“He won’t be happy that I left, but I’m not sure what he wants with me.”
“Then I’ll have to hunt him down first.” Of course, I knew all this, but having her tell me herself shows she trusts me. I’ve tracked Malcolm long enough to know what he’s up to, though it seems he’s taken a shine to my red fox.
8
POPPY
Dan and Dom disappear into a spare room that’s set up like an office at Mi5. Not that I know what an office at Mi5 looks like, but it’s all high tech. Dom hovers over Dan’s shoulder while his fingers tap over the keys. On screen various black and white video footage appears too quick to make anything out. Dom stares at the screen, the flickering images reflecting in his eyes.
“Stop there. Go back.” Dom points to the screen at a man with a crowbar, breaking into my ground-floor flat.
My blood curdles in my veins, almost stopping my heart. Ice freezes my spine as Dan zooms in on the perpetrator. A lump in my throat makes it difficult to breathe, and the pounding in my ears makes it difficult to hear.
“Red.” Dom’s voice is muted, like I’m underwater, clawing at the surface as I gasp for breath. “Red, breathe with me.”
Rough hands cling to my cheeks, pulling me to the surface. Dom’s face comes into view, and I inhale a deep breath as if he’s breathing life into me.
His thumbs stroke my cheeks. “You’re all right. You’re safe with me. Just breathe. Stay with me, baby.”
Hearing him call me baby warms my chest like the comforting feeling of a loving guardian. I believe him. Gazing into his deep brown eyes with the warmth of an amber fire makes me feel secure.
Dan snaps me out of my trance. “Do you have any valuables or hidden assets?”
“Do I look like I would live on that estate with hidden valuables? The only assets I have are stuck to my chest.”
Dom glances at my breasts, then back to my face with a clenched jaw. “We’ll go to your place and see what’s been taken.”
“I’ll get my bag.”
“You’re staying here,” he growls.
“What?”
“You need to stay here where it’s safe.” His fists ball tight as he stares back at the screen.
My eyebrows pinch together. “Wait. What? You’re telling me I have to stay here on my own while you two go rifle through my stuff? Heck no.”
Dan spins around in the office chair. “I hate to break it to you, Poppy, but someone’s already done the rifling.”
I suck in a breath. “How do you know my real name? I’ve never told you my real name.”
Dom stares wide-eyed at Dan, who swivels in his chair, pressing a few keys on the keyboard. Pictures of me from the casino fill all three monitors.
“It isn’t difficult to find your identity. If you know where to look.” He stands, then pats Dom on the arm. “I’ll let you handle this, brother.” He disappears into the hallway.
Dom points to an image of me on screen, dressed in an orange leotard with fishnets digging into my flesh and a fox’s tail and headband for the ears. “Damn. Please tell me you have this outfit in your apartment.”
“I might. If you take me, I might just wear it for you.” I chew on the inside of my mouth. My stomach knots, knowing full well I have no such costume at my apartment. But I need to get my stuff.
“I told you. It’s too dangerous.”
I dig my fists into my hips, my nails creating crescents in my palms. “So you just expect me to stay here? I have work tomorrow. I need a change of clothes.”
“I’ll get your stuff. It’s not safe. If he’s still hanging around, things could get messy.”
“I can take care of myself. I’ll take that knife from your room.” Huffing, I fold my arms over my chest.
Dom’s thumb runs along my bottom lip. “Do you know what these pouty lips do to my cock?”
