“Your home office will be set up tomorrow. Takeda has a new contract we are considering for BITE. We are looking forward to hearing your team proposal by the end of next week.” Her looking at me like I’ve hung the moon sends a smattering of joy through me. I’m not sure I care for.
“Just know,” I say, taking a sip of the whiskey she pours, nothing the excited tremor in her fingers. “Should either you or Ev prove to be untrustworthy in your actions during this process, you will be punished as we see fit.” I deadeye her when her gaze reaches mine.
“Hai.” Swallowing back her eagerness, she settles back with her knows folded under her.
“What is this new endeavor entail?” So eager. It’s like a starting pistol has gone off and she’s ready to sprint.
“We are standing up tech in Morocco at the behest of His Royal Highness Hassan Al-Rasheed. Ironically, Deacon Shipmoore and his new bride, Khadijah will spearhead the initiative.” I don’t tell her the gory details of the plot on Deacon’s life or the implication that Khadijah was involved. It doesn’t matter to Takeda as long as the two get it together enough to hold up their end of the arrangement, which Hassan assured us they would.
“Arigato.” Joy so palpable that were it to manifest, it would be more blinding than the sun.
“I know your work is important to you.” Rising, I come around the table holding my hand for her to rise.
We say nothing further before going back into the bedroom. Cuddling into me, this woman has the nerve to prop her tablet on my chest as she reads a dystopian fantasy novel.
“We are going to have a no tech in the bedroom rule implemented.” I grumble.
“You’d be the first to renege on it.” Shooting me a mischievous wink, she returns to the story. “You’re just grumpy because you can’t get any.” She adds, referring to her cycle starting before we left.
“I’m a grown ass man. That doesn’t bother me.” Murmuring, I rub her back, stopping when my phone chimes.
“See,” she quips.
“Reaching out to the nightstand I sit up when I read the message alert.
Warehouse fire in Tatsumoto territory.
It seemsthe Shipmoores are making their presence known as well as their intentions of getting Prosper back.
Take no action.Keep me posted.
Responding to the anonymous text,I settle back down, thinking of the implications of the Shipmoore brothers bold action against the people they think are responsible for their sister’sdisappearance. All this lies at Akchiro’s feet and now it will be up to me and Riyu to deal with it.
I almost regret bringing Bridget with me. A deep foreboding tells me the brothers won’t stop at burning down Tatsumoto interest but will come for what they deem is most precious to Takeda as well.
I’d hate to have to kill Bishop and Porter respecting the men as I do. However, if they think to look towards me and mine, then they leave me with no choice but to kill them.
My musings over I notice Bridget softly snoring into my chest. Her head is slumped partially over the tablet.
Easing it from beneath her, I place it beside my phone, gathering her closer.
The bond we are now forging is tenuous at best. I don’t like to think of this situation with the Shipmoores making things even more difficult.
I rub her back long into the night, pondering the possible outcomes. One thing I know for sure, these men won’t be deterred. I can almost admire them for that were it not such a fucking nuisance.
I already knowit’s some bullshit when I come home a week later to an empty suite.
My wife may as well have never been in residence. The space has been wiped clean of her presence.
We have had eyes on the Shipmoores and there is no sign of struggle.
Cold rage eats at me. Did she lure me back into a false sense of contentment only to flee again?
She has no phone. The proposal she and Ev were working on was entirely within the network of Takeda, with both of them working autonomously from their suites. The women have not seen each other since Christmas.
Looking at her work station, I notice that her laptop is gone.
Tearing through our penthouse suite, I notice there is a card on my pillow in stationary I know all too well.
