“Always the gentleman.”
She steps ahead without argument, giving me time to take in her appearance. She’s wearing blue designer jeans that hug her tight ass. An off-the-shoulder light jumper exposes her tanned shoulder. Her hair is scooped up in a messy bun, knotted at the base of her long neck. Her shoulders are back as she carries herself with an air of confidence. For someone who’s just flown in, she looks surprisingly refreshed. She’s one hundred per cent the powerful and assertive businesswoman. Although her underlying sassy attitude hasn’t changed, or at least where I’m concerned. Despite all the stress of the past couple of days, I realise I like that.
CHAPTER 12
ELIJAH
We leave my building in silence, heading out into the sunshine and busy lunchtime rush. I look over at the woman next to me.
What the hell is she doing here?
I know from my siblings she’s been finalising her wedding plans, had flown to the US last week. Not that I’ve been keeping tabs on her.
I curse Gabriel under my breath.
Who the hell does he think he is?
In fairness, I’ve no one to blame but myself. In an effort to rebuild bridges and reconnect, I was the one who confided in him, shared what was going on. What did I expect the most rational of my siblings to do? Sit around on his hands? He warned me. I just didn’t think he’d follow through.
His friendship with Pen is solid. She was the first person to bring him out of his shell. It’s recently emerged that Gabe, like Pen, is a gamer. As is Leah. Something else they all have in common.
It shouldn’t have surprised me. When I first brought Pen home, Gabriel found a kindred spirit, both intellectually brilliantand outside societal norms. She talked to him, got him building his own computer at thirteen, challenged him.
Pen takes off down a different street, and I turn to follow her.
“Care to tell me what that note was all about and why we couldn’t talk in my office?” I ask, calling after her.
Pen stops and looks at me. Her eyes scan our surroundings. I want to roll my eyes but refrain.
“Not here. Wait until we get to the restaurant. And for god’s sake, take that damn scowl off your face. You’re meeting a friend for lunch, not facing a firing squad.”
I open my mouth, but before I can say anything, she pushes me into an alleyway and reaches into her pocket. She presses me against the wall, her hand in the centre of my chest. An unexpected warmth radiates through my shirt, where her hand rests.
I stare at Pen as she pulls out a handheld device and switches it on.
“From what Gabriel said, you suspect espionage.”
“It seems like my brother dearest has said quite a lot.”
Pen looks up, her dark brown eyes locking on mine.
Fuck she’s serious.
I remain silent, wondering if I’m about to be pranked by a TV reality show.
“Elijah, concentrate,” she says.
“On what?” I ask.
The heaviness that has sat in my stomach and chest for the past two days returns with a vengeance.
“I don’t have time for this. I need to work, not play spy in whatever your latest fantasy game is.”
“This is far from a game. It’s also not outside the realm of possibility that your office is bugged. Listening devices and cameras are a real thing.”
I drop my head back and stare at the sky, counting to ten.
This is the help Gabriel sent me? Conspiracy Theory 101?
