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Nero grunts. “I’ll get credit cards with your name on them, but anything you need, just tell me.”
I bite my lip. Living here is one thing. Being handed a credit card, with a limit I’m sure I can’t even imagine… that’s something else.
Nero slaps me on the ass, before rolling away from me and out of bed. “I’m sure you’ll stay busy.”
I follow him off the comfortable mattress, thinking about what I’ll do all day while he’s gone. “Will I need to feed them?”
“Them?”
“The bodyguards,” I clarify.
“No. You just ignore them.”
I frown but take the hand Nero holds out to me. “Seems rude.”
“They’re here to work, not drop their guard over sandwiches.” He opens the door, leading me out into the hall. “And they’ll be outside.”
“All day?” It’s nearing winter, leaving them in the elements feels ruder than ignoring them.
“Trust me, Sweet Girl, walking the perimeter of our yard is the best gig they’ve ever had. I pay better than the mercenary companies most of them came from, and there aren’t a bunch of fucking terrorists trying to blow them up everyday.”
“That’s something, I guess,” I concede. “But don’t they get cold?” I can’t help but ask, even as my eyes dart around as we walk through the house.
I’m pretty sure this is a different stairway than the one we took last night.
“I’ll give you a tour of the property when I get back, so you can see that they have their own, whole ass house, on the far side of the garage, with plenty of heat and food.”
“Seriously?” I glance at him before focusing back on the steps.
“Most places with round the clock security do. The number will change when we need to bump it up, like right now, but there’s always at least four guys working on staggered ten-day shifts. So it’s easier, and more secure, for them to live here.” He pulls me to a stop when we reach the bottom of the steps. “And if you need them, all you have to do is open a door and scream. Their most important job now is protecting you, and they know it.” He uses his free hand to tip my chin up. “Understand?”
“I understand.”
Nero presses his lips to mine. Just once. But I’m nearly panting when he pulls away. “Now, for your surprise.”
I blink. I’d completely forgotten about the surprise.
“What…?”
A jangle. A little metallic jangle sounds from somewhere in the house. And my heart stops.
Nero whistles, and the jangling gets louder. Accompanied by the unmistakable sound of doggie claws on hard floors.
“You didn’t?” I gasp, and my eyes are already filling with tears before the most beautiful creature rounds the corner.
“Oh my god, Nero,” I sink to my knees. “You didn’t.”
The dog’s wide chestnut eyes dart between Nero and myself as he approaches. He’s covered in a wiry light brown coat and the cutest white paws. He’s somewhere between the size of a lap dog and a Labrador, his thinness making him seem a little smaller than he really is.
“Hi, little guy. Or girl,” I whisper, holding one of my hands out for him to sniff.
“He’s a he.”
His tail, covered in the same brown fur, gives a tentative wag, and I nearly choke on a sob.
“What’s his name?” I can’t stop myself from whispering, worried that talking too loudly will scare him away.
“Doesn’t have one.” Nero lowers himself to a crouch beside me. “But I was thinking he might look like a Toto.”
