"The police need you to fill out some paperwork on the break-in, and you need to pick up your cat. I have a last-minute meeting with Greg McDowell first thing tomorrow morning, so I fly out to L.A later today."
"Alright." I glance at the time. "I'll see you before lunch."
"Perfect. Safe travel, and I'll see you later," Miles says, then ends the call.
I finish dressing then head for the bathroom. After taking care of business, I head downstairs toward the kitchen, where I find Cat along with the Kings' women placing trays of food onto the large farm-style table where the men and Cat's grandpa sit drinking coffee. I make a beeline for my woman, who is warming pancake syrup in the microwave. I snake my arm around herwaist, brush her long hair to the side and kiss her neck. "Morning."
"Hey."
"You should have woken me sooner." I breathe her in.
"You were sleeping so well." She spins to face me. "I planned on waking you to eat." She smiles, then I kiss her. The microwave dings, and I reach around her, taking the syrup from inside.
Quinn rubs his hands together the moment I set the syrup on the table, then snatches it. "She warms the syrup first. You're a lucky motherfucker, Easton." He bobs his head while pouring it onto his stack of pancakes. "You know you've found a queen when a woman goes out of her way to feed you like a king. Take it from me." Before he stabs into his food, Quinn turns to Emerson, grabs her chin, and smashes his lips with hers. "I speak from experience."
Emerson rolls her eyes yet smiles. "You're impossible."
"Yeah, but you love me." Quinn shoves a forkful of food in his mouth.
Jake clears his throat. "I think we'll be heading out today."
I pile some bacon on my plate. "What time?"
"Late afternoon," he tells me.
"Good. I need to make a drive to Seattle after breakfast." I turn to Cat. "What's your pet policy? I need to swing by Miles' place after dealing with paperwork at the police station to get Gizmo."
Cat laughs softly. "Gizmo is more than welcome to stay with you here." Her forehead creased. "Does going to the police department have anything to do with your apartment break-in?" Shit. I didn't think when I mentioned that part. I close my eyes and wait for it.
"Break-in?" I hear the worry in Emerson's voice.
"Yeah. Someone trashed my apartment," I tell her.
"Is this linked to the stalker shit you're dealin' with?" Jake asks, and now I have every set of eyes on me.
I look to the ceiling. "They believe so."
"When you say 'they,' who are you referring to?" Emerson inquires.
"Lev, Miles, and the police. The place was trashed, but nothing looked to be taken, and there were no signs of forced entry," I explain.
"Didn't security footage pick up anything?" Reid asks.
I shake my head. "Nothing unusual."
"I don't like this." My sister frowns.
There's nothing I can say that will make her feel better. "Miles had someone go by and install cameras inside the apartment. If it happens again, we'll catch the person. In the meantime, I have men investigating and have full confidence in them that they will find who the culprit is—promise."
"I'm riding to Seattle with you," Cat states.
I twist in my seat and face Cat. "I don't want to put you in the middle of this mess."
"You're here, in my home, on vacation because of this obsessed person's threats," Cat folds her arm, and the action pushes her breast up. My eyes drop to her cleavage. "I'd say it puts me in the thick of it." I say nothing because she makes a valid point, and it makes me feel like shit.
"I just don't want to risk your safety," I tell her but realize by the look on her face Cat is determined to get her way.
"She's a Callaghan, son. Once we dig our heels in, you can all but guarantee you've lost the battle," her grandad says while buttering a biscuit. "My Cat is head-strong but also very resilient. I hold high regard for you wanting to protect her—it's what you should be doing. However, she can hold her own, too." His eyes land on me for a second. "Let her stand beside you, not behind."
