Page 119 of Lethal Torture

Luke gives a low cough of laughter in my ear. “Nice,” he murmurs, sending a delicious frisson down my spine. It’s oddly thrilling knowing he is here, listening. Watching.

Simon gulps his gin and tonic nervously. “My point is, I think we can help each other.”

“Oh, I doubt that,” mutters Luke.

I finish my Negroni to hide my smile and gesture for Jean. I order a bottle of South African Viognier with an attitude of supreme disinterest in the conversation, without any regard for matching Lowbridge’s meal, which is definitely more suited to red wine. For the first time, I see a flicker of annoyance in his face.

Good.The more rattled he gets, the better.

“My company oversees security at all UK ports,” he says, with all the subtlety of a blunt hammer. “I may be able to assist your... extracurricular activities.”

“How fascinating.” I smile blandly and fold my legs at the side of the table, flashing a length of thigh almost all the way up to my crotch, which makes his eyes bulge. “I did hear that your security forces were more inclined to shooting than sharing.”

“Ah.” His eyes linger on my thigh as the bottle arrives. Jean pours only one glass, for me.

“I’ll take a glass of the Barolo,” Lowbridge orders loftily, eyeing me as if expecting me to be impressed by his choice.

“Very good, sir.” Jean gives me another long-suffering look as he turns away. We both know the chateaubriand would have been better paired with a different wine, but the Barolo is the most expensive on the menu, which is no doubt why Lowbridge chose it.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” mutters Luke in my ear.

Knowing he’s watching from somewhere nearby, I shoot a warning look over Simon’s head, but all I get in response is Luke’s low laugh.

“I’m sure you see how we could be of use to each other,” Lowbridge goes on determinedly, still eyeing my legs.

Normally, I’d decimate him and be done with this. But that isn’t the goal today. And knowing Luke is watching, I decide to make the most of the game and instead go for arching my back slightly, which draws Lowbridge’s eyes to my breasts again. “I’m not sure what kind of activities you believe me to be involved in, Mr. Lowbridge.”

I put just enough emphasis on the wordactivitiesto make Luke chuckle down the earpiece. The sound makes my entire body thrum.

“Please,” Lowbridge says, leaning across the table with a smile oilier than the Thames. “Call me Simon.”

“Please don’t,” says Luke dryly in my ear. “He might actually blow in his pants if you do.”

I suppress a hugely inappropriate urge to laugh.I had no idea how much fun this could be.I’m accustomed to these meetings being deadly serious affairs.

“But I’m sure the NCA will be grateful for your help.” I take a mouthful of wine and roll it suggestively around my mouth. Lowbridge’s eyes follow every movement. I lower my tone suggestively. “Especially given the...poundingyou gave them recently.”

“You liked that, huh?” His eyes flare with interest.

I nod, licking my lips slowly. “It was certainly... impressive.”

“Oh, princess.” Luke’s voice is low and dirty. “You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?”

Far, far more than I ever have before.

Lowbridge’s glass of wine arrives, and he gulps it greedily, his eyes falling to my cleavage. I feel a familiar flash of contempt.

Does this stupid fucker actually believe my act?After he’s tried to not only kill me, but stitch me up in the media?

As if in direct counterpoint, Luke gives a short bark of laughter. “Oh, he’s definitely hard now.”

I press my lips together. I love that he sees what I do.

Lowbridge gives me another oily smile. “You’ll find that I can be very open to sharing—Zinaida.”

“In his dreams,” says Luke in my ear, and I almost choke on my wine.

Fortunately, Jean chooses that moment to arrive with our meals, which gives me a moment to collect myself.