I didn’t say anything, just nodded. But the girls clearly saw the windswept look on my face and all bounded over, squeezing on the couch next to me, filling every spare gap.
Their arms wrapped around me, but it was Rory who spoke. “It’s not something to worry about, and that is all you need to realise to feel calm, Cor.”
Daisy nodded. “Exactly. It probably just feels weird because you’re only just going back out into the world and everything feels off-kilter.” She ran a hand over the crown of my head. “But I know that I feel better about you rejoining society with someone there to watch over you, and from everything you’ve told us—”
“And everything we’ve googled about the guy,” Goldie added, her smileplayful.
“He seems committed to making sure no one lays a finger on you.”
I huffed a laugh. “Committed to making sure that the breeze doesn’t blow at me the wrong way, more like.”
Rory shrugged. “It’s better than having no one to watch over you at all.”
My smile pulled tight as I looked at Rory, her eyes filled with the wisdom that I wished I had twenty-four-seven access to.
But before her words had a chance to find a home in my mind, a bunch of raised voices sounded from outside the window. All four of us exchanged glances before hurling off the couch and smushing our faces up against the window, just in time to see Marcus standing over Tristan on the porch.
“I’m not asking you again. Who are you and why are you here?” Marcus grunted, and only now did I realise that calling Tristan Harper the most intimidating person that I ever knew, looks-wise, wasn’t true anymore.
Tristan’s chest popped, stuffing his hands in his dark jeans as he jilted his chin up towards Marcus. “I already told you, I’m here to pick up my fucking girlfriend. Now if you don’t mind, mate.”
Before Tristan could so much as take a step, Marcus blocked him, barely separating them by an inch.
“I really should not be this turned on right now,” Goldie whispered as her mouth gaped, her face pressed against the glass.
Marcus grunted as he looked Tristan up and down. “You don’t have clearance yet to enter. For all I know you could be anyone.”
“I’m Tristan fucking Harper. Do you not listen to the radio?”
“I have better things to do than waste time making my ears bleed.”
My head fell into my hands. "Dear lord."
“I’m gonna go save him,” Goldie said as she stood up, rushing out of the living room and heading for the door.
I turned to Rory, but my eyes were still laser-focused on Marcus. “Remember how you said that having him was better than no one.” She nodded, and I said a silent prayer. “I wouldn’t be so sure of that.”
chapter nine
takedown pending
The Romano Security Headquarters sat in a little gray corner of the Financial District. It was unremarkable, efficient, and exactly two point six miles from Miss Holland and the vacant townhouse next to hers.
There was no hesitation about taking the house over. It was clean, quiet, practical. A hell of a lot better than sleeping in a car for weeks just to keep her front door in sight. And if anything happened, I was less than two seconds away.
That was the excuse I’d run with anyway. It was convenience. Logistics. Nothing more.
But the truth? I’d go a hell of a lot farther than that to keep that girl safe this time around. And with the way she burned through rules like they were suggestions, I didn’t entirely trust her not to bolt once she learned when she wasn’t being watched.
The marble lobby, freshly polished, shone under my boots as I made my way to the elevator that took me to the floor where my office was situated. Cora was in her class until four, so I had three of my best guys stationed at each of theexits and entrances to the Liberty Grove campus. If she left, there would be eyes on her—eyes that would ensure she was safe until I was done cleaning up another mess here.
“Good morning, Mr. Romano.” Harry, my oldest and most trusted doorman, grunted from his post. “Looking chipper this morning.”
I passed him a glare paired with a half smile. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Good anniversary?”
He nodded, no emotion on his face. That just wasn’t Harry. “Best one yet. There are cookies from Sally waiting on your desk. Just as another thank you for letting me have the month off.”
I breezed past him and pressed the elevator button, the doors gliding open instantly. “It’s nothing.” I shrugged. “TellherI said thank you.”
