“Has everyone in Scotland read every personal detail of my life? Because it’s really beginning to feel that way.” I feel exposed, extremely uncomfortable and veering towards furious.
I must look unhinged, because she stops everything and nods at Hamish and the other man. “Guys, I’ve got this. Give us a moment, huh?” Once it’s just the two of us, she brushes back the tidy lines of her blonde bob.
“Trust me, I know some seriously weird shit about this family. I don’t want to hurt your feelings, but your background is one of the nicest, tidiest lives I’ve ever had to construct from public and private data. Yourextremelydetailed report was how Logan got to you in time before those fuckheads murdered you in front of your own apartment house. They must have followed you from the gala, butwegot Logan your address in time. I promise you, other than your husband, no one has your full report. I only read it because that’s my job. But I’m a vault.” She makes the lock and key gesture with a grin.
This makes me laugh, which I suspect was her intention. “Thank ye. Can I help set all this up?”
I almost immediately lose track of what I’m plugging into where, as Xenia rapidly builds my computer system, but she’s patient as she explains all the security features and shows me how the cameras and remote connections work. “I also need to input your information on the biometric scanner here in the house,” she says, yawning hugely.
“Can I make ye some coffee?” I offer. “Caffeine is the precious and life-saving source of my very existence.”
“Would you happen to have any Celsius or Red Bull? If we were at Kai’s place, I know the answer would be ‘hell, no!’ I’m sure there’s nothing in his fridge but kale and chicken breasts, unless his new wife Luna has added some culinary sanity to his life.”
“Ach, all that macrobiotic shite? Glad I dinnae marrythatMacTavish, then.” I make a face. “Let me go check in the pantry.”
Xenia is finished with my computer and already hovering by the kitchen by the time I find a six pack of Monster Zero Ultra. “This is the closest thing I could find.” I hold it up for her inspection.
“It’ll do, and maybe some of those salt and vinegar crisps?”
“Ye know, this is the most normal moment I’ve had since this whole thing started.”
We’re in the great room, lying in a rubble of Monster cans, crisps and the ice cream I found in the freezer.
“You’re not going to feel normal once that drink gets into your system,” she snickers. “I told you not to drink two!”
I eye her curiously. “You’re not really what I expected, to be honest.”
“Ah.” She sits up, brushing the crisp crumbs off her sweater set. “You thought I’d be covered in tattoos, with purple spiky hair?”
“Well… aye.”
“Appearancesshouldbe deceiving,” she says with a wicked little smile. “Why make it easy for the enemy? Though I do have an insane number of piercings.”
“Really?” My gaze instantly darts to her chest.
“Yep. Those…” she points to her nipples, “a couple of dermal piercings at the base of my spine, and then a few on my-”
“Aye, I get it! I feel so boring by comparison.” My thoughts instantly go to Logan’s delightfully effective adornments. “Is there a favorite piercing studio where ye all go? Never mind. Forget I asked!”
Xenia’s laughing uncontrollably and I’m sure my face is on fire. “Well yes, there is. And yes, I know about Logan’s and Kai’s piercings.”
“Logan’sbrotherhas them, too?” I yelp. Kai seemed so stern and serious.
“Oh, yes. Their cousins never stop giving them crap about their piercings. Though I suspect that’s because they all want to get one, but they’re too chicken shit.” She eyes me speculatively. “Have you thought about getting one? I’m telling you, a clit piercing ramps up your orgasms like you can’t believe.”
“I’d rather kickbox a bear,” I blurt.
She’s still howling with laughter when Logan steps into the room, eyeing the desecrated remains of our junk food binge. “I see you’ve made yourself at home, Xenia.”
“You should be grateful.” Standing up and stretching, she straightens her pearls. “You got home before I could tell her all the insane, reckless things you’ve done through the years, like the time you thought it would be moreexpedientto blow out the back of the vault at that drug warehouse in Rotterdam instead of dismantling the lockset on the door.”
“We shaved fifteen minutes off the mission, ye Bessie. Now stop weaponizing my past and tell me how the computer setup went.”
Xenia launches into an extremely complicated explanation that ends with inputting my retinal and fingerprint scan into the biometric security system. I have a feeling that she’s lost Logan at some point as his eyes glaze over. When she’s finished, she beams up at him expectantly.
“Your need for praise is radiating off ye like a fever,” he says sourly.
“You did say if I could get this all taken care of within twenty-four hours that you would give it to me.” Xenia holds out her hand, wiggling her fingers expectantly.
