“It’s an easy conversation. I can come over and help if you’d like.”
“No!” Her eyes go wide. “God, no, please don’t do that.”
“Then tell her soon.”
“Give me a few days.” The panic in her voice makes me soften slightly. I want to move forward, especially now that the council’s going to hear about her, but I understand that things aren’t so simple.
“You have until Monday. Then my people will come to bring your things to my house.”
“Your people? No, never mind, it doesn’t matter. That’s too soon. It’s only Thursday.”
“Monday,” I repeat, pushing off the wall. “And don’t worry. I have plenty of space for both of you. Gem can have her own floor.”
“Her own… floor?” Kira’s eyebrows raise. “What about me?”
“You and I will be sharing the master suite.”
“I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
I shrug and turn away. “You’ll get used to it. You’ll also have to meet my family, which won’t be easy, but you’ll survive.”
“Family? You mean, like your siblings?”
“I’m an only child. I mean the people in my organization.” I give her a hard look.
She rubs a hand across her face. “Right, your criminal friends, got it.”
“This is your life now. You should probably learn to refrain from calling your husband a criminal.”
“That’s a fair point.”
“I look forward to waking up in the same bed with you Tuesday morning.” I move toward the door but hesitate. “You look good, by the way.”
She laughs nervously. “Covered in dog hair?”
“Exactly.”
I leave her there. As I wind my way back through the grooming place and out into the afternoon, I can almost feel the roots I’ve planted begin to take root in the city. My plans are slithering through the concrete, and soon they’ll bear fruit. I just have to be patient. Only when it comes to Kira, it’s difficult to wait. I want all of her, and I want it all now.
Monday will have to do.
KIRA
Idon’t think I’ve ever been this nervous before in my life.
Nothing could ever prepare me for this. Not long hours grinding my ass to dust. Not slinging coffee or shampooing slobbering dogs. This has to be the hardest thing I’ll ever do.
Except for the next hardest thing, but I’m taking this one step at a time.
Gem’s in her room studying. I toss down a glass of wine to help fortify myself, which isn’t exactly healthy, but I’m way past worrying about that. I knock on her door and let myself in when she calls out.
“What’s up?” she says, taking off her headphones. She’s lounging in her bed with two open textbooks and a highlighter tapping against her teeth.
“Can we talk?” I linger in the doorway. “It’s kind of serious.”
“Is everything okay?” She snaps the books shut. “Is this about money? I keep telling you, I can get a job. Seriously, the applications are all done. I can quit some after-school stuff?—”
“It’s not about money.”Although it kind of is. “It’s actually about me. I sort of… met someone.”
