Page 99 of Guarding Grace

The color returned to Grace’s face as she heaved a breath.

“She’s bitching about having a man in her space, but for now, yes. Another thing—Tall Tony has been out of town, and he finally called tonight to yell at me for holding his niece. Man, is she a piece of work. He should pay us for taking her off his hands.”

“She’s a bitch,” Grace noted, slurring slightly. “Let me teach her a lesson.”

I ignored Grace. “Boss, did you suggest that?”

“I was damn tempted, but no. We have a meeting scheduled tomorrow to hand her over. I intend to get him to reel in Victor, and I’ll make it clear that he is to lay off Grace and everyone associated with her. But he needs a face-saving way to do that.”

Grace beamed and rubbed her hands together, wobbling a bit.

“I’d like you to come with me for the meeting,” Lucas added.

“Sure. We’ll need Winston to take over Grace’s protection for a while. Just let me know when and where. ”

“I will. The timing isn’t set yet. I got the impression he’s flying back from somewhere. Constance will relieve you in the morning.” He didn’t need to say any more to remind me that he called the shots.

As soon as I ended the call, Grace asked, “Will Zane stay with Millie beyond tonight?”

“We’ll see that she’s safe,” I assured her. “You heard Lucas. Tomorrow they’re getting the message loud and clear. And when Lucas goes into scary mode, people listen.”

“But you warned that Victor prick, and the bastard still sent his bitch cousin Maria to threaten me and my people.” She moved toward me, and I realized she was notably drunk.

“He put that into motion before we met with him.” I took her in my arms when she reached me. “You should get some sleep.” I kissed the top of her head and let her go.

“Come on.” She took my hand and smiled coyly with a glance at my crotch. “I could make it worth your while.”

“You’ve had quite a bit to drink.” With Lucas’s reminder that she was in a vulnerable place, on top of Constance’s warning, I shouldn’t. I would have to wait for sober Grace to reappear. She really had been through a lot. The drinking was evidence enough of that.

When I didn’t move, she lurched to the fridge and pulled out the wine again.

“You really should go to bed,” I repeated.

“Alone?”

“I have work to do.” I wanted to be in bed with her, but researching the Marku brothers had to be done, and it didn’t feel right to be with her when she was this drunk. Warnings from two people I respected had finally gotten through to me.

This being noble shit sucks swamp water.

Turning away, I went back to my research.

Grace

After refilling my wine glass,I opened my phone again. Rereading the message made me want to puke.

MRS. MONTEFINO: I’m coming to L.A. I want to see my daughter.

ME: Don’t bother.

I set down the phone and gulped the liquid memory eraser as if it could also negate the hurt from years ago. I should have written a stronger warning to stay away. Letting my mother back into my life after the way she’d left was not going to happen.

She’d left us for another man and never looked back. It had been so painful that for years our explanation had been that she’d died—and that’s how much contact we had with her.

I leaned on the granite island. I wasn’t a heavy drinker, but my life had turned to complete shit, and I needed this glass and more to dull the sensation of helplessness.

“Hey there, Kitten,” Terry surprised me from behind.

I turned with my empty glass.