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Delphine sits in the middle of the wreckage. While I was out visiting Lucius, I had several of my men keeping a closer eye than usual on the compound. Lucius knew what he was doing coming by in the middle of the day when half of my guys were otherwise occupied.
Stitches told me all about what happened—they broke into my loft on such short notice, Delphine had been wandering around in nothing but one of my shirts. They’d shoved her out of the way. They’d punched Stitches and broken his glasses.
Just walking through the front door and seeing the damage they’ve done boils my blood all over again.
I clench my jaw and stride over to where Delphine sits on the sunken-in sofa. Right away I can tell she’s upset. A deep frown is etched onto her face and her gaze is stuck on the living room window. I take my seat next to her, slipping an arm around her shoulders, and pressing a kiss to her cheek.
“It’ll never happen again,” I say. “I’m putting in more security measures. Recruiting some more men. Switching up the shifts so we have more balance during the day. They’re never going to come by here again... and if they do, I’ll take them out myself.”
“Your father sent them?” she asks.
“He was searching for something I have that he wants.”
“They tore up everything. Salt and Pepa are terrified. They’re hiding in the hamper and won’t come out.”
My jaw only clenches harder. “It shouldn’t’ve happened. My piece of shit father knew to come by when I wasn’t here. But you and the cats weren’t supposed to be involved. Whatever they damaged, I’ll replace. Tell me what will make you feel better.”
“I’m not sure...”
A couple seconds go by. I study Delphine and pick up on a difference of behavior. It’s more than being shaken by Lucius’s men storming in and wrecking the loft. Her brows are drawn together and the slight wrinkle in her nose tells me she’s thinking. When she spoke, she did so in a flat tone, her stare distant.
Something else is wrong. Something I’m unaware of.
“Phi, what else happened?”
“These past few months have been some of the most confusing of my life,” she says, sighing. “I haven’t felt like myself in a long time. I haven’t been... thinking like myself.”
I stare at her. “What are you trying to say?”
“There have been things I normally would have questioned,” she says, her brows knitting closer. Her bottom lip catches between her teeth. “You’ve really helped me through this period. I’m not sure how I would’ve fared without you. I don’t think I would’ve managed long. I was falling apart before you stepped in.”
I still don’t have a clue where she’s going with this, but I can sense the sullen mood. Whatever she has to say probably isn’t what I want to hear. Lucius’ men busting into the loft and destroying everything might’ve been a step too far for her—the moment had to be alarming. It’s probably left her feeling unsafe.
But then I notice her fiddling with her rose necklace, and it still seems like something else.
Did her father call her up and convince her to leave? She’s been talking to him more these past few days.
“Something Stitches said the other day stuck out to me.”
“Care to share what?”
Her eyes flick up to mine. Pretty brown eyes that have a slight golden tint this close up. Normally, I’d be enjoying looking into them, but it’s different when there’s a questioning gleam staring back at me.
“I ran into Chadwick at the park. Chadwick being Chadwick had a hard time understanding I wasn’t interested. Stitches told me it’s something I must experience often—men asking me out. He said it’s no wonder you’ve kept a close eye on me.”
“He meant these past few months have been concerning.”
“Is that what he meant? Are you sure?”
“What else would he mean? You seem to be asking a question with a specific answer in mind, Phi. Cut the bullshit and tell me what’s this about?”
“I’m not bullshitting anything, Jon. You asked what’s on my mind. I’m telling you. His comment came back to me today. It made me realize I’ve overlooked things. You’ve reappeared so suddenly into my life, I should’ve found it odd you were so familiar with me.”
“That tends to happen when you’ve been with someone. Time may have passed, but I still know you. I can read you better than anybody else.”
“You knew I don’t take time off work. How would you know that?”
It clicks where this is going—the how and why she’d be bringing this up now. One glance around my loft is enough to cause a headache. Lucius’ men destroyed it top to bottom. Every last room has been torn apart.
