Free The Maze (ATCOM) by Jennifer Lowery Page B

making her want things she couldn’t have.
    Noah
and Carlos were sizing each other up, measuring, betraying nothing.
    Carlos
spoke first. “I think we are both honest men and we both know the name you gave
me was fake. I will find out your true identity so, please, save me the time,”
he said. “What shall I call you?”
    Attie
resisted the urge to scoff. Noah was as honest as they came, but Carlos was far
from it.
    “Noah.”
    “Just
Noah?”
    Noah
shrugged and Attie glanced at Carlos to see how he was taking this taciturn
man. Carlos was accustomed to being obeyed, no questions asked. To her
surprise, he didn’t seem fazed. Not a good sign. The more pleasant and
accommodating Carlos became, the more dangerous the situation.
    Carlos
nodded. “I guess it will have to do for now. So tell me, Noah, are you sleeping
with Atalanta?”
    “What?”
Attie gasped in outrage. “You—”
    “Tsk,
Tsk. You know it surprises me you were able to hide your fiery spirit from me
for so long. It must have been difficult for you. I commend your ability to
blindside me, but I promise you, it won’t happen again. Now, Noah, your answer
please.”
    Attie
wanted to slap that smug expression off his face. Carlos never lost his temper.
He only grew more pleasant, oozing charm when he was angry, then retaliating by
turning into a monster. A modern day Jekyll and Hyde. The please at the
end terrified her.
    Noah
answered before she got the chance. “That is none of your business.”
    “But
it is.”
    The
two men faced each other. Tension could be sliced with a knife. Carlos was
tall, but Noah was taller and broader and more muscular. Both men were
dangerous in their own way. Attie knew how Carlos operated and she’d seen Noah
in action. A confrontation between them wasn’t something she ever wanted to
see.
    “She’s
a beautiful woman, isn’t she?” Carlos asked him.
    “If
you like stubborn redheads,” Noah replied smoothly.
    Carlos
smiled. “She is a bit temperamental, isn’t she? I rather enjoy the challenge.
Between us, by time this is over I think we’re going to be seeing just how
fiery her temper can be.”
    Attie’s
heart pounded. That could only mean bad things.
    “Come,
let’s eat.”
    Carlos
turned away, but Attie stopped him. “Where is my brother, Carlos?”
    He
stopped short. “You know I never discuss business during dinner. Have you
forgotten all I taught you?”
    She
went rigid. “I’m not hungry. Let’s skip dinner and get down to business.
Where’s Brendan?”
    “In
good time. Now, don’t press the issue. You remember how prickly I get. I’ve
saved you a chair beside me. Noah, you sit across from Atalanta in Antonio’s
chair.”
    His
softly given reminder had Attie backing down. She stalked toward her chair, and
then stopped short when she noticed the man pushing to his feet.
    “Antonio,”
she said in surprise, watching him stand. The architect that ATCOM hadn’t been
able to dig up any dirt on. He was exactly what he claimed. An architect.
They’d never been able to connect him with Carlos’s illegal dealings.
    Antonio
came around the table to meet her, arms extended. He took her hands and pressed
a kiss to the knuckles, the same as he had every time he greeted her in the
past. His wariness of her had never worn off; she could see it in his dark eyes
now.
    “How
nice to see you again, Atalanta. How do you like my project?”
    Attie
frowned. “You did this?”
    Antonio
nodded. “Designed and crafted by my own hand just for our friend.”
    Of
course.
    “Well,
what do you think so far?” Antonio asked.
    Carlos
prevented her from answering. “Sit, everyone. Dinner is served.”
    Once
they were seated, an array of food was placed on the table by servants. The
scent of grilled salmon and roasted baby potatoes beckoned Attie even though
she claimed not to be hungry. She ate knowing she would need her strength
later.
    When
their plates had been cleared and the servants left the room, Attie