I clear my throat before speaking. “Yeah. Look, I’m going to head to Ethan’s after dropping you off and look into some things.”
She turns around from where she’s been pouring coffee into her thermos, one golden eyebrow raised, but doesn’t ask any questions. She doesn’t need to with how attuned I am to her cues.
“There’s going to be extra security all over town thanks to the game tonight,” I explain. “And you’re still checking in regularly.”
I give her my best listen-to-me-and-you’ll-be-okay look.
“Don’t go anywhere without me. Not lunch, not happy hour. I’ll have something delivered for you and Morgan.”
The corner of her mouth twitches into a smile. “Alright,” she says softly.
It’s my turn to lift an eyebrow. “Just like that?” I ask skeptically.
“Just like that,” she confirms. “As I said, I like my ears the way they are.”
Why do I have the feeling she’s going to try and sneak outagain? Good thing I’m tapped into her work’s security feeds, thanks to Ethan.
“Alright. Let’s get going,” I say, already heading to the door. I’m always out first, in first, something that she used to complain about constantly. But she’s been a good girl since the ear.
I’ve already checked the camera in the hallway, but I still hold out my hand for her to wait until I make sure there are no threats. I stay by her side on the walk to the car, my eyes darting left and right, then drop down to check the undercarriage before I open the passenger’s side door of my armored SUV for her.
“Thank you,” she murmurs, eyes downcast. Why is she not making eye contact with me today? Is she so worried that it consumes her thoughts? I need to find this fucker and eliminate him.
Only problem is—once the threat is gone from her life, so am I.
∞∞∞
After dropping Basia off at Aegis Ironclad and reminding her to check in regularly, I pull into Ethan’s building and ride the elevator to the top floor. I shot him a quick text that I’m on my way, so he unlocks the door before I even lift my hand to ring the doorbell.
I push past him without a hello.
“Good morning, tall, dark, and grouchy,” my buddy greets me. “Let me guess. Basia?”
“The police got stonewalled. Means this cult is real and has connections that aren’t afraid of a governor.”
Ethan sighs. “We cripple one shadowy organization, and another rears its ugly head.”
Last year, Ethan and Killian got mixed up with a multinationalterrorist organization funded by trafficking. A couple of months ago, he called me when he got attacked out on a date with his new sweetheart, Barbara, and together we cut off the snake’s head.
“Even the names are similar,” I mutter. Black Ash, Sanctum of Ash. It’s all too biblical for me. Ashes to ashes.
“Think they’re connected?”
I shake my head. “Doubt it. This feels more contained. Like someone’s dirty little secret that they want to keep hidden. But the cult is the only lead we have to whoever has been threatening?—”
“Your one true love?” Ethan butts in.
“My client,” I say through clenched teeth.
“Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself it’s just that. Bet you jerk off watching her sleep.”
I feel my ears catch fire. “Stop being an asshole and get me something on this cult so I can find the motherfucker before Basia gets hurt.”
Ethan sobers up and leads me to his tech cave. All the security feeds on the numerous monitors remind me to check on Basia at work. She’s at her desk, laughing at something Morgan’s telling her. I can almost hear the sound, even though the feed has no audio.
“Did you ever tell Barbara you’re monitoring her?” I ask with a murmur as I pocket my phone.
“I, ah, I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Ethan replies, way less blustery than he normally sounds. He even tugs on his shirt collar.
