Page 31 of Lay It Bare

“Of course, or let him travel with you. Just don’t . . . send him off to another place on his own for a while. Who knows what might get into his head.”

“Right now, Rei is grounding him. As you saw. They work well together, they always have.”

“Your boy is special. He’s the only one he gets along with. I’d bring him home, but . . . lately Jonathan is the only one who doesn’t start spitting when they see him. I’m back at my estate.”

Sevastyan nodded. “So far, it’s been no trouble. I might have to leave him with Rei again with how things are blowing up in California, but I should never be gone long. I’ll make sure they can contact you in case of an emergency.”

“Does he still have his phone? I’ll message him so that my fox hears it directly from me.”

Sevastyan stood and checked. He found Lisa’s phone by the TV. It wouldn’t turn on. He found a plug. “Battery is drained. I have it charging.”

“Appreciated. He knows better than to let it die, but considering how ill he was . . .”

“Personally, I’m willing to let it slide,” Sevastyan said. “He was out of his mind, and he’s still on gentle foods and only awake for periods. If it happens again, I’ll discipline him.”

“Agreed.”

“One other thing,” Alexi said. “There are more rumbles about Dirk. You’re not the only one he’s pressuring. There was a meeting between him and the wife of the client your target killed. Someone in the Yadro is backing him.”

Sevastyan rubbed his chin. “Wonderful.”

Alexi shrugged. “Nothing about you has come up.”

Sevastyan nodded. “I may have a lead on a new artist that would be to your taste. I’ll send photos.”

“Which medium?”

“Etched steel and mixed medium.”

“I’m interested.”

Sevastyan said his goodbyes and checked the rest of his messages. He took care of those that could be handled quickly, foraged a stale croissant from the fridge, and wandered back towards the bedroom, typing with one thumb. Alexi might have been a pleasant call, but it had not come at an opportune time. He needed more sleep to function at his best. Perhaps he could catch a few more hours.

Lisa was awake, lying protectively over Rei’s sleeping body. Sevastyan frowned. Lisa tensed.

Sevastyan put his phone down and chewed the last of the croissant. He lay back on the bed. His stomach hurt with how tired he was. He closed his eyes. “You’ll be staying with us for the foreseeable future. Alexi just gave me full rights and responsibilities over you. Your phone is charging in the living room. Keep it charged from now on. He’ll be contacting you to tell you directly.”

It felt like there was something else he could do or say, but his head was throbbing and he was falling back into the greedy clutches of Morpheus. No, there was one more thing. “No traveling until Alexi or I give you permission. We won’t be giving it until you’re stronger.”

“I have to see Master Alexi in a month, for the chip.”

Sevastyan nodded. “I’ll remind him.”

“Should I go prep?” Lisa’s voice was terse, almost angry.

What would he be prepping for? They weren’t traveling any time soon. Sevastyan blinked his eyes back open and gazed at Lisa over Rei’s slowly breathing form. “Prep?”

Lisa jerked his hand towards his mid body.

Prep. Lube. Stretching. Things Lisa had not been doing.

Sevastyan blinked and shook his head. “No. But feel free to shoot anyone who comes through the door that’s not me or Rei. Unless it’s the fire department.”

“So I’m the guard dog, not the whore?” Lisa snarled.

Sevastyan’s eyes refused to stay open. Lisa as a guard dog was a good visual. Vicious. Angry. To the point. “Both can bathe in the blood of their enemies.”

There was no response. There should have been a response. But he couldn’t stay awake any longer. If anyone did try to come in, hopefully Lisa did shoot them dead.