Read Online Misty by M. Garnet - Free Book Online Page A

whisper.
    Out of the corner of her eye she saw three men approaching. They were all dressed very properly and were very handsome men. The middle man, who approached as the other two fell back a step or two, had an air about him of being use to giving commands and having them obeyed. He would have looked very natural in a uniform of a general.
    “Radames, how good to see you. I am disappointed that you would visit my home and not pay me the honor of calling on me. May I join you?” One of the men held up his hand for a waiter.
    Rad looked up at the tall imposing figure. “I don’t think so, Bathromo, even you can see I am entertaining.”
    “Funny, I had heard you were working. But I smell something delicious. What have you ordered for dinner?” He stepped forward towards Misty.
    She looked up at Rad and he held her eyes with his pale ones. But he spoke to the standing man.
    “You would not make the mistake of touching my lady.” She knew that she was doing everything she could to keep from flinching at the possessive comment from the man across the table. But she also felt that for some reason it was important that she sit here and not show any emotion. For once it was important to keep her temper. But boy, was he going to get it when they got out of all of this.
    “Perhaps she might choose a different protector?” The two men moved in closer to the man who was speaking.
    “There has been a report to Rome that you’ve been a little too loose on the rules around here, Bethromo. If you can’t get things under control, they might send in an enforcer.” Rad spoke in that velvet voice and still looked at her, but she heard the stress on the word enforcer.
    It was at this time that a waiter and his helper brought the meal. He moved around the three men without saying a word, removed her soup and the tray from the middle of the table and set a plate of veal parmesan in front of her. They placed a large basket of warm bread in the middle and large plates of butter and cheese. One of the men topped her wine and there was a fresh whiskey glass placed in front of Rad.
    “I guess it would depend on whether anyone was worried about enforcers anymore.” The man spoke as he reached over, took a roll and split it in half. He took a pinch of it and dipped it into the sauce on her plate and put it into his mouth. “I have developed a small taste for some foods. Strange the habits we pick up when we grow old. I see you have a taste for whiskey. I will see that some good single malt is sent to you.”
    Rad continued to hold her gaze as he spoke to the man. “I think sometimes a person can developed bad habits and get careless as we grow old. We do not heed the proper warnings.” He suddenly stood. It was so fast that it was almost invisible. The three men stepped back. So they were afraid of him. Suddenly Misty found that reassuring.
    The maître d’ appeared and had a couple of waiters with him. The three men stepped back and the leader nodded and turned. They quickly made their way out of the restaurant.
    “Sir, is there a problem?” The maître d’ was almost bending over at the waist.
    Rad reached in his pocket and pulled out a fold of money. He counted off five one hundred dollar bills and laid them on the table. “The gentleman ruined our meal. I am afraid I must take the lady somewhere else.” He held his hand out to Misty. She hesitated only a second, took the offered hand and stood up. Okay, smallest meal in the fanciest restaurant in her life. This whole thing was getting more and more surreal.
    He led her to the front and they went out the door to wait for the car. He had her lace scarf that he put it around her but he slid his arm around her waist and she gasped as she felt him slip his hand inside the vee of the dress in the back, against her skin. She bit her lip, trying not to let the valet see any reaction as the cool hand pushed gently against her bare back, to guide her to the passenger seat. She got in