“You’re smiling now,” I warned as I got off the bed. “But if they choseLonesome Doveor something, it’s going to be a long night.”
“I’ve got nowhere to be.” She shrugged.
We watched movies. Read books. Spent time in the kitchen with Mom. Played dice at the kitchen table. Frankie and I got to know each other better, and even though we’d hung out plenty in the past, I was glad that we created a bit of a bond that existed outside the group.
My cousinsdidshow up. Meg and Olive decided we needed a spa day, and they came over with Auntie Cecilia while Forrest had guard duty. Brody and Jamo showed up at dinnertime on the second day—not surprising—and also pulled their own guard duty outside. Myla showed up, and I braced to be the odd man out with her and Frankie, but it didn’t happen. Kara even brought the kids over for a while when Draco took his shift. The house was a revolving door of club and family. It barely left any time to miss or worry about Bas, Gray, and Rumi.
But, I still did. Every day they were gone, I sent hope into the universe that they’d be successful and none of them would gethurt. The Aces who showed up didn’t seem worried at all, which helped.
Then, early the third morning, Gram and Gramps showed up.
“Hey, guys,” I called out, getting up from my place on the couch. “I wondered if you’d show up.”
Gram marched straight to me and wrapped her arms around my waist, holding me close.
“Hey, Gram,” I whispered, tears hitting the backs of my eyes.
“Hey, Harpy,” she whispered back.
We stood there holding each other for a long time.
Chapter 17
Sebastian
“You scream, Ishoot. You try to fight me, I shoot. You do anything I don’t tell you to do, I shoot,” Gray said, his pistol pressing against the woman’s throat. “Understand?”
“Yes,” she whispered, nodding frantically.
“Good. Get up.”
Getting into Paige Brewer’s apartment had been ridiculously easy. The apartment next to hers was being renovated, and because there was a doorman and security, no one had bothered to lock it up.
Paige didn’t lock her balcony doors.
Rumi was pissed he didn’t have the chance to use his lock picks and had been grumbling under his breath for the last five minutes.
“Walk over to the computer,” Gray ordered.
“I have money,” Paige said, stepping carefully across the room. “Jewelry. There’s a Range Rover in the garage. Take it.”
“Don’t want your shit, bitch,” Rumi said boredly. “Stop talking.”
We’d agreed that I wouldn’t say much. I was too angry, and angry men made mistakes. It was important that this went off without a hitch, and if Paige realized that Harper had a man, it could fuck with that. Better for her to know nothing.
“Sit,” Gray ordered.
Paige’s hands were shaking as she sat down at her computer, Gray at her back.
“Now,” he said, leaning down by her ear. “You’re going to cancel that contract you put on Harper White.”
I saw the instant that realization dawned for her.
“Now,” Gray said.
He never raised his voice, never lost patience. His voice was all the more terrifying for its lack of emotion. Of course, the pistol pressed against her throat helped.
Without a word, Paige started typing while Gray watched over her shoulder.
