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She smirks. “I can go home. It’s not late.”
“Stay, get some rest. I imagine you need it after days of worrying about Mae.” I begin to unfasten my shirt. “You take the bathroom first. Your face is a mess, all that crying and shit,” I say playfully, and she laughs again.
“You’re a secret gentleman.”
“Don’t tell anyone. All the girls will want a piece.”
Piper looks back at me from the bathroom doorway. “If we’re sticking to the plan, you’re off the market.” Then she disappears inside.
I stare at the closed door. The plan seemed like a good idea, but the more time I spend with Piper, the more I want to turn my plan into a reality. The thought unsettles me.
I don’t sleep a wink. The sound of Piper’s light breathing keeps me awake. I picture holding her while she sleeps, and I try to imagine how she would feel lying naked in my arms.
My mobile buzzes to life and I snatch it up before it wakes Piper. It’s Michael, so I step out of the room onto the balcony. “Yeah?”
“I’ve got his right-hand man.” His voice is gruff.
“Lorenzo’s?” I ask. “How? Where?” We’ve been looking at Lorenzo’s close circle for months. Alexander disappeared as soon as Lorenzo did, and you can bet your life he knows exactly where Lorenzo is hiding out.
“Would you believe the fucker walked into a strip club in Essex?”
“Essex?” I repeat. “What the fuck are you doing in Essex? And where is he now?”
“I like Essex. He’s in the boot of my car.”
I take a minute to get my head straight. “You’re one weird motherfucker.” I sigh. “Okay, take him to the house. I’ll meet you there.”
I disconnect the call and dial Hulk’s number. I could take it directly to Ace, but after everything he’s been through, I’m sure he needs a good night’s sleep, and I want an excuse to piss off Hulk. “What the fuck are you calling me for?” he snaps as soon as he answers. “It’s four in the morning.”
“Do you think I’d be calling you if it wasn’t important? I’d much rather be in my bed with your beautiful lady.”
“You’re with Piper?” he growls, and I smile to myself. I want him to suffer.
“I bet you’re regretting passing her up right now, big man.”
“Fuck you, Anton, you piece of shit. I’ll get her back if it’s the last thing I ever do. She loves me, you prick. All I have to do is click my fingers and she’ll be on her knees.” He’s riled, and it satisfies me.
“But now I’ve taken her, she belongs to me. If you take her, I’ll have to kill you, and we both know you don’t value Piper enough to risk your life.”
“She’ll never be with you, Anton. She loves me.”
“Not what she was saying just an hour ago, my friend. When Ace is up to it, tell him I have one of the packages we’ve been searching for. It’s not the main one, but it may lead us there.” I disconnect the call.
“You have someone connected to Lorenzo?” Piper gasps from behind me.
“You shouldn’t be listening in to people’s calls,” I say, turning to face her. Standing barefoot in my shirt, she is a sight to behold, and I crave her skin against my own.
“If you don’t want me to hear private calls, then you shouldn’t answer the phone.”
“I thought you were sleeping.”
“I was, but I had a dream and . . .” She stops and blushes, giving away that the dream involved me. “Never mind.”
I move towards her, and she backs up until she’s standing at the foot of the bed. “You need to get some sleep. I’ll send a driver to collect you in a few hours.” I pull back the sheets, and she climbs back into bed.
I dress quickly. “Anton, how will the plan work between us?”
“What do you mean?” I ask.
