His Four Poster Bed (Bedroom Secrets Series Book 2) by Emma Thorne Page B

crooning out a sad sounding jazz tune.
    Veronica slipped into a booth and directed me to sit across from her.
    I stood at the edge of the table, my heart pounding. “No,” I said, feeling dizzy with rage. “I’m not doing anything until you tell me what is going on. Where is Marco?”
    “Please sit,” she said. “We don’t need a scene.”
    “Tell me and I’ll sit.”
    “You can’t go upstairs, not now,” she said, rubbing her forehead. “For Christ sake Odessa, Marco sent me downstairs to keep you safe. Sit. The. Fuck. Down.”
    Her words stunned me into silence. I sunk into the booth.
    “What’s going on?” I said, a feeling of dread creeping into my belly. Suddenly Todd’s nightly escorts didn’t seem to meaningless, the private elevator and back staircase now took on an ominous tone. “Who is he hiding from up there?” I asked.
    “Marco doesn’t hide,” she looked at me as if she pitied me. “I’m here to protect you, not him.”
    “Enough with the cryptic bullshit Veronica,” I said, leaning across the table. “I know you have some sort of special relationship with Marco, but so do I. Tell me what is going on, I don’t deal well with ambiguity.”
    “Marco’s father has come to town,” Veronica said, again rubbing her temples. “Luis is here. He is upstairs.”
    “So, what?” I said. I felt like my brain was on over drive trying to put together a puzzle filled with missing pieces.
    “Why do you think Marco hides out in the penthouse in Seattle? The Amador family runs their business out of New York, Seville, London, and Guadalajara. Yet, Marco chooses to mold in the rain and the cold.”
    “I thought the Amador foundation was based here.”
    “No, the foundation has fundraisers all over the country. The night of the New Year’s Eve bash for Children’s there were six other parties across the world.” She wrinkled her brow. “You really didn’t google him did you?”
    “No,” I said, flushing with embarrassment. “He asked me not to.”
    “Christ, you are something else,” Veronica said. Her dark brown eyes looked weary and she had circles under her eyes. “Would you like a cocktail? Something strong perhaps?”
    “Yes. Fine,” I said, my mind still spinning.
    Veronica got up and went to the bar to order. I felt grateful for the darkness of the bar. I closed my eyes and inhaled and exhaled slowly. I needed to calm my racing heart. Had I trusted Marco too soon? Family secrets were one thing my mind reasoned, just because the man hadn’t told me more about his father didn’t mean he would betray me.
    Marco had promised me total honesty and here I was being squirreled away as if I were an untouchable.
    Veronica returned holding two low ball drinks. “Whisky,” she said.
    “Nice,” I took the drink.
    “Don’t worry it goes down smooth.”
    “That’s a relief.” I took a sip of the drink and allowed the heat to move through my body. It gave me a moment to really look at Veronica. She was still gorgeous, all legs, lanky but muscular and strong. She wore a short sequined skirt and a yellow cashmere sweater that popped against her deep brown skin. Her brown hair cropped close to her skull she had amazing bone structure. She looked as though she’d just finished walking the runway at fashion week.
    “Marco says you work for the DEA,” I said, taking another sip of my whisky. “Is that true? You don’t really look like a government employee you know.”
    She widened her eyes and took a sip of whiskey. “Looks can be deceiving.”
    “Whatever, I’m done here,” I said, moving to slide out of the table. Veronica dropped her arm across the table grabbing my wrist.
    “Let’s just get this out into the open,” she said. “Marco is like a brother to me. I have never seen his dick.”
    “I wasn’t asking about his dick,” I said, trying to act shocked. I had been wondering. Damn. I thought I was better at hiding my insecurities.
    “Yes, you were,” she laughed,