Page 27 of The Retaliation You Deliver

The moment I kill the engine, one of the double front doors opens and the man of the house appears.

He’s smiling, and while to everyone else that might be a good thing as you’re welcomed into his house, on Reid, it just makes him look even more dangerous than he usually does.

“Quite some place you’ve got here,” I say walking up to him.

“Welcome to my manor, Lee.”

Reid steps aside and allows me inside.

My eyes scan all around me looking at my surroundings as I trail behind him when he leads me down a long, wide hallway. I’m not sure what I was expecting but it’s… normal.

If it weren’t for the impressive security gates, the ominous building, or the man himself, I’d think this could be just your average family home.

“Drink?” he asks, gesturing for me to take a seat at one of the huge couches that are angled to look over his land through spotless floor to ceiling windows.

“Coffee would be great.”

I watch him move effortlessly around his kitchen. I’ve only met him a couple of times but he seems different, relaxed… less, well… scary.

“You’re staring,” he mutters without looking up.

“S-sorry. You’re just different.”

“Yeah, well, there are things under this roof that do that to me.”

“Things?”

He looks up at me and winks, clearly wanting to keep his secrets.

“Yep. You want cream?”

“No, thank you.”

I keep my eyes on him as he walks over with two mugs in hand as I try to work him out.

I thought I was good at putting on a mask and acting in a way people expect of me, but it seems that Reid might just be the master at it.

“So what can I do for you? It’s not often I get a call requesting a home visit.”

“You were the one who suggested I come here.”

He thinks for a moment. “That’s right, I did. Clearly I wasn’t thinking.”

I narrow my eyes on him. I can’t imagine Reid anything other than completely in control at all times.

He stares at me for a beat before I remember what I came here for.

“I need a favor,” I blurt out.

“Another one?” A wicked smile tugs at his lips as a crash from somewhere inside the vast house sounds out before I hear a scream, although I’ve got no idea if it’s in horror or from pleasure.

There’s no way he doesn’t hear it, but he doesn’t react so I push it aside.

“Y-yeah,” I stutter knowing that I’m going to owe this man big time if he’s able to help me out with this.

“For your sake, I hope it’s fun for me. I don’t hand out favors for just anyone.”

He sits back, taking his steaming mug of coffee with him and takes a sip. It has to burn but he doesn’t so much as flinch as he swallows.