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“Maybe,” I said, grinning down at her.
She pulled my arms around her tighter. I immediately felt her mood shift and knew she was going to apologize for keeping me away from work for the last two weeks. “Don’t think about apologizing, Sephie.”
“I like it much better when you guys don’t scold me so much,” she said. I could hear her smiling, so I knew she was teasing.
“Then maybe don’t apologize so much for stuff you shouldn’t apologize for,” Andrei said from the kitchen. I did not expect that from him and couldn’t contain my laughter. Thankfully, neither could Sephie.
“I’m regretting that pinky swear right about now,” she said quietly, so only I could hear.
“He’s not wrong, love. And you know he’s not wrong,” I said with my lips against her ear, brushing my facial hair against her cheek and neck.
“That’s why it hurts right here,” she said dramatically, pointing to her chest, right over her heart.
The following afternoon, I had a meeting with the police commissioner. Sephie and I had discussed her being there for the meeting before she went back to the doctor and found out she had pneumonia. I wanted her to stay in the penthouse, but she was trying to convince me that she could still make it.
“I slept the entire night and half the day already. I can manage to stay awake for at least an hour while you meet with him. You said you wanted me there to make sure he wasn’t hiding anything. I can still do that. I don’t even have to talk,” she said.
Ivan looked between her and I. “Boss, as much as I hate to agree with her right now, I think she’s right. If we’re going to try to pin everything on Ricardo, we need to make sure that Henry is with us. It’s probably going to mean that she’ll sleep until tomorrow, but we kind of need her for this meeting.”
“That’s why Squish is my favorite,” she said, crossing her one useful arm across her chest for emphasis.
I had to admit that I also agreed with Ivan, but I hated the thought of putting Sephie through the meeting when I knew she didn’t feel well. She had taken a turn for the worse because she was trying to do too much too soon. I was worried this would set her back even further.
“He’s coming here, right?” she asked.
“Yeah, nobody liked the idea of Boss going to the police precinct,” Viktor said.
“I can’t argue with that either. Then I just have to go downstairs for like an hour. Two at most. Then right back up here to pass out again for days on end. At least let me have a change of scenery for the two hours I’m awake right now,” she said.
I sighed. “You tell me if you start to feel tired or worse, got it?” I looked at her as sternly as possible, which wasn’t much.
“I promise,” she said. “I’ll just give Ivan the signal. He can carry me back up here without you having to stop your meeting.” She paused for a moment, grinning. “Just as long as you promise me you’ll make up some fantastical excuse as to why I had to leave. I will also accept something nonsensical, like ‘no one can escape their destiny.’’
“That makes me want to take you out of the middle of the meeting whether you need to leave or not, princess,” Ivan said, laughing.
“Do antibiotics usually work this fast? Because it seems like you’re feeling a little better already, Seph,” Stephen said.
“I’m not sure, but whatever keeps me from having to go back to the hospital, I’m all for,” she said.
Before we went down to my office for the meeting with the police commissioner, I had a few moments alone with Sephie while I helped her change into something other than my sweatshirt and a pair of leggings.
“I hope nothing is riding on me looking extra professional today,” she said, grinning at me as I cut the sleeve off one of her long-sleeve shirts so she could wear it.
“I would really worry about the state of the world if it was,” I said, smirking at her. As much as I hated to admit it, I was happy she was going to be in the meeting with me. I was still worried about her, but I couldn’t deny that I valued her opinion of Henry. I’d always had a good relationship with him, but after everything that had happened, I was questioning every single working relationship I had. I wouldn’t trust anyone that didn’t get the okay from Sephie first.
“How long have you known Henry?” she asked as I helped her pull on a pair of jeans. She was getting much better at putting her leggings on, but the jeans were tighter and proving to be difficult for her with only one arm and broken ribs.
“He’s been commissioner for almost four years now. The mayor appointed him when he was elected. They’re basically both running for re-election. If the mayor is re-elected, then Henry stays in. His position isn’t guaranteed if a new mayor is elected,” I said.
“So, this deal with Ricardo would look good for the mayor and would help him get elected for a second term?”
“That’s what we’re hoping they’ll think. There are some people in the city that know about me and can recognize me, but there are many that have no idea I exist. They just know that things are not good in their area and want a solution. If the mayor can package this up as a sweeping reform on crime, the people will gladly vote him in for a second term,” I said, helping her with her shirt as well. I gathered her hair up and lifted it off her neck, so I could kiss the back of her neck. “Are you sure you’re going to be warm enough in just this?”
She handed me her sling, so I could help her strap her arm back in. “I’m trying to be cold on purpose. It’ll help keep me awake,” she said, grinning at me. I clicked my tongue at her, to which she responded by making her eyes go dark.
I cursed under my breath. “That is not playing fair,” I said as I pulled her as tight against me as I could. I leaned down and kissed her passionately, trying to make her knees go weak. My tongue didn’t give her the choice to deny me entry into her mouth. Not that she would have anyway. Even though I was trying to make her knees go weak, I was still fighting against my desire to completely devour her. When I felt her falter, I deepened the kiss for a moment more until she moaned not so quietly against my lips.
She stepped back from me, a little more out of breath than I thought she would be. “You win,” she said, still trying to catch her breath. It took her longer to catch her breath than it should have, which worried me. “I’m okay,” she said in between breaths. “Just let me sit for a second.” I helped her to the edge of the bed, kneeling in front of her. She didn’t let go of my arm while she worked to catch her breath.
