Absolute Trust - Jeana E. Mann Page 0,58

his voice is soft, his meaning is deadly. “You can take that to the bank.”

Twenty-Two

Cash

Athena arrives after lunch. I can tell by the tilt of her nose that she’s in one of her moods. Gage is making business calls from the umbrella table next to the pool. His gaze is locked on Em as she lounges on a float at the deep end. Jagger is talking to her insurance company in the shade of the pool house awning. Her dark hair is twisted into a long braid over one of her shoulders, sunglasses perch on the top of her head, and the sun glows on the skin exposed by her string bikini. She glances up to see Athena slinking toward me, and a scowl flickers across her face. Athena wrinkles her nose at Jagger in a wordless taunt.

I ease back in my chair to consider the exchange. If Jagger and Gage question Athena’s loyalties, I need to pay attention to their warnings. Maybe I’ve been blind where Athena is concerned. Until Jag came along, I never cared how ruthless my soldiers were as long as they got the job done. I spared Jimmy’s life after seeing the horror in her eyes over his treatment in the trunk of Frog’s car. Now Jimmy’s become one of my better employees. Jagger has taught me that violence isn’t always the answer. This new outlook on life is a mixed blessing. I’ve lost my edge. The edge that’s kept me alive for the past twenty-plus years. It’s one of the reasons I’m determined to leave the business. I need to get out before someone takes me out.

“You rang?” Athena drawls. She stops in front of me, blocking my view of Jagger. With a hand on her hip, she lifts a questioning eyebrow.

“Have a seat.” I kick out a chair for her and nod.

She ignores the chair and perches on the edge of the chaise at my elbow in a location a little lower than mine. The breeze off the lake catches the open collar of her blouse, giving me a quick peek of her braless tits. I’m sure her position was chosen strategically for that reason. I shake my head and look away. Jagger’s gaze catches mine. I shrug, hoping she’s secure enough in our relationship to know I’m not interested in Athena. To my relief, Jagger smiles, lowers her sunglasses to cover her eyes, and returns her attention to her phone. That smile represents trust in our relationship. A gift more precious than the most flawless diamond. I promised never to make her question my loyalty and I meant it.

“Am I in trouble?” Athena asks. “I’m pretty sure you didn’t ask me here for a pool party.” Although her words are directed at me, her stare fixes on Jagger. The hairs lift on the back of my neck in a primal warning to protect my mate. She’s looking at my girlfriend the way a lioness looks at lunch.

“Someone burned down Jagger’s building last night.” I watch Athena’s expression intently, waiting for a crack in her wall of impassivity.

“No. Really? What a shame.” Although her answer is appropriate, her tone lacks empathy. “I hope no one was hurt.”

Across the way, Jagger rests her phone on the table at her elbow and reclines on her chair. The sexy striped bikini reveals the swells of her tits and the smooth skin of her thighs. I want to be there, buried between those legs, listening to her moans as I drive into her. Her sunglasses hide her gaze, but I can feel her stare boring into me. Beneath the table, my cock stiffens.

“No, thank goodness. Everyone is fine.” I clasp my hands between my spread knees and lean toward her. “You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

“Of course not. Why would I?” Her flat gray eyes meet mine in an unwavering stare.

“Gage said you were pretty upset about going to the hotel.”

“I’m in a freaking suite with a spa. What’s to be upset about?” She widens her gaze like she’s daring me to argue with her. “Do you think I did it?”

“Just trying to get to the bottom of this. An attack on my girl is an attack on me. You understand that, right?”

She heaves a weary sigh, reclines on the chaise, and stretches her arms over her head. “Are you asking for an alibi? Well, I’ve got one. I spent the night with an adorable busboy and his cute girlfriend. They were both