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“I figured that was coming. You sick?” he teased, knowing I’d never been sick a day since he’d been hired. Even if I was, I’d work through it.
“Very funny. Just have a few things I need to take care of that can’t wait.”
“Is this the thing you might need my help with?”
I closed my eyes, trying to put together a plan. If Dante or any of his men had left town, I’d need to act quickly, including convincing Mike to get the hell out of the city. “Have Zach on call in case you need to bail.”
“Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” Stephen asked, although he knew how I worked. I rarely said anything until I had all the information.
“Not yet. Just handle the assignment for me.”
“Will do. Call me if you need anything.”
None of my team were into long conversations so when I ended the call abruptly, I knew he wouldn’t give a shit.
I tossed the phone on my dresser, moving to my closet. It was time to get out of these monkey clothes. Why was it I had the distinct feeling she’d entered my private space? There were no outward signs, but I could swear her scent lingered inside my closet. Funny how it didn’t make me angry, as if she belonged inside my room.
After returning the suit and tie to the hangers, tossing the shirt into the laundry basket, I slid into a clean pair of jeans and a Henley shirt, retrieving the weapon from my jacket pocket. I checked the magazine for the fourth time of the day, ensuring I had enough ammunition.
Now it was time to find out how the hell she’d gotten through security so I could plug the hole. After throwing on boots, I opened the door. What caught me by surprise was that whatever music she’d been listening to was now coming through the speakers in the living room. Hell, even I hadn’t figured out all the features since purchasing it a few months ago.
Granted, there hadn’t been a need to turn it on. Why bother?
I found her in the kitchen, the mess from before cleaned up, the smell even more delicious. She was adding shellfish to the sauce, humming to the sounds of some metal band. As soon as I moved closer, she tensed, the sound of her sucking in her breath heard over the heady drumbeats.
“I hope you’re not allergic to shrimp, scallops, or mussels.”
Jesus. What did the girl think this was, a romantic feast? I rubbed my jaw then moved to the fridge, shocked to find she’d stocked the fridge with other food, including purchasing the bottled beer I liked. “No. I’m not allergic. You did all this?”
She tipped her head, laughing likely from the look of shock on my face. “That’s what I told you before. Were you not listening?”
The truth was I had no clue what she’d said, I’d been so stunned at her appearance, but I couldn’t tell her that.
I popped the top on a beer, tossing it into the trash then noticed she hadn’t touched her wine. Grabbing a rag, I wiped the stem then refilled her glass. By the time I was finished, sliding the glass across the island, she was watching everything I did. “I heard what you said, Madisen, and I appreciate that you wanted to do something nice, but you can’t continue being reckless. The behavior could get you killed.”
“Fine. Were you serious about a burner phone and the requirements?”
“Yes.”
“I have a perfectly good phone. Why not use that one?”
“Because I want you to have a special ring, so you won’t be able to miss my call. It could save your life.”
She looked away, reaching for her wine. “Understood.”
“Good. Did you contact your brother?” I had a bad feeling I knew the answer. She’d seen the way Mike had reacted when I’d almost beaten the guy in the bar.
“No. I don’t know what to tell him. He’s not worried since I told him I left town.”
“Either you tell him, or I will.”
“Fine.”
“Not fine. Tell me yes, you will. He has a right to know.”
“Why? Because you two made a deal that I was untouchable? Is that why it’s such a big deal to you?”
We were getting nowhere. “He’s your brother, Madisen. He was the one who cheered you on when you were accepted to college. He was the one who worried when you didn’t call him after arriving at the campus. He was the dude who told me that you were too good for any of the men he’d ever met, including me. So yeah, it’s very important to me that he knows what’s going on.” I wasn’t at the point of telling her that if it was confirmed a hit had been placed on her life, I’d need to convince Mike to leave town. She didn’t need that baggage at this point.
