once. Down in Mobile, Alabama. Article said you could speak into one end of an arch, and someone all the way on the other end could hear you.”
“Move…the knife.”
“I don’t think so. That knife stays exactly where it is and you tell me why you are up here trying to warn me away from my fiancé.”
“Because he’s using you.”
Tell me something I don’t know. “He loves me,” she threw right back, not missing a beat. “All of me. He knows exactly who I am.”
“Yes…fuckin’ bet he does.”
What? Her lips parted.
“Lacey!” Dex roared her name as he bounded up the stairs. “Lacey! Baby, where—”
“I’m here, and I have a new friend,” she called to him.
Dex ran to her side. Stopped. Whistled. Then, voice amused, Dex said, “Oh, darling, you’re already using your engagement present. So very happy that you’re enjoying it.”
Sweat trickled down Roman’s left temple.
“This jerk was hiding in the corner, whispering into the arch about how I couldn’t trust you.”
“Was he now.” Only Dex’s words weren’t a question.
“When a man hides in a corner near a woman, it makes you think he might be planning to attack. So I attacked first.” She rolled one shoulder in a shrug. Her grip on the knife never wavered. “That’s who I am. A fight-first-and-question-later kind of woman.”
Roman’s gaze jumped to Dex. “Call…her off.”
Lacey’s stare hardened on him.
“Are you implying that my fiancée is some sort of attack dog? Someone—something—to be called off?” Dex’s voice wasn’t amused any longer. It was furious. Rumbling with dark intent and power. “Because I will kick the living hell out of you if you disrespect her by word or deed, so watch your damn self.”
“She’s not your fiancée. Obviously…bodyguard.”
Now Lacey laughed. “What is it about Dex that makes you think he would need a bodyguard? Obviously,” she used the word deliberately, “he can take care of himself.”
Roman’s eyes widened. “You’re…actually…marrying him?”
“I’m wearing the ring. Did you miss it? It’s pretty big, so I’m surprised you didn’t notice it.” As she stared into his eyes, there was something about him that nagged at her. She didn’t think they’d ever met before, but there was a familiarity there. Something she couldn’t quite place. “How do I know you?”
His expression shut down.
Dex’s fingers slid to cup her shoulder. “He’s not going to fight. He’s going to walk away. Aren’t you, Roman?”
Roman gave a jerky nod. The blade nicked him.
“I hope you’ve satisfied your curiosity with this little meet-and-greet,” Dex continued, still using his I-will-destroy-you voice of fury. “Because it’s time for your ass to go, Roman.”
“Consider it satisfied.”
Lacey slowly lowered her blade. “My curiosity isn’t satisfied.” In fact, it was working toward a fever pitch.
Roman swiped away the trickle of blood on his neck.
“Why were you warning me about Dex?” Lacey wanted to know.
“Because he’s an asshole,” Roman replied flatly. “You can’t trust him.”
Interesting. His tone had just told her…“You hate him.”
Roman’s stare flickered toward Dex. “You can say that. And to think, we were once best buds.”
“Friends make for the worst enemies,” Dex tossed out.
Okay, there was apparently lots at play between them. Time to cut to the chase. “Did you shoot at Dex in the ballroom?” she asked Roman.
“No.” An immediate reply.
And one she didn’t buy. “You were reaching inside your jacket before the lights went out—”
“Because I had a telephone call to make. I was reaching for my phone. I didn’t shoot at Dex.” He swiped at his neck again and left a faint smear of red near his Adam’s apple. “Now, we’re done. I’ve been assaulted and treated like a criminal, so I think my night is complete.” With that, he stalked toward the stairs—
“Did you shoot at Lacey?” Dex’s question rang out, hard and stark.
Roman stilled. Then whirled to face him. “What?”
“You said you didn’t shoot at me. Fine. I buy that, especially since I’m not so sure I was the target.”
Whoa, whoa, whoa. Lacey shook her head. Why would anyone in the ballroom be shooting at her? She’d done nothing wrong! She hadn’t even known most of the people in there!
Roman’s gaze lingered on her. “I did not shoot at Lacey.”
“Did anyone on your team fire the shot?” Dex gritted out.
“I will fucking find out,” Roman vowed.
Then he was leaving. Rushing away in a storm of fury. She didn’t move, not until she was absolutely sure he was out of sight and then—“What in the hell, Dex? Why would someone want to kill me?”
His lips thinned.
“This is insane. You have me operating in the