.” Alex simply raised a highball of something dark and strong, a secret smile on his lips. “Alex, this is my daughter, Leighton. She just graduated from Texas State University.”

“Stepdaughter,” I corrected, taking Alex’s offered hand.

We shook hands, his grip unnecessarily tight. “Graduated, huh? What’s your degree in, Leighton?”

Asshole. He knew I didn’t graduate, but I could play the game too. “Criminal Justice, with a minor in Psychology.”

“Impressive. You’re a little small to be a beat cop, don’t you think?”

“Not my style. I’m thinking more FBI profiler for the National Center for Violent Crimes. Maybe you’ve heard of it.”

“No, can’t say I have,” he said, lies rolling off his tongue like water. “But that’s a very ambitious career field.”

“Justice is in my blood.”

Finn could spin all the fabricated lies he wanted to, but I knew the truth. Alex Atwood wasn’t a heavy hitter in my mother’s political circle. I’d been dragged to enough of these parties to know who bankrolled her campaigns and who didn’t.

I knew exactly who he was—someone not to be trusted. Not that I did before, but anyone on a first name basis with my stepfather stood on the other side of the battlefield as far as I was concerned. Obviously, there was more to Agent Atwood than I realized.

“Well, I see you two have a common interest, so I’ll leave you to it. Lilith is almost ready to speak, anyway.” The second he walked away, I invaded Alex’s personal space, my dress protesting my swift movement.

“Campaign investor, my ass. What the hell are you doing here? Didn’t you torture me enough this morning?”

“I’m here to keep an eye on you. I told you in the car that you’re done playing house with Cortes.” He glanced around, his demeanor shifting from calm and collected to jumpy and tense. Grabbing the back of my arm, he pulled me close and lowered his voice. “Oh, and I meant to ask why you called and hung up on Sunday.”

“I didn’t call you on Sunday.”

“Yes, you did. I got a call from your number Sunday afternoon, and you fucking hung up on me. I don’t appreciate being dicked around, Leighton.”

“I didn’t call you! I left my phone in...” I stopped short of confessing it’d been in the pocket of Swenson’s jacket thrown on the floor of Mateo’s SUV.

Oh, God. Mateo had my phone.

“You left it where?” he asked.

“You know what? I did call you on Sunday, but it was a mistake. I hit the wrong button. I’m thinking of Saturday when I left my phone at the cantina by accident.” Alex narrowed his eyes as I mustered a convincing smile.

A light hand rested on my shoulder. “Leighton, can I talk to you for a minute?”