AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Though that’s not what Charlotte wants. I hate that Winston asked me not to tell her about McTiernan. She deserves to know what’s happening…
“You should go. Be at the apartment when your wife gets home,” Winston encourages, his voice pulling me from my thoughts.
“Yeah, I’m out of here.” I’m about to pass my brother by as I exit the office when I pause right in front of him, giving in to my impulses.
I hug my brother.
“Thank you, Winny,” I tell him. “For watching out for my girl.”
He slaps me on the back then pushes me away. “I’m putting an extra security watch at your building. I don’t trust that motherfucker.”
I grin at him, pleased that he would do that for us. “Me either. Though I dare that ass to try and walk into my house. I’ll fuck him up.”
“In front of your wife and the overprotective butler? I’d love to see you try.”
Shit. He’s kind of got me there.
***
By the timeI’m entering the apartment, relief smacks me square in the chest when I spot my wife sitting on the floor, petting Doja who’s sitting in front of her.
“You’re a good girl, right? Such a good, pretty girl,” Charlotte croons, rubbing the cat under her chin. Doja is purring so loud I can hear the low hum. It’s a nice sound.
And a nice sight. One I’d love coming home to every night—my beautiful wife safe and secure, spending time with her cat.
Leaning against the wall, I cross my arms and study them, wondering if she can sense I’m in the room with her. I always seem to feel her presence when she shares the same space with me.
Can she feel me?
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” she finally asks, her back to me.
There’s my answer. She does sense me.
“I like watching you with Doja.”
Charlotte glances over her shoulder, frowning. “What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?” I push away from the wall and approach her. “Why do you ask?”
“You look upset.” She turns, keeping her focus on the cat. “You sound it too.”
My wife is too perceptive. “Rough day. Found out a few things.”
“Like what?”
I decide to join her on the floor, sitting across from her with Doja in between us. The cat rubs her face against my knee and I scratch the top of her head. “Hard to explain.”
“Really?” Her gaze finds mine, skepticism in her tone. “I’m a smart person, Perry. I can understand plenty of things.”
I want to tell her so damn bad. Fuck Winston’s warning. He might keep things from Ash, but I refuse to keep anything from Charlotte.
“I never said you weren’t smart.” I’m startled when Doja walks onto my lap and curls up, her eyes falling closed. Funny how I used to think I hated cats. “The private detective found him. He’s here. First spotted in Brooklyn. Was making his way to the Halcyon building when they lost him.”
I don’t need to explain whoheis. As my wife just said, she’s smart. She understands plenty of things.
“They lost him?” Charlotte sounds as disgusted as I feel. “Did Winston fire them?”
I chuckle. “Guess it was the detective’s son who lost him. Hard to fire your family.”
