She hadn’t complained about being in lockdown, hadn’t tried to sneak out, hadn’t made any attempts to be a royal pain in my ass.

Something felt off.

“Tinsley?” My stomach rumbled as I strolled from room to room, looking for her. “It’s almost dinnertime. Do you want—?”

She stepped out of the bedroom closet, dressed in a little black dress that hugged her delectable body and showed off her killer legs.

“What are you doing?” I picked my jaw up off the floor.

“Getting ready to eat.” She paused at the mirror, fastening diamonds to her ears.

I hadn’t seen her in anything but loungewear since we’d been here. She was a knockout in everything she wore. But that dress? Yeah, it was coming off. Right fucking now.

My cock swelled as I prowled toward her, gunning for a hard, wild, dress-ripping fuck against the wall.

“Don’t look at me like that.” She motioned at the suit laid out on the bed. “Get dressed. We don’t have much time.”

I froze. “Much time for what?”

“My sister’s joining us for dinner.”

“Which sister?” Suspicion hardened my voice as I assessed her appearance with my brain instead of my dick.

“Elaine.” Her back stiffened a half-second before she rolled her shoulders, feigning nonchalance.

“No visitors. Call her back and cancel.”

“You can’t keep me from my family.” She whirled toward me, her blue eyes flaring with challenge.

Why was this so important to her? She hadn’t seen Elaine in months.

Then it clicked. Her quiet cooperation, the fancy dress, the subtle tremble in her hands as she fussed with her hair… She’d been making plans, waiting for this dinner.

“This isn’t about Elaine.” My pulse thrashed with my rising anger. “You arranged a meeting with Lucian Morelli.”

“Yes.” Her throat bobbed through a hard swallow. “I trust my sister with this.”

“I don’t. I sure as hell don’t trust the man she’s fucking.”

Her nostrils widened. “Magnus—”

“No. Fuck no. I will not allow that murdering fuck near you, and that’s final.”

I pivoted toward the exit and yanked the phone from my pocket. As I dialed the security team to alert them, Tinsley ripped the device from my hand and flung it toward the bed.

“You want me involved in the business.” She lifted on tiptoes and put her livid face in mine. “This is me, getting involved.”

“This isn’t a negotiation.” My hands flexed at my sides, knuckles cracking. If I didn’t love her so goddamn much, I’d fucking strangle her. “I will not risk your life—”

My phone chirped from somewhere near the bed. At the same time, hers vibrated across the dresser.

“Get dressed, Mr. Falke.” She curled her lip, her voice mocking. “Our guests are here.”

She vanished into the bathroom, leaving me seething.