Power Play - Tiffany Snow Page 0,38

from that guy’s fingers were clear, which was a big reason why I’d worn something with sleeves tonight. I hurriedly yanked my shirt back up, but Ryker stopped me, pulling it back down and turning me for a better look.

“It’s not just a bruise,” he said, and gone was the husky desire in his voice. This was business, with anger lurking just under the surface. “It’s a man’s handprint. Did Parker do this to you?”

And that effectively killed what little was left of the mood.

“Of course not!” I snapped, stepping out of his reach. I pulled my shirt back on, quickly buttoning it back up. “You really don’t know him if you think he’d do that.”

“I know you’d cover for him if he had,” Ryker shot back, which really pissed me off.

“A customer assaulted me in a cab last night,” I said. “Parker helped me.” My fists were clenched in anger. “I think we’re done here, like really done, Ryker. You can go.”

But Ryker’s eyes narrowed and he made no move to leave. “What do you mean, ‘a customer assaulted’ you? Which customer? It was the Russians, wasn’t it.” That last part wasn’t a question. Somehow, he knew.

I swallowed. Shit. In my anger, I’d said something I probably shouldn’t have.

“Tell me,” he ordered.

“It was nothing,” I lied. “Just someone concerned that their privacy would be breached, that’s all. He was very…forceful about it.”

“Did he do anything else?”

Other than scare me out of my wits and make me wish I was Lara Croft? “No,” I said. “I’m fine.”

Ryker glared hard at me. “You still want to tell me Parker doesn’t know exactly who these people are and what they do?”

Parker had told me himself that he knew who they were. He’d also told me he’d take care of it. Neither statement would uphold his innocence in Ryker’s eyes, so I remained silent.

Ryker bit out a curse, shoving a hand through his hair. I flinched at the harshness in his voice and decided I really didn’t like being on the receiving end of his anger, which was decidedly intimidating.

“I’d like you to go,” I said again.

Without a word, he walked to the door and jerked it open. He stepped through, then turned back to me. His blue eyes were intent on mine as he spoke. “Be careful, Sage. If you get in their way, they’ll kill you. You can’t tell me Parker’s worth that.”

The door closed quietly behind him and I let out the breath I’d been holding.

Things had just gotten way more complicated.

Chapter Six

I met Parker at the airport Monday morning. All day Sunday, I’d been thinking about what Ryker had said. Was he right? Could Parker somehow be involved with these people in a way that left him vulnerable to arrest and prosecution? I couldn’t imagine him doing that. I’d never, in the entire time I’d worked for him, seen him do anything illegal. Occasionally the firm might be involved with something in the gray area, but never outright against the law.

What if he’d gotten dragged in against his will? It’d be just like Parker not to say a word and to try and figure it out on his own.

Once through security, I grabbed a cup of coffee on my way to the gate, unsurprised to see Parker already there.

“Good morning,” I said, taking the empty seat next to him. He glanced up from his iPad.

“Morning, Sage.” He returned to his reading.

I sipped my double-tall soy latte (add whip), peering sideways out of my eye at what he was reading. Looked like a news website. I wished I had something to do, too, but the only reading material I’d brought was the latest copy of Vogue, which was slightly embarrassing in light of Parker reading the news. Flipping through a glossy mag looking at the pictures wouldn’t exactly make me look like a brain trust. Hmm. Obviously I hadn’t thought that one through.

“Did you have a good weekend?” he asked, still perusing the iPad.

“Um, yeah,” I answered.

“No surprise visitors?”

“No.”

“Good.” He seemed satisfied at that.

“What about you?” I couldn’t resist adding, “Did your…friend come back?”

Parker did glance up then and I quickly averted my gaze, taking another sip of coffee. That question had probably been out of line, but it was too late to take it back.

“No, she didn’t,” he replied. “I worked this weekend. What about you?”

I shrugged, noncommittal. I really didn’t want to tell him about Ryker and now I was sorry I’d asked a personal question.

As if he’d