Page 80 of Snaring Emberly

I hesitate, and he continues. “This first contract doesn’t count. The next five will.”

“Right.” I walk around the desk and make eye contact with Benito, and gesture with a flick of my head for him to take my place.

I step out of the patio doors, where Gil waits for me by the wall, and we walk side-by-side to the long path that leads to the pool house.

“You sure you’re okay with housing that woman?” I ask.

Gil snickers. “I have no complaints. Annalisa’s an eager fuck.”

“And if she tries to communicate with that cop?”

“You think I’m too much of a simp to put a bullet through her skull?”

My eyes narrow. “Find a way to silence her that doesn’t put you on death row.”

“Won’t be a problem,” he says with a shrug.

Up ahead, Emberly and her roommate sit around the dining table beneath the pool house’s broad porch. A knot forms in my gut. This is the first time I’ve laid eyes on her since she spied on us filling Dominic with bullets.

Bringing her little friend here is a test to see if Emberly will talk about what she witnessed or remain silent. As we reach the edge of the pool, the shorter of the pair shoots out of her seat. Judging by the blonde’s overexuberance, it looks like Emberly kept her mouth shut.

Clever girl.

“Gil!” she squeals and takes off toward us on a run.

Emberly sets down her fork and rises. I ignore how my insides tighten and offer her a broad smile.

Gil laughs, grabs the roommate, and swings her around before gathering her up in his arms. She grabs his face with both hands and slams her lips onto his mouth.

I look away. Women like that are easy prey. No challenge whatsoever. They see a semi-handsome face in an expensive suit, and all their survival instincts vanish into their pussy. That blonde is a lamb sprinting to the slaughter.

Emberly, on the other hand, remains behind the table and doesn’t return my smile. Instead, she casts me a wary gaze.

She’s always keeping me on my toes. No matter how many times I reassure her of my intentions, a part of her always slices through the bullshit. I admire her instincts. It makes her more of a challenge.

“Hey, boss,” Gil says. “Mind if I clock off early today?”

I wave him off. “See you later.”

Gil walks toward the mansion, presumably to take the roommate to his penthouse. He showed me pictures of the joint when I was in prison. It’s the kind of apartment I used to love when I was too young to appreciate the comforts of home.

“What’s going on between them?” Emberly asks.

“Gil is rehousing her because she was harassed by your cop.”

She gulps. “Right.”

“And before you ask, they’re fucking.”

Emberly bows her head. No doubt, the roommate already gave her the blow by blow. I’m guessing she wants to ask about Dominic, but can’t muster up the words, considering she snooped after letting me believe she was asleep.

“How’s the throat?” I ask.

Her hand rises to her neck. “Better.”

“You been drinking Sofia’s tea?”

She raises her head and smiles. “Only at night. It makes me drowsy.”