simple lion’s
mask over his eyes.
“Please, stay—if you don’t mind, Lady A.” She could not move, even as he stepped closer. Arista sensed nothing hostile or dangerous in his movements. No telltale signs
that he meant to hurt her. Still, she could feel the authority surrounding him, even when he stood at a distance. A man clearly used to getting his way. And he knew who she was. He held all the
advantage.
“I don’t care much for social niceties when getting to the point works so much better, don’t you agree?” He waved his cheroot in the air as he spoke. “Now, why
don’t you have a seat and we can talk business?” Arista looked around, but realized that the hedge maze had been designed for a single purpose: to hide anyone inside. She lowered her
hand to her side, where she could feel the knife’s handle. If he thought to harm her in
any
way, she would fight to the end.
“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage, sir. You seem to know me, but I don’t know you.” He was not a former client, because Arista would have remembered dealing with
someone like him before. He must be the person she’d been sent to meet tonight. It was the only logical explanation, but still it was little comfort.
“We have a mutual friend,” he said, as if that explained everything.
So he
was
the client. Usually, the people she met with were nervous or angry, but this man seemed overconfident. He looked quite relaxed, in fact, for someone about to barter away a
secret. The sweet fragrance of roses and gardenias filled her lungs.
Arista had no patience for games tonight. “Payment is required first. Along with the information you wish to trade.” She held out her hand and waited. “And I’ll take your
contact information, to set up the second meeting, should your secret be of value.”
He studied her intently for several long seconds before straightening to his full height. When he stepped closer, Arista saw how he towered over her. He was taller than Nic, even. His shoulders
were broad, as if he were accustomed to hard work, yet his perfectly tailored clothing spoke of money. She fought the urge to take a step back. That would only show weakness. There were no sounds
from the party this deep into the garden.
“I’ve not come to make a deal with your boss. I’m much more interested in dealing directly with you, Lady A.” He was crazy. Or Bones had set her up, was testing her.
She started to move past him, but he grabbed her arm. Arista stiffened and fought the urge to reach for her knife. Nic would have had the man backed up against the wall for even touching her.
Where the hell
was
he tonight?
“Get your bloody hands off me or I’ll stab you in the gut.” Her words came out short and harsh between her clenched teeth. Her breathing grew ragged and she took a quick breath
in through her nose to try and quiet the unease.
“I don’t doubt you would.” The man chuckled, but his grip relaxed enough that she slipped free. “Pardon me for forgetting my manners, but I’ve been watching you,
Lady A, and I think we can help each other.”
“That is what I do. You give me your darkest secret and in return, I provide you with what you need.” Having set up this meeting with Bones, he must surely know how it worked.
“Yet you are burdened with all the risk and reap none of the reward. Your services should be valued at a higher price.” His face remained calm and he tilted his head to the side,
studying her. “It must be a horrible life,
ma petite
. Always doing the bidding of others. You yourself are in danger, and for what? Are you being compensated, or does he take it all
and force you to live in squalor?”
Arista’s breath caught in her throat. How did this man know so much about her, about her life under Bones’s control? She stared at him, her chest rising and falling with her quick
breaths.
His hand moved suddenly, and she spun away from him in a flash. She had her knife in hand
mask over his eyes.
“Please, stay—if you don’t mind, Lady A.” She could not move, even as he stepped closer. Arista sensed nothing hostile or dangerous in his movements. No telltale signs
that he meant to hurt her. Still, she could feel the authority surrounding him, even when he stood at a distance. A man clearly used to getting his way. And he knew who she was. He held all the
advantage.
“I don’t care much for social niceties when getting to the point works so much better, don’t you agree?” He waved his cheroot in the air as he spoke. “Now, why
don’t you have a seat and we can talk business?” Arista looked around, but realized that the hedge maze had been designed for a single purpose: to hide anyone inside. She lowered her
hand to her side, where she could feel the knife’s handle. If he thought to harm her in
any
way, she would fight to the end.
“I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage, sir. You seem to know me, but I don’t know you.” He was not a former client, because Arista would have remembered dealing with
someone like him before. He must be the person she’d been sent to meet tonight. It was the only logical explanation, but still it was little comfort.
“We have a mutual friend,” he said, as if that explained everything.
So he
was
the client. Usually, the people she met with were nervous or angry, but this man seemed overconfident. He looked quite relaxed, in fact, for someone about to barter away a
secret. The sweet fragrance of roses and gardenias filled her lungs.
Arista had no patience for games tonight. “Payment is required first. Along with the information you wish to trade.” She held out her hand and waited. “And I’ll take your
contact information, to set up the second meeting, should your secret be of value.”
He studied her intently for several long seconds before straightening to his full height. When he stepped closer, Arista saw how he towered over her. He was taller than Nic, even. His shoulders
were broad, as if he were accustomed to hard work, yet his perfectly tailored clothing spoke of money. She fought the urge to take a step back. That would only show weakness. There were no sounds
from the party this deep into the garden.
“I’ve not come to make a deal with your boss. I’m much more interested in dealing directly with you, Lady A.” He was crazy. Or Bones had set her up, was testing her.
She started to move past him, but he grabbed her arm. Arista stiffened and fought the urge to reach for her knife. Nic would have had the man backed up against the wall for even touching her.
Where the hell
was
he tonight?
“Get your bloody hands off me or I’ll stab you in the gut.” Her words came out short and harsh between her clenched teeth. Her breathing grew ragged and she took a quick breath
in through her nose to try and quiet the unease.
“I don’t doubt you would.” The man chuckled, but his grip relaxed enough that she slipped free. “Pardon me for forgetting my manners, but I’ve been watching you,
Lady A, and I think we can help each other.”
“That is what I do. You give me your darkest secret and in return, I provide you with what you need.” Having set up this meeting with Bones, he must surely know how it worked.
“Yet you are burdened with all the risk and reap none of the reward. Your services should be valued at a higher price.” His face remained calm and he tilted his head to the side,
studying her. “It must be a horrible life,
ma petite
. Always doing the bidding of others. You yourself are in danger, and for what? Are you being compensated, or does he take it all
and force you to live in squalor?”
Arista’s breath caught in her throat. How did this man know so much about her, about her life under Bones’s control? She stared at him, her chest rising and falling with her quick
breaths.
His hand moved suddenly, and she spun away from him in a flash. She had her knife in hand
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