“I don’t make threats. I keep promises.”
“Promise me this you ass of a man, tellyour boss to leave my family alone. It’s not our fault someone had a higher bidthan you.” Melvin glances past me and I know we’re about to be interrupted.
“Looks like the cavalry is on its way tosave the damsel in distress.” I don’t turn around; I just shift my hips andcross my arms. “Coulter Holt and his bodyguard Luke Hayes. Please, Kate wasjust about to sit down. Why don’t you all pull up a chair? Let’s have a chat.”
Cole wraps a hand around my upper arm, hehas a very calm look bereft of any emotion on it. Uh-oh. I’m in big trouble.“Go wait for me in the office.”
“No.” Mr. Not Important stands up. “Thegirl stays.”
Cole’s fingers flex around my arm, and henods at him. Luke sits and then Cole sits, sitting me on his lap, wrapping aprotective arm around my waist, his other sitting just under the hem of mydress on my thigh. I know very well it’s a warning not to say anything. “What doyou want?” Luke sits back in his chair, crossing his leg at the ankle, lookingrelaxed.
“My boss wants Lawton.”
“We did what you asked. We sold it to thehighest bidder. It’s not our problem that your boss didn’t have enough money tooutbid the other company, who obviously wanted it more than your employer did.”
“You have forty-eight hours to fix theproblem.”
“Not my problem,” Luke states.
“I’m making it your problem. Rescind theoffer to The Atlantic Trojan Corporation.” He slides a file folder across thetable. “This is my employer’s offer. You’d be wise to accept it.”
“Not likely,” I mutter.
“What did you say?” Mr. Not Importantglares at me. Cole digs his fingers almost painfully into my thigh. I tilt myhead, raising my eyebrows at him. I turn to Cole, but he refuses to look at me.“Cole,” I whisper into his neck, but he doesn’t turn his head. “Please look atme.” I kiss his cheek.
He sighs, turning to face me. “Baby.”
“Hi.”
“Hi back.”
“I’m ready to go.”
“Luke, you heard my wife, we’re ready tohead home.” Luke stands up, brushing his suit coat back so the three men at thetable can see his side arm and then places his hands in his pockets.
“Mr. Martins, tell your employer I’m doneplaying his game. Lawton is sold and he can contact The Atlantic TrojanCorporation with this offer.” Cole pushes the file back across the table. “Idoubt they will take less than twenty million for it.” Cole stands, taking mewith him. “And if you even think about threatening any of my family, or even somuch as look at them the wrong way, I’ll make Mr. Mezzo sorry he ever messedwith me. I won’t attack him on a personal level, but I will come after hisbusiness, and he knows my reputation. I won’t stop until he has nothing. Thatis my promise. And you have five minutes to get out of my establishment beforeI have security escort you out.”
Melvin Martins tilts his head, giving aquestioning eyebrow, but doesn’t make any retort to Cole’s demands.
Cole takes my hand, walking away. Hislong strides make me have to run to keep up with him. Alan’s gone from the bar,and I don’t see anyone else around. We walk straight out the door into awaiting Escalade.
My head’s spinning. I’m not sure what’sgoing on, but I know it’s nothing good. I glance out of the corner of my eye atCole. His head is in his hands, and he rakes them through his hair a couple oftimes. I take a deep breath, and Cole looks up at me. “Kate.” He grabs me,lifting me onto his lap. “What were you thinking?” His voice a whisper. Hewraps his fingers around my neck, resting his forehead against mine.
“I’m sorry, he baited me. I’m tired offeeling helpless.” My voice shakes and tears prick my eyes.
“Shh, it’s okay.” He rubs a hand down myback. “I’m going to make Rafe Mezzo pay. He’ll be sorry he ever threatened me.”
“Cole, I’m sorry. Please don’t be upsetwith me.”
“I’m not, baby. I’m just between a rockand a hard place.” The Escalade pulls up to the Upper House. “Come on,everyone’s waiting for us.” We make our way up to the third floor. Cole’sright, everyone’s there. Cooper, Race, Kit, even Preston and now Luke, Cole,and me.
“Where’s Alan?” Cooper points to a sofain the corner of the conference room where Alan’s passed out. I walk over tohim. “Is he okay?” I glance back at the guys.
“Yeah, he’ll be fine. Derek said he hadseven tequila shots. He’s drunk. Lucky bastard.” Coop pulls out a chair,sitting down.
“Alan,” I shake his shoulder. He mumblessomething incoherent and starts to snore. Great, just great. I stand up. Themen are pulling out laptops and going through files.
“What did you find out?” Race asks Cole.
