Page 121 of Silk and Sirens

Pulling out his phone, he typed quickly and held it up so I could read. What the fuck is that? And why does it have a bow on its head?

I shifted the squirming puppy higher in my arms. “Caden’s birthday present,” I explained as if it was obvious. “I don’t have access to his place, so I was hoping either you or Sebastian could take him home to surprise him.”

Langdon raised a single brow, his upper lip twitching. You got him a puppy?

“I didn’t know what to get him, and he told me he’d wanted a puppy when he was a kid but his mum, erm … Anyway, can you make sure he gets it?”

Langdon automatically accepted the puppy when I held it out to him, his smile growing when the little terror licked him across the face.

“Thank you for the other day,” I said quietly, glancing at the bouncer before retuning my gaze to Langdon. “I know I’m not your favourite person right now, but I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t been there.”

Shifting the puppy to his left arm, Langdon typed with one hand, the screen lighting up his face. How’s your friend?

“He’s okay,” I replied, knowing Fletcher had already discharged himself from the hospital the moment he came out of surgery. “He’ll live.”

Langdon nodded, scratching behind the puppy’s ears as it tried to climb up his shoulder. He typed again, slower this time.

You should stay away from Caden.

I read it slowly, twice before replying. “I know.”

He studied me for a long moment, the puppy now contentedly chewing on his collar.

He’s different with you. I haven’t decided if that’s good or bad yet.

“I’m sorry. For everything.” I pressed a kiss to the puppy’s nose, his tail wagging excitedly. “Will you make sure he gets it?”

Langdon cocked his head, watching me with those eyes of amber.

Then after a moment, he nodded.

Chapter 50

Caden

Selene Blackwater crossed her legs, her posture straight as she glanced between me and Sebastian. “Caden, I see you’ve been keeping my daughter busy these last few days,” she said tightly.

I shared a look with Sebastian. “What do you want, Selene?”

A smirk formed. “I thought it would be appropriate to iron out the wrinkles of the alliance before the wedding, don’t you?”

“Is that what you’re expecting?” Sebastian pretty much vibrated in his chair, his desk the only thing separating them. “An alliance?”

“Well of course.” Her smile grew. “Why would I have gone through so much trouble, otherwise?”

She didn’t seem bothered about our masks, sitting in Sebastian’s office like a queen before her court. She’d brought two guards with her, and I eyed them while Sebastian ran the meeting. Neither were Renley, and I was actually glad.

I didn’t know if I’d be able to control myself.

“So let me get this straight,” Sebastian continued, his rage barely contained. “You want Caden to marry your daughter, allow her to take the Ackworth name, and use our reputation to prop up your non-existent empire?”

“A reputation you stole,” Selene shot back, her tone sharpening.

“Please,” I grunted. “Your father was an old has-been cunt long before we even started making powder.”

Selene’s expression hardened, but she kept her composure with visible effort. “My family’s name was the foundation of the entire drug trade in this country. You stand on his legacy.”

“Is that what you believe?” he said before changing to French. “She’s delusional.”