"I’m always armed in one way or another."

The lobby was filled with people. As they made their way through the crowded entrance, she saw Mo behind the wheel of the Bentley. She gripped Roth’s arm to get his attention.

“Can we walk?” When he stared at her, she said, “It’s just a block.” And she needed a breather before facing her family. 

He walked over to Johan, who had the back door open. Johan’s brows shot up before his face smoothed into impassive lines. He accepted both packages Roth handed him and leaned down to speak to Mo before he followed in their wake.

Roth offered his hand. Their eyes met briefly before she took it. As they made their way toward Park Avenue, she glanced back and was surprised to see Mo pacing alongside Johan. They each held one of the bags filled with presents. She faced forward and took a breath of brisk, cold air. 

The sidewalks were teeming with people. Roth’s hold on her hand was a little tighter than it should be for a casual stroll. She glanced up and saw he was scanning their surroundings as alertly as Mo and Johan. The hunter's instincts he developed as a child hadn’t dulled one bit, even though he didn’t have to hunt for food anymore. Dad had security, but Roth’s level of surveillance was next level. She fooled her previous security team to sneak away to Colorado, but Mo and Johan never relaxed their guard… much like their boss.

“Are you armed?” she asked as they turned right onto E 56th Street.

“Yes.”

She missed her step, forcing him to pause, so she could get her footing. “I didn’t see you strap on anything.” 

He guided her hand to a five o’clock spot on his hip and let her feel the bulge there. “There’s a safe in the closet, behind my shoes. I have an ankle holster too.”

“Are you always this prepared, or did you feel the need to arm up because we’re going to Colette’s?” She tried to make a joke of it, but she was disconcerted by the fact that he had more than one weapon on him for a family dinner. She hadn’t been raised around guns. Just being around one made her anxious. Kaia handled a rifle with the same ease she would a broom, and had been packing when she picked her up from the airport. Being armed was second nature to her, but this was New York City, where the gun laws were very different from rural America. “Are you armed when you go into the office?”

“Yes.”

She pulled him to a stop. “Yes, you’re armed when you go to the office or yes, you felt the need to bring a gun to my sister’s?”

“I told you I’m always armed in one way or another, so yes to both.”

**This is a raw draft of Bitter Confessions. Please do not share or distribute.