Page 9 of With this Ring (Mastered #7)

“There are no cameras in the offices,” he went on. “No one to check on you.”

Brandy and Master Niles had obviously meant it when they said the club looked out for all members. That even seemed to apply to the owner’s second in command.

“She’s fine,” Gregorio snapped.

Damien raised a hand. “I’m speaking to Petal.”

She met his gaze. “In answer to your question, yes. I was hoping for a word with Gregorio.”

“I’ll give you fifteen minutes.”

Gregorio opened his mouth as if to object, but Damien smoothly said, “Seems to me someone even looked out for Catrina.”

Gregorio angled his head to the side. A warning tic flickered in his temple. “Acknowledged,” he said tightly.

Who was Catrina? Someone special to Damien? Regardless, Damien’s pointed words evidently had meaning to Gregorio.

Apparently satisfied, Damien stepped to one side.

As she passed, he nodded. “Petal.”

“Sir.” Is that what I’m supposed to say? The word had fallen out easily, almost automatically, shocking her.

Upstairs, they passed a couple of powder rooms, and he continued to a door set at an angle to block anyone from going farther.

He touched a few keys on the wall, and a lock released.

After pressing down on the handle, he ushered her inside.

She’d stepped into yet another world, this one crafted of thick glass walls and masculine furnishings, along with banks of monitors with security feeds showing every bit of the club, from the dungeon to the patio, even as far away as the entrance to the property and the main road beyond it.

Here, surrounded by technology, she was comfortable. Now that she was on familiar ground, she could breathe more easily.

Gregorio took a seat behind a large, sturdy wooden desk that had a computer on it and nothing else. No snapshots, no pens, nothing to mark it as his.

With a nod, he invited her to sit across from him. But she preferred to remain standing.

“You went to a lot of effort to find me.”

The task hadn’t been easy. “Called in some favors.”

Like him, she wouldn’t reveal sources. To his credit, he didn’t ask.

Gregorio leaned back in his chair, the dim light casting shadows across his features, making him look intimidating.

She shivered, glad he was an ally rather than an enemy.

“I’m waiting.”

His gaze was fixed on her with an intensity that made her skin prickle.

Taking a deep breath, Sasha steeled herself for what she had to say next. “Strange things have been happening recently.”

“Such as?”

“About two weeks ago, while I was out for a run, my home office was ransacked, and several files were taken. A few days ago, I noticed I have a constant tail. I can’t always shake it. Black sedan. Sometimes a white SUV.”

“Anything else?”

This unnerved her more than anything. “Before leaving the office every day, I rinse my coffee mug.” One that Toby had bought for her to celebrate the grand opening of their agency almost three years ago.

Her name was in green—the color of money—along with their company logo.

“I leave it next to sink, right by the coffeemaker.”

He nodded.

“Monday and Wednesday, I found it in the middle of my desk.”

“That sounds personal.”

Which was exactly what she thought.

Gregorio didn’t ask if she’d been confused. He knew her too well for that. But that wasn’t all. Her pictures had been rearranged, and one had been turned backward.

“No signs of a break-in?”

She shook her head. “Nothing on security cameras.” With an exhalation, she went on before he asked. “We’re old-fashioned. Regular keys for entry.”

“No extra copies floating around? A disgruntled employee, maybe?”

“I change the locks when someone leaves the company.”

His jaw clenched as he processed her words. “Keypad or card swipe is more secure. I’ll have Hawkeye see to it.”

“I’m a step ahead of you. I’ve already contacted them, and I’m also having them install an alarm system.”

“Were you followed today?”

“No. The drive to Winter Park is so long that I would have noticed if I had a tail.”

He nodded.

“When I rode the shuttle up here, I sat in the back to ensure no one was behind us.”

“Smart.”

“Still…” Her voice faltered, revealing her vulnerability. Now that she’d said it aloud, the walls seemed to close in around her.

Sasha had been in war zones, served on protective details, and she could handle herself.

But now that she and Toby were no longer partners, she didn’t have anyone to back her up—not that he’d actually been on her side.

The illusion that she could count on someone other than herself was just that.

A fantasy. “Honestly, Gregorio?” She folded her arms across her midriff. “You’re the only one I trust.”

“Who else knows you’re here?”

“No one.” She shook her head. “I kept it off my schedule.” Just to be safe.

“You think this is related to a current case?”

“That’s the only thing that makes sense.” Since the drama surrounding the dissolution of her partnership with Toby, her personal life had become dull and boring.

“Anything stand out?”

“Only the Santos investigation.” Everything else the firm was dealing with was straightforward. “Mrs. Santos—Brenda—suspects her husband of infidelity.”

Palms pressed together, Gregorio leaned forward. “And?”

“Surveillance shows he’s not cheating.” She shrugged.

“But?”

His perception didn’t surprise her. “Felix is definitely hiding something. Has secretive conversations in people’s cars.

Takes a lot of phone calls outdoors.” Talking this through helped her relax, feel more in control.

“He owns several businesses…nightclubs, a restaurant, a coffee shop, but the couple appear to be having financial issues. A couple of days ago, he bought his wife a brand-new vehicle, and paid cash, from what I can find. According to Mrs. Santos, they don’t have that kind of money.

She had to get a loan from her sister to hire me. ”

“That’s one of the missing files?”

She nodded.

“What are the others?”

Though he didn’t take notes as she gave him the information, she knew he was cataloguing every detail. “Anything else I should know?”

“No.” Sasha shook her head. “I have another meeting with Mrs. Santos on Monday morning to go over what I’ve learned.”

With a tight nod, he said, “Tell me about your business. Employees. How long they’ve been with you. Anyone you’ve had to fire or let go of?”

“We’ve been relatively stable.” Or at least since she’d managed to get Toby out of her life. “Pathways is a small firm. Besides me, there are three other investigators, and we have an office manager.”

He frowned. “I thought you had a partner.”

So he’d kept up with her since she saw him last? Surprised—in a good way—she answered, “Past tense. Ended a little over a year ago.”

“Any hard feelings?”

“Shouldn’t be.” Unease traced across her shoulders, making her shrug.

“Maybe.” At the time they’d started their own agency, she’d thought she knew him.

But crossing ethical lines wasn’t something she was willing to do.

They’d had a heated argument, and it had ended with him storming out of the building.

“He came out the winner. Cost me every last cent I had to buy him out.” Even though she was working harder than ever to make the business a success and pay bills, keeping her integrity had been worth it.

“Give me his full name.”

When she did, he scowled. “The same Toby who worked for Hawkeye?”

The same company where Gregorio had gotten her a job. “That’s where we met.” She shrugged. “He was my boss.”

Gregorio fell silent for a few moments, then asked for the names of everyone associated with her firm.

“I don’t think—”

“Things have happened in the office that don’t make sense,” he reminded her. “And you’ve seen nothing on the building’s surveillance cameras.” He continued to regard her. “That would seem to indicate an inside job.”

“But why?” She frowned. “We’re a close team, and we all like working with each other. That just doesn’t make sense.”

“Unless it’s someone close to you who knows how to get around your security measures.”

The only one that could apply to was Toby. But why, after this long?

Gregorio lifted a shoulder. “I am serious about this. Give me the names of your employees.”

Hating that he was right, she scribbled down the list.

With a tight nod, he told her, “Coming here…you made the right decision.”

She exhaled. What other option was available? She was too close to the situation to see all the nuances. The fact she pushed back when he wanted the names of everyone at Pathways proved that.

Abruptly, Gregorio stood, his chair scraping back against the floor. He moved around the desk, closing the distance between them in a few powerful strides.

He pulled her to her feet, his hands firm on her shoulders, overwhelming her. ”You’ll be staying the night with me.”

Shocked, she blinked.

Absolutely not.

She wasn’t sure what she’d expected, but his reaction wasn’t it.

“That’s not necessary. I have a room in Winter Park.

” She shook her head. “I’ll be fine there.

All I need is someone to bounce my ideas off, come up with a plan, see what I’m missing.

Maybe we can have breakfast in the morning to discuss this further and I can pick your mind, see what I’m—”

“You came to me, Petal.” His grip tightened, not a lot, but with determined intent. “That puts you in my world and makes you my responsibility. Tomorrow, I’ll take you back to your room.”

“But… No.” Sasha shook her head. “My luggage is there, and I need my gear.”

“Such as?”

“All the things.” In frustration, she sighed. “Something to sleep in.”

A hint of a smile played around his lips. “Naked is fine.”

She opened her mouth, but no words emerged. His words were a dream, an impossibility.

“Or you can borrow one of my T-shirts.”

So he’d been kidding about wanting her naked. She should have guessed that. “I also need girl stuff. Makeup, soap. Shampoo. Brush.” And I need to be away from you for my sanity.

“We’ll go in the morning.” His voice was ice, implacable.

Resolutely, he folded his arms across his chest.

“Gregorio—”

He silenced her with a kiss that was so hard and deep he bruised her mouth and left the room spinning.

“My way, Petal. Or no fucking way at all.” Then he folded his arms across his chest and studied her hard. “What will it be?”