Dinner With The Enemy

Aiden Cross

The Cole estate could feed a small country. Marble driveways. The mansion looked exactly like I expected, expensive, cold, and screaming for attention.

Typical rich-people setup

Raina was quiet beside me. I’d spent a few hours with her on the jet, and I’d already learned her tell. The way she bit her cheek when she was nervous.

I caught myself. This wasn’t the kind of information I was supposed to be getting out of her but I couldn’t help but notice

“You always bring fake boyfriends home, or am I special?”

Her head snapped toward me. “Behave. That’s my mom.”

She pointed to the entrance and I looked through the tinted windows of the car.

I stepped out first, adjusted my shirt, and helped her down. Cameras flashed from somewhere in the distance. Not paparazzi — private security lenses.

Her mom’s smile widened when she saw Raina, and she rushed to hug her.

“Oh my baby, welcome. You have no idea how happy you’ve made your mother,” She said, kissing her face

A man who I immediately assumed to be Raina’s father stepped out of the mansion, joining us.

He gave Raina a warm hug and kissed her cheek.

Her mom pulled her back into her arms as soon as her dad let her go.

They missed her. You could see it

Looks like she didn’t visit home often

Raina smiled so carefree for the first time today, the kind of smile that could thaw ice.

I caught myself smiling, and I blinked, my lips returning to a resting stance.

I shouldn’t have noticed that.

When her dad released her, her mom held her hands and then she looked at me and then back at Raina, her eyes subtly hinting for an introduction

“Mom, this is Ken, my boyfriend that I told you about”

I smiled, slipping into the role of Ken. “Mr. Cole. Mrs. Cole. It’s an honor to meet you.”

Her mother’s face softened immediately, extending her hand. I took it and placed a kiss on it. “Oh, what a gentleman.”

Her father’s handshake was firm. It reminded me of another man’s, the kind who thought power made him untouchable. That kind of man got my mother killed.

“It’s good to meet you, son. Raina doesn’t bring men home often.”

I gave him a polite grin. “Then I’m guessing I’m doing something right.”

They invited us in, leading the way. I intertwined my hands with Raina’s and I could feel her jerk a little.

“Remember the story?” She whispered

“You mean the part where you fell hopelessly in love with me?” I whispered back

“Try not to make me regret this.

Inside, the house looked like a museum: portraits, glass, chandeliers that could crush a man if they fell.

We got to the dining and we met her sister and the supposed ex. Her sister’s brows lifted just slightly, disbelief, jealousy maybe. I couldn’t quite place it.

The ex barely hid his irritation.

“Ken,” Raina’s mother said as we took our seats, “what do you do?”

I met her gaze with a mild smile. “Security consulting, ma’am. I protect what people value most.”

“Ah,” she said, clearly impressed. “I’m so happy for both of you.”

The burner vibrated against my hip, tucked inside the hidden pouch stitched into my briefs. I didn’t need to check to know it was Silas. No one else called that line.

“Excuse me,” I said smoothly, turning toward Raina’s mother with my most polite smile. “Would you mind showing me where the bathroom is?”

Her mother practically melted. “Of course, dear. I’ll have someone show you.”

I nodded gratefully, but before I left, I turned to Raina. She was watching me, pretending she wasn’t.

She looked almost relieved that I was stepping away, probably thought she could finally breathe without me beside her.

Which made it even more fun to ruin.

I leaned down, close enough that her perfume brushed against my skin. Her breath caught just slightly.

With two fingers, I brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, slow and deliberate, my thumb grazing her jaw as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

“I’ll be back soon, sweetheart,” I murmured, low enough that it was meant for her, yet just loud enough that her parents could hear the tenderness in it.

I hated how real my voice sounded. I hated the softness in my voice

Her mother sighed like she was watching a romance movie.

Her father smiled, approving.

And her ex, sitting stiffly across the table looked like he’d bitten into glass.

Raina blinked up at me, eyes wide, cheeks flushed.

I gave her one last lingering look, soft, affectionate, utterly convincing, then turned, following the help

The minute I got into the bathroom, I checked it for cameras or any recording devices. These rich people could put cameras anywhere.

When I didn’t find anyone, I pulled my burner phone and saw a text from Silas

“Change of plans. Take out Raina’s father, Robert Cole. Soon. Gather the information we need from Raina, then take her out next”

Raina’s father? Family kills were always messy and too much to cleanup. It was sudden but orders were orders and I didn’t get paid to ask questions.

It would be easy. Slip something in his drink, it would appear as a heart attack and for someone his age it would be believable.

Killing a man at his own dinner table. Almost ironic.