Dirty Little Lies: A Men of Summer Novel by Lora Leigh Read Free Book Online Page A

sorts.
    “He will be.” The reply was one of complete confidence.
    “When he informs me that I don’t have to do my job, then I won’t do it.” She smiled once again. “Until then, plans are on. I’ll be heading out at the end of next week.”
    And Uncle Vinny would not be telling her she couldn’t go. The private meetings with Alex Brigham and his son Madden were more necessary now than they had ever been. Besides, she was really looking forward to that party. Her dress was waiting at the estate, the price alone ensuring she attended. It had taken a hefty chunk from her account.
    “Did you somehow miss the fact that your life is in danger?” Zack rose furiously from the bed, shot her glare, then turned away to stalk to the other side of the room. Turning back to her, he tried to tell himself to stop lusting after her and attempt to talk some sense into her. She did not have to obey her uncle no matter the danger to herself.
    “I’m certain Uncle Vinny is taking every precaution, he always does.” She shrugged, remembering the warning Cord had given her earlier not to let Zack know about her self-defense training or just how stubborn she could be.
    Evidently, whoever had targeted her was taken in by the appearance she and her family had deliberately kept up over the years: that she was meek and helpless. After all, Vinny would never allow someone who was weak to know the details of the Kinship. Hell, even Luce had believed the ruse. She’d often reminded Grace how little her uncle trusted her simply because she was so weak-minded.
    It was laughable at times.
    Hard-edged, military-trained Kin leaders were known to hang their heads or eye her nervously whenever they pissed her off, but her own mother hadn’t seen who she really was. Obviously, neither had Zack.
    Blame her stubbornness on him, Vinny had always suggested, and she did just that.
    Always appear wary of Vinny’s temper, Cord, Deacon, and Sawyer had advised her.
    They’d preached that to her for years simply to ensure she was never targeted because of her job. Vinny never respected anything but strength. If she didn’t appear to embody that innate strength, then no one would suspect she held his secrets. Now it wasn’t her job endangering her, but the mother who should have fought to protect her instead.
    She’d be amused, but she’d grown out of caring about her mother’s motivations in her teens.
    “Vinny took every precaution yesterday as well, didn’t he?” Zack sneered. “That bastard nearly killed you and your dog. What would you have done if not for Magnus, Grace?”
    Put that knife in his throat! she thought furiously. She wished she had done that instead of trying to pull back and play helpless, hoping to keep him alive for questioning. He hadn’t expected her to fight; she hadn’t expected Magnus to attack so viciously.
    She’d misjudged the situation, and it pissed her off.
    “Zack, you will have to take this up with Uncle Vinny,” she told him again, keeping her voice calm. “Both my half brothers, Baer and Banyon, will be accompanying me, and I understand you’ll be there as well. I’ll be perfectly safe,” she pointed out.
    Asshole. Cord had already discussed Zack’s meeting with the men in her family with her earlier.
    “You weren’t safe in your own home—”
    “We had no idea I was in danger,” she pointed out with such innocent logic, he ground his teeth together in frustration.
    Zack could feel the irritation beginning to work up his spine even as lust tightened his balls. She was staring at him as though she had complete faith in her family to protect her when they’d failed her once already. The second time could mean her death.
    She was sitting there in her girly bed as though nothing and no one had touched or could touch her. So certain she was safe. So certain no one would ever hurt her again.
    God, it was killing him.
    A golden retriever puppy in a wolf’s den. Sawyer’s words haunted him.
    With her