“It could just be a straightforward attempt at robbery,” I said. “Houses round here are targeted frequently. It probably has nothing to do with Dean…”
“Like fuck it doesn’t,” he said. I felt the anger pouring off him. “It’s too much of a coincidence, Claire. Lacey’s hired some low-level criminal who probably owes him a favour to break in and see what he can get. He’s gone straight for the paperwork. The guy didn’t even have the sense to search for phones or tablets first.” Killian pushed his fingers through his hair and looked up to the ceiling. “We’ve got his name. Unfortunately, the bike was nicked yesterday so that doesn’t help us. Nick will get someone on trying to find a connection between Lacey or an associate of Lacey but my guess is that it’ll be buried deep.”
“Where’s Katie?” I said, realising that the house was quiet. The police had gone a few minutes ago and Denico was outside, inspecting the door and checking the perimeter.
“She’s with Nick. He’s taken her over to your parents,” Killian said. “Look, how do you feel about staying at my place tonight?”
“I thought you’d sorted security at my apartment?” My tone was sharp. I was unsettled, understandably so and I needed to be in a place where I felt comfortable.
Killian folded his arms over his chest and looked impatient. “I have. But given that I’ve just broken several speed limits to get here as soon as I heard what had happened, I’d really prefer to have you somewhere I can pretty much completely control so I know you’re safe.”
“Why wouldn’t my apartment be safe?” I said, hands on my hips. “You’re the hot shot security guy; why would I not be safe there? Are we wasting our money?”
Instead of looking even more riled he started to grin, relaxing his arms and reaching for me. “Your place is secure. But mine is more so. And if I’m not in the same building as you tonight I’m not going to sleep. I’ll be staring at my monitors watching for anyone walking past your building and if anyone looked like they were near your door I’d be there.”
“Why can’t you stay at mine?” His hands gently gripped my arms, pulling me closer to him
“Because as good a job as we’ve done at yours, I still know the weak points. By staying at mine, you’d be making me feel better. Look, Claire, I’m not trying to force things but I can’t tell you what it was like when Nick called me to say there was an intruder. We didn’t think Lacey would act this quickly.” I saw the pain and the urgency in his eyes and my stubborn streak was pacified.
“I’ll stay at yours. But I need to go into the office and pick clothes and other crap up from mine,” I said. “And the intruder might have nothing to do with Lacey. It could all just be a very badly timed coincidence.”
“You’re right; it might not be connected. We can do all that. I’ll drive. Leave your car here. It’ll be more secure especially if you leave it in your parents’ garage. And I’m still taking you out on that date,” he said, his voice now quieter, but still firm.
“Killian,” I said. “Your house – where is it? What’s in like?”
He grinned wickedly. “It’s in Southwark. I’ve only been there two months and it’s got four bedrooms so you can have your space. I meant what I said about not wanting to force things, although I’ve had a dungeon built in the basement.”
My eyes widened as I looked at him, his smile devilish and then I broke out in laughter. “You almost had me then!”
“You know me, baby. I don’t need equipment,” he said, delicious wickedness in his words. “I’ve already got all the equipment you’ll ever need.”
I laughed hard, my stomach hurting and my arms holding on like he was my anchor.
Which was what he had always been.
We left for the office in the morning, needing to sort out business in London and tidy up any lose ends for the next few days. Life was simpler in the country, but after the break in I was looking forward to being back where there was the constant noise of other people, of things, cars, chatter, tourists – anything to stop my brain from trying to make sense of what had happened.
Maxwell was the oldest of the seven of us and the most like our father. He lived for his job and was fucking brilliant at it, specialising in medical malpractice and class action suits. As the eldest, he should’ve been the one to run the firm, but he was married to the law and Jackson, the second eldest, had more of a passion for business.
He was in his office as I was getting ready to leave, Killian using the gym that Max and Jackson had installed in the basement of the building. The door was open, so I popped my head round, seeing my brother sitting at his desk, looking over papers and pulling at his beard. “How’s it going?” I said, inviting myself in.
“It’ll be fine after Thursday when we have the preliminary hearing. The barrister on the opposing side is a tool so I’ll have to make sure I don’t end up introducing my fist to his face.” Max would make comments like this to help him reign in his temper, although he did do MMA in whatever spare time he had left, something that pissed me off when I saw him injured. “And I’ll feel better when your case is over. You need to do whatever you can to wrap it up quick, Claire, for your sake and Katie’s.”
“You heard what happened today?” I closed the door behind me.
Max looked up from his desk and pushed the papers to one side. “Jackson phoned me after he spoke to Killian. Dean Lacey is a mean son of a bitch and you being involved in anything to do with him sits less well with me each time I think about it. I get why you’ve taken the case on, but your safety has to come first. Do you understand?” I rarely saw my eldest brother look worried. He was stoic and level, except for his temper and his passion which calmed as quickly as they erupted. Max had been our saviour when we were children before Marie had come along and we’d all worshipped him to a point.
“I’m not going to put myself at risk, Max, but neither am I going to let him bully his way through this. I need to persuade Katie to share the evidence she has against him,” I said, speaking the truth. I didn’t want to be a hero. I just wanted a fair outcome for her and I wouldn’t put my parents and siblings through hell worrying about me, which they would do anyway but I didn’t want to exacerbate it.
He nodded. “How’s Killian?”
“Using your gym at the moment. I’m staying at his tonight but not in the way you’re about to think,” I said, smiling as his face turned to stone.
“He had better treat you right. And actually, you’d better treat him right too. I know you were together when you were at college and I know that summer you were unhappy and it was shit, Claire, because none of us knew what to do, but he was almost worse. Please be careful here because it’s not just you who’s invested,” Max said, standing up and losing his jacket. He looked even more built than normal, clearly spending his spare time in the gym.
“You’re not fighting again?” I said, concerned. He had taken part in some competitive fights a year or so ago, but had stopped when me and Payton, one of my two sisters, had begged him to.
He shook his head. “No. I’m sparring with some of the fighters who will be taking part though. Look, Claire, if you need somewhere to stay, stay with me. I don’t like the idea of you being alone or having to stay at K’s if it’s not right yet.”
