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chapter ten

The sauard at the door He took Eve’s coat with the same faint disapproval

“Send coffee down to the target room, please,” Roarke ordered as he led Eve up the stairs

He was holding her hand again, but Eve decided it was less a sentiesture than one to make sure she didn’t balk She could have told hio anywhere, but found she enjoyed that ripple of annoyance under his smooth manner

When they’d reached the third floor, he went through his collection briskly, choosing weapons without fuss or hesitation He handled the antiques with the coht, habitual use

Not a ht to own, but one who made use of his possessions She wondered if he knew that counted against him Or if he cared

Once his choices were secured in a leather case, he moved to a wall

Both the security console and the door itself were so cleverly hidden in a painting of a forest, she would never have found it The trompe l’oeil slid open to an elevator

“This car only opens to a select number of rooms,” he explained as Eve stepped into the elevator with hiet area”

“Why?”

“My collection, and the use of it, are reserved for those who can appreciate it”

“How h the black market?”

“Always a cop” He flashed that grin at her, and she was sure, tucked his tongue in his cheek “I buy only through legal sources, naturally” His eyes skiot your recorder on”

She couldn’t help but smile back Of course she had her recorder on And of course he knew it It was a , took out her recorder, and ed

“And your backup?” he said smoothly