Chapter 1 - THE DEVIL AT THE BAR
“She had just kissed the devil to escape a demon.”
That was the thought running through Christa Dempsey's head as Gregory Hammond stood frozen five feet away.
Leo Flores watched him with an expression of polite curiosity.
It was somehow more frightening than anger.
“Your date?” Leo repeated.
Gregory swallowed.
“Yes. Miss Dempsey and I were having dinner.”
Leo glanced down at Christa.
“Were you?”
Christa felt the weight of the question.
She could lie.
She could pretend this was a misunderstanding.
She could apologize, return to the booth, and hope Gregory's threats had been exaggerated.
Instead, she remembered his hand on her thigh.
His certainty that her mother's house belonged to him.
The way he'd called her a payment.
“No,” she said.
Gregory's face tightened.
“Christa.”
She lifted her chin.
“I was leaving.”
Leo's arm loosened around her waist.
Not abandoning her.
Giving her room.
“Then I believe the lady has answered.”
Gregory tried to smile.
“Mr. Flores, perhaps we should discuss this privately.”
“We are discussing it.”
“You don't understand the arrangement.”
Leo's eyes cooled.
“What arrangement?”
Gregory looked at Christa.
For the first time that evening, he seemed uncertain whether threatening her was wise.
“It's a family matter.”
Leo smiled without warmth.
“Then I suggest you contact her family.”
He turned toward one of his guards.
“Mateo.”
A tall man stepped forward.
“Sir?”
“Please arrange transportation for Miss Dempsey.”
Christa's pulse jumped.
“I have my own car.”
Leo looked at her.
“Then you may use it.”
She blinked.
He continued.
“Or accept a driver. Your choice.”
The words startled her.
Your choice.
She had heard almost none of those words that evening.
Gregory stepped forward.
“Christa, don't be ridiculous.”
Leo's expression changed.
The air seemed to tighten.
“Mr. Hammond.”
Gregory stopped.
“You have been asked to leave her alone.”
For a moment, the restaurant fell silent.
Then Gregory backed away.
His face had turned a mottled red.
“This isn't finished,” he whispered.
Christa felt her stomach tighten.
Leo heard him.
Of course he did.
“On the contrary,” Leo said softly. “I believe it is.”
Gregory disappeared toward the dining room.
Only then did Christa realize her hands were shaking.
Leo looked down at her.
“Are you hurt?”
She shook her head.
“Not seriously.”
His gaze moved toward her wrist.
A red mark was already forming where Gregory had grabbed her.
Something dangerous passed across Leo's face.
Then vanished.
“Would you like someone to call the police?”
Christa stared.
The most feared crime boss on the East Coast had just offered to call the police.
The absurdity almost made her laugh.
“No.”
Leo nodded.
“Very well.”
She swallowed.
“I owe you an apology.”
“For what?”
“For kissing you.”
His mouth curved slightly.
“I've survived worse.”
Her cheeks warmed.
“I didn't know who you were.”
“I gathered that.”
“I wouldn't have done it if—”
“If you'd known?”
She hesitated.
Leo watched her.
Then said quietly:
“Miss Dempsey, you needed someone to stand beside you. I happened to be there.”
She looked down.
“That doesn't make it right.”
“No,” he agreed. “But it makes it understandable.”
For the first time all evening, Christa could breathe.
Then Leo asked:
“Did Hammond threaten your mother’s estate?”
Her head snapped up.
“How did you know?”
His expression became unreadable.
May you like
“Because Gregory Hammond has been trying to acquire that property for six months.”
And suddenly Christa understood that the stranger she'd kissed knew far more about her life than she did about his.
