“Wow,” she says when I finish. “This is guerrilla warfare shit. Gavin’s not messing around. So you have to wait for them to all die off before you can surface again? How long will that take?”
“I’m not sanctioning mass execution! We’re just taking away their power. Once they have nothing and can’t come after me, then I can come out of hiding.”
She rubs her temples. “Lily, these guys don’t stop until they’re in jail or dead. You can take their money, their guns, their drugs, and they’ll still break into your house with their bare hands to prove that they can.”
I point at my healing black eye. “I think I know that better than anyone, but I can’t just send Nigel in to kill them all. He needs to find Ash’s kid first.”
“Rafa,” she says with disgust. “I can’t believe that slimeball kidnapped a kid. How many chicks did he knock up in college? I can think of at least three girls he slept with who had abortions, and now he’s stealing kids. It makes no sense.” She shakes her head. “What are you going to do with him once you find him? Are you going to keep him?”
“No. After everything he’s been through, he needs stability, and I’m far from stable. I was thinking I’d see if Darlene wanted him. She is his grandmother. Plus, she never really had a chance with Ash. Franklin divorced her when they were still young and got full custody of Ash. She never saw him and was a complete non-factor in his life. If she were to get custody of Arrow, it would give her a second chance.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “You’re kidding? Arrow?”
I shrug. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t name the kid.”
She shakes her head. “I just don’t even know what to do with that, so I’m going to leave it alone. I think you’re right—Darlene’s a great choice. She’s still young, right?”
“She had Ash when she was seventeen. She’s definitely still young enough to handle a toddler.”
Em yawns then grabs the bottle of wine. “These chairs are putting my butt to sleep. Let’s go somewhere comfortable, preferably with a fireplace. This house is freezing!”
We slide the sofa in the study closer to the fire and bundle up with blankets and wine. We’re no longer sloppy drunk or overtly drunk; now we’re tired drunk. Closing my eyes, I lay my head on the arm of the sofa, listening to the cracking of the fire.
“Lil?” she asks, breaking the quiet.
“Yeah?”
“What should I do about Max?” She sounds so confused, genuinely lost.
I sigh and shift so I can see her better. “You need to talk to him. Be honest about what happened. He’s hurt, but I think he’ll understand.”
“Honest, huh?” she says as though the thought never occurred to her.
Em’s never had a real relationship. All of this is uncharted territory for her, and its hard watching her navigate it. But she brought Max in, and now they’re stumbling through it together. I hope neither of them gets hurt, but knowing how Em is and knowing how hard Max falls, I feel as though it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
“Yeah. But, Em?”
“Yeah?”
“You need to be honest, and it will help him feel better, but don’t get his hopes up unless there’s a reason for him to be hopeful. Don’t fuck with his emotions. He’s been through enough.”
“I’ll try,” she says in a somber tone. I genuinely believe she doesn’t want to hurt him, but I’m not sure she knows how to avoid it. “I just don’t know what I want.”
“Then don’t go to him until you do.”
The words hang in the air for some time. This is a big step for her, and only time will tell if she’s ready to take it.
“You do realize this is the first time you’ve ever actually admitted to there being something between you and Max,” I say.
“I wasn’t ready to admit it to myself. How could I possibly admit it to you?”
“Fair enough.”
“Hey, Lil?” she asks when I’m almost asleep.
“Yeah?” I say with a raspy voice.
“Just so you know, just because I haven’t asked doesn’t mean I don’t care. I figure everyone’s asking you all the time and you’re probably sick of talking about it. But if you want to talk, you know I’m here.”
“I know.” She didn’t have to say it, but I’m glad she did.
She tucks the blanket in a little more. “Hey, Lil?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Chapter Thirty
Gavin
Max’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I’d never wanted to run so fast or so far from something in my life. I can’t believe I proposed. What was I thinking? I’ve always known she doesn’t want to get remarried. Bloody hell, she’s still traumatized from the kidnapping and I push that on her? It’s not enough that I have her back safe and sound and starting to show signs of life again; I had to be a greedy bastard and ask for more? I’m a selfish prat!
Whatever this work crisis is, it’s a welcome distraction. Something to keep my mind busy and maybe even keep me out all night. By the time I get home, hopefully the awkwardness will have passed and we can just pretend it never happened.
Bronson’s waiting with a brolly the second we step outside the door. “Are you sure you want to go, sir? Isaac said he has it under control.”
I look back and forth between him and Max. “I thought you said it was imperative?”
Max shrugs. “It’s possible Isaac’s message came in just as I saw Em’s car pull up, and maybe I didn’t read it as carefully as I should have. Once I read the words ‘possible hack,’ I saw an out, and I took it. From the looks of things between you and Lily, you needed a lifesaver too, so quit your bitching and be thankful I gave you an easy escape.” He punches my arm. “That’s what friends are for.”
He’s right; sitting with Lily, Emily, and the huge elephant in the room would have been bloody awkward. I feel like a coward walking away with my tail between my legs, but my pride’s already been shredded once today. What’s another slice at this point?
“Thanks.” I slide into the backseat. After Bronson drives away, I ask, “What was that back there between you and Em?” I turn my head so I can watch his response.
He waves me off. “Not going there. It’s Em. I’m sure you can do the math.” He taps my arm. “What was up between you and Lily?”
“Not going there.” There’s no way I’m telling Max what just transpired between us.
Max makes a show of adjusting his crotch. “I feel like our man cards are firmly intact.”
From his heartbroken expression when he saw Em, I think he’s as devastated as I am, but we’re men. We don’t discuss such matters unless copious amounts of scotch are involved, and even then, it’s never spoken of again. So we ride silently, our man-card integrity preserved.
When we pull into the car park, Isaac and Nigel are waiting.
“Fuuuuckk,” Max says when he sees them. “When they wait for you in the parking garage, you know it’s trouble. If Nigel’s here too, it must be bad.”
My mind races with all the potential scenarios that could be at play. I put my hand on the door handle. “There’s only one way to find out.” I step out of the car. “Gentlemen.”
Isaac looks at me strangely. “Sir? I wasn’t expecting you.”
I gesture to Nigel. “If you’ve brought Nigel in, whatever’s going on must be about my personal matters.”
“The firewall infiltration was shut down moments after I sent out the alert. The matter’s been resolved. There was really no reason for you to come in,” Isaac replies.
I want to be pissed at Max for hauling me down here unnecessarily, but I can’t be. I motion to Nigel. “What are you doing here then?”
He smirks. “That lovely chickadee that I have to see when I take out a prototype to play around with.”
“Freya?”
He waggles his eyebrows. “That’s the one.”
Sighing, I sh
ake my head. “Do not shag my employees please. I have enough to deal with already without you starting a broken hearts’ sorority in my office.”
“I promise nothing.” He pulls his keys out of his pocket. “I have to get back. Something major’s going down in Mexico. I’ll ring you later and fill you in.”
I motion to the lift. “Since I’m here, let’s go up, and you can fill me in on everything that’s been going on.”
The three of us take the lift to my office, and for the next hour, Isaac fills me in on everything I’ve missed. My life may be in chaotic shambles, but the company is running quite smoothly. Once I’ve heard all the news that’s fit to print, I send Isaac home. He’s been burning the candle at both ends and deserves a night off. As he leaves, Max pours us both a drink.
“Mr. Edwards,” Mrs. Smythe chimes in through the intercom.
“Mrs. Smythe, I’m in a meeting.”
“Isaac just left, so I know all Edwards business is concluded.”
I rub my eyes with the heels of my hands. Mrs. Smythe’s furious with me that I’ve taken so much time off to be with Lily, and she has no qualms letting me know it. If I didn’t need her to keep everything running like a well-oiled machine, I’d sack her. “I’m not actually working right now, but what is it?”
“There’s a Mr. Giovanni Grimaldi on the line for you. He claims it’s urgent and in regards to your business in New York. I don’t have a Grimaldi listed as a contact on any of our projects in New York, but you’ve spent so little time in the office, I wasn’t sure if I’d missed someone.”
Max taps my elbow. “That’s Lorenzo’s nephew, the heir apparent. Take the call.” He rubs his hands. “This is getting interesting.”
I push the button on the intercom. “Put him through please. And, Mrs. Smythe, it’s late. Go home.”
“Keep it on speakerphone,” Max whispers. “I want to hear.”
The tone sounds, announcing the call is connected.
“Hello, this is Gavin Edwards.”
“Wow, I didn’t actually expect to get you at this hour. I thought I’d just leave a voicemail. My name is Gio Grimaldi. I believe you knew my great uncle, Lorenzo.”
I lean forward in my seat. “I was so sorry to hear about his passing. My deepest sympathies to you and your family.”
“Thank you. The reason I’m calling is I’m trying to get in touch with Lily Clark. It’s my understanding she’s your girlfriend. Am I right about that?”
I set my drink on the table. “Yes, how can I help you?”
“My uncle left something for her with the instructions that it was to be delivered in person, but I couldn’t find her contact information in my uncle’s things. I’ll be in London for business this week. Would it be possible for you to arrange a meeting for us while I’m in town?”
Max pushes the mute button. “Lily’s supposed to be dead, remember?”
“She’ll want to meet him though. This would be important to her.”
Max narrows his eyes. “You’re supposed to protect her from herself, and that means stopping her from blowing her cover by meeting with gangsters when she’s supposed to be dead.”
“There has to be a balance. What if whatever this thing is that Lorenzo left her makes her happy? Doesn’t she deserve a little happiness?”
“Mr. Edwards?” Gio calls. “Have we lost our connection?”
I push the mute button. “No, I’m still here. This week is a bit hectic. Could I possibly ring you later after I have a better handle on my schedule?”
“After you check me out and make sure I’m not a threat?” he says with a laugh.
“That too,” I reply.
“I respect that. I’d do the same thing. The nature of this life.”
“Too right,” I reply. I’m surprised he’s giving away these subtle hints. Either he’s testing me, or he already trusts me.
“Look,” he says in a more serious tone, “I don’t know anything about the nature of Lily’s relationship with my uncle or what’s in this package for her. He was a secretive man, and I respected that. But because Lily was important to him, she’s important to me. That’s how my family works.”
I believe him. I’m still going to have Roger check him out, but I believe him. “I’ll be in touch later tonight. I know Lily will be happy to see you.”
After the line disconnects, Max asks, “So what are you going to do?”
I lean back on the sofa, threading my fingers behind my head. “Let Lily decide. We agreed that whatever steps we take next, we’ll do it together. No secrets. No hidden missions. I have to respect that.”
He rolls his eyes. “And when you ‘decide’ she shouldn’t see him and she runs off and does it anyway, then what?”
“Lily’s going to do what Lily wants to do. We’re fools if we think otherwise. We can try to change her and lose her, or embrace it and keep her.”
“If only it were easier,” Max says.
I look at him. “You have no idea.” My stomach growls, interrupting the awkward moment. “Go home for dinner or eat out?”
“With Em there? Let’s eat out.” He rubs his stomach as though it’s a crystal ball that will tell him where to eat. “Some place the chicks would never go. Strip club?”
“God, no,” I reply. “You may hate Em, but I actually love Lily and we have enough problems right now. I don’t need to invite more.”
“Fine,” he says as he shrugs into his jacket. “But someplace no chick would want to be.”
After a short walk, we’re seated on the cigar balcony of Boisdale. The server stops by to take our orders. I rarely indulge in cigars—partly because Lily hates their smell—but they were a staple in my house when I was growing up, so I select cigars we’ll both enjoy.
Max looks around, shaking his head. “Dude, I wanted to go someplace where I wouldn’t think of Em. This is, like, her ideal place. Live piano, view of the water, a huge steak, a cigar, and a martini? She’d be in heaven.”
“You said you didn’t want to be around women.” I motion to the rest of the cigar balcony. “Look, no women.”
He zips up his jacket. “Yeah, but I’m freezing my ass off. At least in a strip club it’d be hot and sweaty.”
“Don’t be such a pussy! It’s not even that cold out!” I shrug out of my jacket.
The server returns with our scotch and cigars. She cuts the tip and lights Max’s cigar.
He looks at me with wide eyes. “So fucking hot,” he mouths.
After she lights my cigar, Max and I sit back and enjoy the moment.
“You’re going to reek when you get home. Lily’s going to love that,” he says.
I take a puff and blow it out. “It won’t matter. She’s already going to keep her distance.” I hold up the cigar. “If I’m in the doghouse, I might as well do something enjoyable.”
“Damn straight. No more talking about chicks for the rest of the night. Sound good?”
I hold up my drink. “Cheers to that, mate.”
Max takes a puff but inhales too much and has a coughing fit. We’re midway through our steaks when our mobiles ring.
My fork slips through my fingers as I read the text. I look up to find our server. “Check please.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Lily
Gavin never came home last night. Well, if he did, I never saw him. Em and I slept in the study until around one, when I woke up and convinced her we should go to our rooms. While my anxiety in general is decreasing, even when Gavin’s away, having him gone all night makes me toss and turn. It’s possible my anxiety has less to do with my kidnapping and more to do with the way he and I left things, but I’m not sure if the reason matters. I miss him, and I’m plagued with regret. I don’t need to be married to have him, but I also don’t want to lose him because of it. My opinion hasn’t changed, but I wonder if I’m being hasty.
Around seven, I abandon trying to sleep and trudge downstairs in search of breakfast. Apparently Hazel’s concerned ab
out how much weight Gavin’s reported I’ve lost, and thus stocks the house with the most delectable sweets from around London. Today and yesterday morning, she’s brought in fresh chocolate almond croissants from Gail’s Bakery. I know from experience that those sell out minutes after the bakery opens. People wait in line to be the lucky ones to get them before they disappear. I feel as though I should tell her she doesn’t have to go through so much effort for me, but then I take a bite and am lost in food orgasm bliss. She’s been busy trying to run the house and take care of her sick sister, so our paths have yet to cross, so I write a quick thank you note and send myself a text reminding me to order something nice for her.
As I’m walking back to my room, I hear arguing in the study. From the hall, I can see the whole team is there. Gavin and Max are wearing last night’s clothes, and all of them look ragged. What the hell’s going on? Realizing I’m braless in my PJs, I pause before going in. But when I catch a glimpse of Gavin’s face, I know something’s very wrong. These guys know everything about me as it is—what’s a little nipple exposure through my T-shirt? I make a mental note to buy more PJs with bra-tops while we have the A-Team staying with us.
The moment I walk into the room, I want to walk back out. The air is thick with stress and the looming feeling of gloom, and it’s obvious something is most definitely wrong. Gavin and Nigel are whispering in a corner. When my eyes find Gavin’s, he looks away. I stand in the middle of the room and look around, but no one will meet my gaze. All of a sudden, their newspaper or tablet holds something so enthralling they can’t look up.
I put my hands on my hips and say, “Someone tell me what the hell is going on.”
Gavin walks toward me, but Max gets to me first. “Have a seat, Slugger.”
I glare at him. “You know when you tell someone to have a seat, that’s code for ‘this is going to be bad,’ which just creates more anxiety. I’d rather you just tell me than tap dance around it.”
“Luv,” Gavin starts.
Nigel interrupts him. “I’m leader of this mission. I should be the one to explain.”
“Someone start explaining,” I say through gritted teeth.
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