Shattered Pieces (Undercover Elite Book 1)(11)

He pushes my chair in and I mutter a quick thank you. He leans down, seductively whispering in my ear, “You’re welcome, love.” Why does this man have to be so fucking sexy? He is the epitome of the term sex on a stick.

He sits, unbuttoning his jacket and eying me. “Red or white,” he questions me about what type of wine I prefer. I immediately say red in hopes that it will take the edge off of the anxiety I’m feeling. I grab the glass and down half of it, welcoming the numbing warmth as the alcohol enters my system.

“Take it easy there. I have some very important things to discuss with you.”

“I have a lot of questions, Cash.” I grab the glass, ignoring him and downing the rest of it. His only reply is to chuckle and refill it.

“Do I make you nervous?”

“What do you think? You kidnapped me.”

“You were never one to mince words.”

“No I’m not, Cash.”

“Well let me put your mind at ease. I believe, after tonight, you will not only have some of your questions answered, but you will be much more at peace about your position here in my home.”

We’re interrupted when a waiter brings in our salads. “Thank you,” I look up and say as he places the salad plate in front of me.

“You’re welcome, ma’am.”

“That will be all, William.”

“As you wish, sir.”

I am a little taken aback by the manner in which he speaks to the man. It’s evident he doesn’t like the small verbal exchange between the two of us. For a second, I’m confused by his behavior but then it hits me. Cash is jealous! I have to catch myself before I chuckle.

“I’m certain you’re curious as to why I brought you here. I have a proposition for you.”

The wine has done its job and I’m feeling decidedly less nervous. I’m also feeling bolder than I normally do in his presence. “A proposition, huh?”

I get the feeling by the way he continues speaking, that this proposition is going to be more of a mandate.

“I’m not who you think I am,” he answers what I was going to say as if he already knew. “I’m certain you have come to the conclusion that I am a businessman of sorts; I’m not. I come from money and though I’m not ashamed of the fact that I’m a blueblood, I do feel the need to give back. People hire me to do things when no one else will take the job.”

My life growing up in the streets taught me very early on that things aren’t always what they seem. “Are you an assassin, an enforcer? What do you do?”

“If I had to label it, I would say I’m an enforcer. I level the playing field.”

“Like a vigilante?” I ask, taking a drink of wine to wash down the salad I’m eating.

“No, vigilantes kill for emotional reasons. I take jobs that go far beyond the realms of the law. For instance, I’ve gone into third world countries and removed women who were victims of kidnapping for the purpose of white slavery. I’ve gone into third world countries where journalists have been taken hostage to prove a political point. There’s a team of us, six men to be exact. As I said, people hire us when no one else will take the job.”

Now, he has my attention. I am glad for the interruption when William rolls in a tray with the main course as it gives me a moment to digest everything he just told me. I note that, this time, William doesn’t look at me or acknowledge me in the same friendly manner that he had just moments before.

Cash waits to speak until William is done serving and leaves us to our dinner.

“I want to train you, Johnnie. I want you to work with my team. I can’t have a normal relationship and I don’t want one built on lies and deceit.”

Now, he definitely has my attention. Not only that, but he’s piqued my interest as well. “Do you think I can do this?”

“Not now, no… but by the time I get done with you, I do. I’ve watched you for six months and I believe with the right training, you can do this.”

I can feel my heart race and the mental battle of wondering whether or not this man is for real begins to wage war within me. By the look in his eyes, I know he is dead serious. I can feel myself getting excited about the prospect of working with him, about making a difference. I like what I’m hearing and find myself wanting to agree to what he’s asking of me.

He had to have seen something in me because a man of his caliber would have stopped following me the first week if he hadn’t seen potential. Part of me is proud of that fact and wants to explore the possibilities but I also find myself wondering if I truly have what it takes.

“And if I decide I don’t want to?”