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I stopped. “Was he?”
“Uh-huh.” Charlie revs into gear like an old sports car ready for its final run. “She had a flyer in her hand. Some fancy building or other. Something something shit hot academy.” He shrugs.
“Olsen Academy.” The corners of my mouth lift. “Did she see you?”
Charlie’s flush deepens. “Yes, sir.”
“Hmm. Did she say anything?”
“She said she’ll call you?” he offers, taking a step back. “I like breathing. And working for Dom,” he adds, like a teen’s afterthought, the words running in the wrong order through his head and out his mouth.
“I see. Well, Dom seems to like you too. And I think you’re a good addition to my household. If you’d like to stay, then I require something from you.”
“Anything.” His eager eyes reflected a hopeful youth, the sort I’ve never been under my father’s tutelage.
“Silence.” I lean forward until my nose brushes the tip of his.
Charlie dances on his toes, but he manages not to make a sound.
“Good. That’s a start. Tell no one about S—the lady and Roman. I will deal with this myself. Is that clear?”
“No one?” He jiggles on the plush carpet.
“No one.”
“Not even Dom?”
“Especially not Dom.” I bet he lasts an hour, no more. I won’t punish the boy, only train him. But he doesn’t need to know that.
“Okay.” His flush lightens and I file that little tell from the lying boy away.
“Good. Off you go.” I watch him traipse down the hall and disappear straight into Dom’s room, holding back a laugh.
Okay, so an hour clearly is expecting too much.
Shaking my head I pull out my phone and check the first message from an unknown number, though it’s not hard to guess who it’s from.
Sonja: Roman is safe. I’ll tell you when he’s in the school. Lady Sonja.
I smile and type back quickly.
Rafe: Thank you, Sonja. Ensure he has all he needs. My account will be on record.
Sonja: Will do.
And just like that, Roman’s education and security, perhaps even a fresh future for the boy, is sorted. I tuck my phone into my pocket and hold myself still, considering. His security only remains so if his whereabouts stay unknown. Which means keeping his location a secret from all parties. Already, Charlie has an idea, and Sonja, though I worry less about the formidable redhead with every minute. Dom emerges from his room and strides slowly toward me, his face dark and fixed.
Fine, four people know of Roman’s location. And it’s staying that way. Willow can’t know, because she’ll move heaven and earth to see him and that will tip off all those watching us.
And there are many eyes on this house.
I don’t need to punish Charlie as Dom will on my behalf, and the experience will be more powerful coming from someone he respects more than from me.
I wonder, between Willow, Dom, and myself, who wears the pants.
****
Willow has tenacity. That reach extends to both her mind and her body apparently, because when she sits to dinner, she winces twice.
