gaped at them. “Numbers? Cobra? You have code names in that brotherhood of yours?”
Graves raised one eyebrow at Rafael. Seemed he was surprised Rafael had told her about that. Not that Rafael had told her much. Rafael gave him a “deal with it” shrug.
“Numbers...” she mused. “I don’t really see why you got named that. But Cobra is definitely apt. Though a more accurate name would be the raw material of deadliness. Like Venom.”
This time Graves guffawed. “You’re definitely keeping her.”
Rafael’s smile widened before it faded gradually. “Now, apologize to Eliana or I’ll break my other hand and your jaw this time.”
Ignoring him, Graves fixed his gaze on her, his British accent deepening. “He talks big, even when he knows he’s in one piece because I have this inexplicable fondness for him. That said, and knowing that I’m doing this out of my deeply buried gentlemanly tendencies, I do apologize. If only for...”
She raised both hands. “Stop. Quit while you’re ahead.”
Rafael gathered her to him. “Is he forgiven?”
A harrumph. “On probation.”
He chuckled and devoured her lips. She smiled against his lips at Graves’s vocal disgust.
After Rafael released her reluctantly, she kissed his splint, then each finger. “No more breaking anything for me, okay?”
His head shake was adamant. “No promises.”
Sighing her frustration at his terminal machismo, she looked between him and Graves. “At least no more fights between you two because of me, hear?”
Richard bowed in mock deference. “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep your boy toy in optimum working condition.”
And she laughed. That daunting dude had a sense of humor after all. She might even end up liking him.
Jumping up, she looked between the two men. “If you’re good tycoons, I’ll invite you to eat my magical seafood medley. You even get to help prepare it.”
Rafael sprang to his feet. “I’m very, very good.”
“I’m very, very nauseous” was Graves’s contribution.
She and Rafael laughed, then headed to her kitchen. Muttering what sounded like paint-peeling expletives, Graves followed.
* * *
The evening turned out to be an unqualified success.
Eliana was the perfect hostess. She orchestrated all the details with ease and efficiency and handled them, men the world bowed to, with utmost confidence and grace. Richard miraculously kept his snark to a minimum, even followed her lead as she made them her sous-chefs while preparing the seafood medley, which did turn out to be magical.
Time flowed over and after dinner as they cleaned up then adjourned to her living room to drink hot yerba maté, eat cocadas—a traditional coconut confection—chat and verbally duel. Eliana held her own with Richard like no one he’d ever seen. Then, nestling into him on the couch, she started yawning.
Kissing her forehead, he gestured to Richard, who rose to his feet at once.
As he made to follow, she clung to him. “Stay.”
His blood hurtled through his veins with temptation. “You need to sleep.”
She rubbed her sleepy face into his neck, burning him wherever she touched. “I need to sleep with you.”
“Tomorrow. I’ll come alone.”
She looked across at Richard. “You can go home on your own, right, Graves?”
“It’s Rafael who can’t. I have to tuck him in.”
“Should have known you’d be no help.” She clung to Rafael’s neck. “At least carry me to bed.”
“You, my enchantress, are wily.”
“I just want you.”
“And I want nothing but you.” He kissed her pout as he rose and her arms fell off his shoulders like petals. “Lock up after us.”
He rushed Richard out before he succumbed. They strode to the elevator with him already suffering withdrawal.
“What are you going to do with her?”
At Richard’s quiet question, he exhaled. “None of your business, Cobra. Your role here is done.”
Richard pressed the elevator button. “One piece of advice. A warning, really. This woman will turn you inside out.”
“Don’t you believe she already has?”
“I thought so. But now that I’ve been exposed to her, to this...live thing between you, I know I’ve been optimistic in my evaluation. This?” He made a gesture at all of him. “What you’re feeling now? Is nothing to what you will feel a week from now. In a month’s time, you’ll be totally lost in her.”
He cocked an eyebrow as they entered the elevator. “So you like her now?”
“I don’t like anyone. But her? She’s lethal.”
He frowned. “You still think she’s her father’s accomplice? That her orphanage work has sinister motivations? You think I’d look the other way if I suspected such a thing?”
Richard shook his head. “I actually believe your verdict of her benevolence. And that’s what makes her deadly. She’s for real. You’ll have no defenses against her.”
“Who says I want any?”
Richard fell silent as the elevator crowded with more and more people in this city that didn’t sleep. Once out on the street, and before they went their separate ways, he said, “Are you giving up your revenge?”
His heart fisted. “I will never do that.”
“Then do you have any idea how to have it and have her, too?”
“I’ll figure out a way.”
Richard only gave him a “sure you will” scowl before turning and walking away.
He watched Richard recede, his mind in an uproar.
He would destroy her father. He had to. But if she ever suspected he was the one who had done it, he could lose her. He couldn’t even contemplate that.
This meant that his plan to let Ferreira know it was him who destroyed him was out of the question. He’d have to burn every bit of evidence leading back to him so she’d never know.
The one way this wouldn’t be necessary was if in a month’s time he cooled toward her. He could strike at her father and not fear the fallout
