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“They’re used to bottles goingat these events, trust me” It would have been easy to lock them away, yet they never did Staff would probably bill Lambert three times what this bottle orth, and I kind of enjoyed that idea “You don’t really care, do you?” I teased “You don’t seem like much of a rule follower”

“Because I broke into Lambert’s safe?”

I held her gaze for a long moment “And because you set the alarm off at my house”

She didn’t even flinch She barely blinked, and there was no denial in her eyes Instead, she considered her response carefully “I needed to talk to you, and that was my way in”

I wasn’t as paranoid as my father, but I wasn’t stupid either and didn’t believe in coincidences Since our lunch together, I’d suspected the faulty sensor in my room had been orchestrated

“You took a huge risk doing it I could have you fired”

She didn’t look nervous She laughed like I was being ridiculous “Sovereign ht slap me on the wrist, but they won’t fire me”

“Oh?” What she’d done was a massive pain in the ass, andour way “Why’s that?”

Her sood”

Surprise washed through me Whatever expression I held, it ue her case Her posture stiffened, and she put a hand on her hip

“I’as Vault champion, the one people call when everyone else has failed And I’ about cheap hotel safes that any idiot with a et into” Her voice dripped with confidence “I’ about banks Embassies The FBI”

I stood utterly still in nored

“So,” she continued, “I’ off the alarm a few times, but I’m not sorry for the outcoet what you need, and I’m okay with that”

“Win at all costs,” I uttered

“Yeah, I guess”

I’d never been turned on so fast in uing, and it pu her as much, I took another sip of the vodka and focused on the subtle burn of the alcohol It allowed hts

“Thank you for being honest,” I said “If you’d lied to me, then I’d have to break up with you”