“Landed in Washington yesterday and is currently staying at the Astoria and, by all accounts, called your mother to arrange a lunch with her and Rose.”
I stare at him for the longest second because apparently news does travel fast.
Eddie shrugs, “Perhaps we weren’t as careful as we believed because if Morgan was aware you were here before you arrived, she must have known this was always Rose’s destination. It wouldn’t surprise me if she was aware of every one of your movements, so think carefully, Julius, is there anybody you can think of who is feeding her information?”
“I could say the same to you, Eddie.”
His frown causes me to add, “You didn’t work alone, asshole. I’m not accusing you, but what about the guards we employ? Can you vouch for them all? If Morgan flew in yesterday, it’s possible she didn’t realize we weren’t already here. Perhaps she was aware our cars left the airfield in convoy and assumed we were inside them. We may have a leak in our organization, and I’m not happy about that.”
“So, make a list.”
Eddie pulls out a notebook and a pen and writes, “So, you, Rose, Connor and Giorgio and whoever you asked to arrange your wedding, I’m guessing.”
I say nothing, and Eddie huffs with frustration. “I’m not stupid, Julius.”
“I didn’t say you were. Yes, it was Richie.”
He writes down the name.
“What about your family? Did you tell any of them where you were and what your plans were?”
“No, and I take exception to you even considering that my family would ever go against me.”
My hard glare causes him to squirm, and then he adds, “What about the nun, the one who arranged it all?”
“You are seriously accusing a woman of God now. Have we stooped that low?”
He chuckles. “She’s a possibility, or somebody in the convent.”
I say nothing, wondering if he is on to something.
“Do some digging on Sister Agatha and run a check on anyone who lives at the convent and while you’re at it–”
My fists clench as I hiss, “Start with the fucking gardener. I want everything you’ve got on that fucker, and I want it today.”
Eddie raises his eyes. “What do you know?”
“That I don’t like him.”
He says nothing, but a small smile plays on his lips, and I lean back and sigh. Perhaps it’s him. I sincerely hope it is because the idea of Rose gazing after any other man than me fills me with a murderous heart, and I will happily take down that bastard personally.
After catching up with Eddie,I head off to find Rose because it’s been too long already since she smiled in my direction.
I am intrigued by how much she fascinates me. I never expected to actually miss her when she isn’t beside me, and I wonder if I’m going slightly mad.
As I walk through the familiar surroundings, I am immune to the surrounding decadence. We have a good life to a point, but it’s a careful one. I always accepted that, but now it’s even more important to protect it all because Rose lives here now.
I head to my rooms, and the first thing I see is the woman currently nestling in my heart standing by the window gazing out over the landscaped grounds. She turns, and her smile could light up a continent, and as sheruns into my arms, my heart aches as they close around her.
“I missed you.”
She squeezes me hard, and I catch my breath. “It’s been thirty minutes.” I chuckle, and she tightens her hold.
“An eternity.”
I smile against her head and savor the moment when somebody missed me.
It feels kind of good, and even more so when she whispers, “You have a big bed.”
