I stared at the two men, as if I were at a tennis court watching a match between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner. My eyes bounce from one to another.
Ryan looked as intimidating as hell as he stared down Daniel, like he was a cockroach he wanted to swat with his feet, while my detective friend held his own against his hostile look, not at all intimidated.
I felt very proud of him, though the sight of Ryan made me feel a little hot inside.
He looks so sexy right now.
"As much as I would love to trade barbs with you, officer, I have more important things to deal with," Ryan tells Daniel in a dismissive fashion that my good friend did not take lying down.
"You mean like force yourself on your assistance?" Daniel mocked again, and as soon as I saw the deadly look in Ryan's eyes, I knew my friend had overstepped his boundaries.
Ryan's expression hardened. His stony expression was so terrifying to look at.
"If I were you, detective, I would watch my words. You do not want to see the other side of me," Ryan warned, his tone deadly.
Daniel snorted, as if Ryan were a joke to him. "Are you threatening me, Mr. Blackwell?" He asked with a sly look on his face. "I am sure you know it is an offense to threaten an officer of the law."
Ryan's steely look didn't waver at Daniel's words; if anything, they grew glacial.
"And I would remind you of my words from last night. I do not make threats; I make promises."
"Well, I will be waiting for you to keep your promises," Daniel smirked at Ryan, as if he was not afraid of his influence and that of his family.
Ryan glared at Daniel, looking irritated at his presence. "Is there a reason for this unbidden visit?"
"Yes. Last night, you said I should make an appointment with your assistant if I want to speak to you. Well, here I am."
"I am sorry to disappoint you, detective, but my schedule today is fully booked." Ryan smiled frostily at Daniel. "Actually, we are on our way out, so I do not have the time to entertain you."
"Oh, that is not a problem, Mr. Blackwell. I will tag along. What I want to discuss with you wouldn't take long."
"Suit yourself, detective." Ryan walked out of the office, with Daniel falling in line beside him, and I was left to bring up the rear.
I had believed the two men had forgotten about me until Ryan stopped walking in the middle of the corridor after walking a short distance and turned to look at me, his gaze sharp.
"Do not walk behind me, Lyra. You are my assistant, not my dog."
I tried to take a step in his direction, but Daniel spoke before I could move.
"Do not speak to her like that, Mr. Blackwell," he warned, and I gaped at him like he had lost his damn mind.
What the fuck is he doing?
Ryan faced him, looking very irritated again, like Daniel was becoming a thorn in his side. "And if I do, what is it to you? Do you like my assistant or something?" He challenged with a heavy scowl.
"And if I say I do, what would you do about it?" Daniel challenged back, and I found myself smacking my face internally and wondering what the hell had come over my friend.
Ryan stepped close to Daniel until a breath of distance separated them. "And I will tell you that I do not care for other people coveting what belongs to me."
The two men glared at each other, the tension between them so thick I could cut it with a knife.
"Mmmm," I cleared my throat to catch their attention. They both looked at me, but I was looking at Ryan. Those blue eyes look like they are on fire.
"Your meeting, sir," I reminded him in a submissive tone. I could feel Daniel boring holes into my face with his stare, but I ignored him. I am very mad at him. What the fuck was that all about? Is he trying to blow our cover with his overprotective bullshit?
I told him last night that I can take care of myself, but it looks like my words went in one ear and flew out the other.
"Well, I am not going to get to it if you keep hanging back like that," Ryan scolds, and I immediately scoots to his side, but not before shooting Daniel a warning look to keep his damn mouth shut.
"Mr. Blackwell, do you know where your sister's husband is?" Daniel asked out of the blue.
Ryan's countenance doesn't falter at his words. He turns around to keep walking with me trudging beside him as he answers Daniel's question.
"I don't know, officer. As you can see, I don't carry my sister's husband in my pocket."
I stifle a laugh at Ryan's sarcastic reply. Looks like Daniel has gotten under his skin.
"I know you do not have to know the way about your sister's husband, Mr. Blackwell, but we got an anonymous tip that your sister's husband is missing."
My step falters a little at Daniel's words, and I hope none of the men walking with me notice. I couldn't help but fear that Ryan would think I was the one behind the tip.
"Then I suggest you ask my sister, detective; it is her husband after all, not mine. Or better still, ask the anonymous tipper," Ryan tells Daniel as we get to the lift. He reached out to press the lift button.
The lift opened, and the three of us walked in.
As we started toward the ground floor, the two men resumed their conversation.
"I would, but it seems your sister is conveniently out of town. And it is anonymous for a reason, Daniel replies, his tone mocking, as if Ryan's snartness is in question.
This time, Ryan doesn't react to Daniel's veiled insult. He shrugs his broad shoulders. "Then, I am afraid, I can't help you, detective. You have to wait until she gets back."
"You do realize, Mr. Blackwell, that if your sister's husband is in danger, letting us help would save his life."
"And what makes you think that my sister's husband is in danger?" Ryan stared intently at Daniel, his tone slightly suspicious.
"No reason," Daniel quickly answers. "I am just letting you know that the police are available should your family need assistance."
"Thank you, officer, for the generous offer, but we can handle our business," Ryan replies with a fake politeness as the lift came to a stop and its doors opened.
We both walked out with Daniel bringing up the rear this time. He stumbled into me, causing me to stumble forward, and I would have fallen had he not caught me.
"I am so sorry," he apologized profusely while slipping a note into my hand. Ryan glared at him like he wanted to fry his brain with his eyes.
As we got to Ryan's car, he opened the door for me, and when he moved to get to the other side, Daniel called out to him.
"Mr. Blackwell!"
Ryan stopped and turned to look at Daniel. With him distracted, I quickly opened Daniel's note and read it.
He wanted me to slip the bug into Ryan's car now.
Daniel still has Ryan distracted, so I quickly opened my bag to get one of the bugs he gave me last night.
I opened it with my hand trembling a little and looked around nervously for a place to put it.
The only discrete place I could think of was under my chair, so I slipped it there, my heart racing so fast and my palm a little sweaty.
"I just wanted to remind you, Mr. Blackwell, that the police are your friends." He threw him a finger salute and a smile, then walked off.
Ryan joined me in the car, and I tried to pretend that I wasn't doing anything naughty while he was distracted by Daniel.
Regulate my breathing, stare straight ahead, like the garage pillars hold the mystery of the World.
His presence inside the car immediately shifts the atmosphere inside. Ryan is one of those people who walk into a place, and you immediately take notice, not just because of his looks but also his commanding presence. The confident way he carries himself makes him seem untouchable.
Right now, he is boring holes into my face, and try as I may to pretend that I can't feel his eyes on me, I find myself fidgeting in my seat, like someone guilty of a crime.
Did he see me put the bug?
My heart thundered at the possibility of being caught, and I began to think up lies to protect myself.
No need to think deep, I'm just gonna say Daniel forced me. He is a big boy and can handle Ryan's rage. He has proven that he is not afraid of the big bad wolf.
"You are sweating."
My heart flew to my throat at Ryan's casual observation. I whirl around to look at him.