“Marcos, didn’t you tell Philip that one of the guards was your nephew?” Imelda asked.

Marcos and Elijah exchanged a knowing look. She’d made a mistake and didn’t realize it. The conversation had taken place before Imelda had arrived, which meant they’d been taped and she’d already viewed those tapes before her arrival—which they’d suspected would happen.

“That is correct. Two of them are. And one is related to Elijah.”

Imelda shrugged one slim shoulder. “You see, your help is family and no one else can be fully trusted to do the job.”

“Conner is not family, but is fully trusted,” Elijah objected. “But of course, we obviously think differently. I know my men wouldn’t betray me and I don’t worry if they overhear business discussions. They would carry the details to their grave.”

She couldn’t miss the smirk exchanged between the two men. The head of her security team had made her look foolish in front of the two men she wanted most to impress. She would not forgive that easily. For a moment, black rage glittered in her eyes, and then she resumed her mask of congeniality.

Conner emerged, his expression unreadable. “That room is not suitable for a discussion, Marcos.” There was finality in his words. A command, not a suggestion.

Imelda was clearly intrigued by the way he ordered his employer. Conner had studied every detail of her personality from information Rio had gathered and she wanted a strong male, but also wanted the control. Her men didn’t last long. And her security detail probably went through hell with her. A man like Conner Vega would appeal to her in every way. He was clearly loyal to a fault, in complete control and dedicated to serving his employer. And he’d bested her leopards.

“That’s ridiculous,” Imelda argued, more because she wanted to challenge Conner, make him notice her, than for any other reason. “We conduct all our business in that room.”

Conner’s impassive gaze flicked to her and then returned to Marcos. “The room is hot.”

There was a small silence. Marcos slowly turned his head to stare at Imelda, his friendly demeanor dissolving. Elijah put his glass down and faced her and there was no trace of friendliness. Suddenly he looked every inch his reputation. Imelda was very aware of the other bodyguards, moving into positions where they could stop anyone from coming in from any direction.

“I don’t know what that means,” Imelda said, trying to stay calm. No one had ever challenged her authority before—not and lived. Right at that moment she felt closer to death than she ever had before. It was both terrifying and exhilarating. The threat was in the burning gold of Conner’s eyes. He looked impersonal, yet so dangerous. Her body flooded with adrenaline, but also with sudden hunger.

“It means,” Marcos explained impatiently, “that the room is wired.”