Seth’s expression softened. “I do.”
“Maybe some other time,” I said with a shrug.
He pushed off the couch and dropped his arms. “Where are you going?”
I pointed out the windows. “To the pool house to talk to Ripp.”
Seth’s brows lifted curiously. “Should I be worried about something?”
A laugh escaped my lips, and I shook my head. “No. Ripp texted and asked if I could come out and see him. When I moved into the house next to him in California, we used to spend one night at my place and the next at his. We’d talk for hours about fighting and so many other things.” I looked away from Seth’s piercing gaze. “With Parker gone, Ripp’s the closest thing I have to a brother.”
Seth clasped my face and turned me so I had to look at him. “I understand. Go talk to him.” His lips pulled back into a sexy smirk. “And when you come back, we can order takeout from K&B’s Bistro. I know you like the food there. Or we can do something else.”
My stomach growled just thinking about the food; I hadn’t eaten all day. Now that I knew I wouldn’t meet Nikolai, my stomach wasn’t as torn up in knots.
“K&B’s Bistro sounds great. I won’t be gone long.”
He lifted my chin and kissed me before sliding his hands away from my face. I walked out the back door, and standing off to the right side of the house was Stefan, his eyes covered with dark sunglasses. He didn’t acknowledge me, and I still felt guilty for choking him yesterday. By the scowl on his face when I drew near, I had a feeling he never would.
“I’m sorry about yesterday, Stefan,” I said in passing. “Can you forgive me?”
He grunted in response and snarled his lip. That was my answer.
When I turned toward the pool house, Ripp opened the door and glanced back and forth from me to Stefan. “What’s that all about?”
I motioned for him to go inside. “We have a lot to discuss.”
I sat on the L-shaped brown leather couch beside him and gave him a quick rundown of everything that happened at the meeting: how I choked Stefan out, that I was attacked by one of Nikolai’s men, and how Seth’s father wants Nikolai to shut down everything in California.
Ripp’s eyes widened in shock when I was done. “Holy shit, Wren. Nikolai’s going to be even more dangerous now.”
I agreed with a nod. “Which is why we must be careful. I really don’t like you going to the club. You don’t need to be moving around the city alone.”
Ripp groaned and leaned his head against the couch. “Wren, I’ve been doing my own thing for months.”
“That was before Nikolai was in Vegas,” I countered.
He propped his leg up on the footrest. “Nikolai’s going to gun straight for Seth. I’m probably the last person on his radar right now.”
“It didn’t stop him from killing Parker,” I whispered, my throat tightening. “It might be time for you to go home, Ripp.”
His shoulders tensed and he looked away. “Only if you come with me. I’m not leaving you here.”
I knew he’d say that. “Who’s the stubborn one now?” I teased, trying to blink through the burn behind my eyes.
Ripp faced me again and smiled. “What can I say? You rubbed off on me.”
I smacked his arm. “Is there anything new going on with Kase, Kali, or anyone else?”
He shook his head. “Not really. Kali misses you. Valentin’s been keeping her close.”
“Does anyone else know about them?”
“Not that I know of,” he replied with a shrug. “Kase and Hunter know she’s dating someone, but they don’t know it’s Rossi. Honestly, he’s not so bad. I talked to him a lot last night. He’s a little more down-to-earth than Michelson.”
Silence filled the air, and I bit my lip.
Ripp studied me and narrowed his gaze. “Why do you look like I caught you red-handed with something?” When I didn’t say anything, he hung his head and sighed. “You’re with him, aren’t you?”
