He hesitates before saying, “I know you care for them, Sir.”
Turning, I finally face him, and a flush blooms across his cheeks when he meets my stare, his dark brown eyes are wide and almost innocent before he looks down.
“I didn’t ask for that. The update would have been fine without your in-put.”
“Sorry, Sir,” he says.
I ignore how contrite he sounds, wondering if he means it, before asking myself if it even matters. The man is mine. I made sure I have his loyalty above all else, so whateverfeelingshe may or may not have are irrelevant.
“Where would Lachlan go to hide?” I ask. “You may look at me while you answer.”
“Sir?” He glances at me, confusion showing in the way his dark eyebrows draw together.
“After he sent the warning message, Lachlan went dark. All of the numbers I have are disconnected, and I cannot see any movement at any of the safehouses. Tell me, Oliver, why would that be? Where would he go when we're so close to victory?”
Oliver grimaces. “I don’t know. He hasn’t shared any plans with me. Maybe the Senator caught on to his true allegiance? Or suspects him? Without speaking to him, all I can do is guess.”
I watch him carefully, parsing out the truth in his words. “So he went underground?”
“Seems likely. I would have done the same in his position.”
I frown, bubbling irritation rising in me. “I expect a list of any and all possible locations on my desk by morning. Or there will be consequences. He doesn’t get to run from me. Not when this mess is partly his fault.”
“Sir—”
“No!” I lose control of myself for a moment, my voice echoing off the bare office walls. “No,” I repeat in a softer voice. “I do not care about the excuse. Nothing excuses that he should have done more to protect what is mine. He didn’t. So I don’t believe it’s only the Senator he is running from.” I smile at him. “You better hope you know nothing, Oliver. Because I will find him, and if I discover you’re lying…” I trail off, letting his imagination fill in the blanks.
“Understood, Sir. I will do what I can, but I truly do not know his plan.”
“Okay. Leave. If you want to be useful, keep a watch on my fathers. I don’t trust either of them to not keel over before taking a break.”
“Don’t worry, I got them.”
I don’t watch Oliver leave, instead, I tap into both his regular phone and the burner he used to speak to Kieran on. I want to believe him, but…I caught him in a lie before. Not only that, I may trust him enough to keep him around and play with him, but that’s as far as it goes. There are only two people I truly trust, and both are in hospital beds right now, which is rather inconvenient for me.
Sending Oliver to babysit Hollis and Ten might not be a good idea, considering Tennant will be in a…mood, with Roman and Lio hurt and sedated, but maybe roughing the bodyguard up will give him a good outlet. Either way, they’ll be occupied enough that they won’t have time to worry about what I’m up to—just how I like it.
Going through Oliver’s texts and web history, I begin the search for my wayward partner in crime. Lachlan better hope it’s only the Senator he’s hiding from… If I discover otherwise, he’s going to wish he let Dowing kill him…
My hand rests lightly on Roman’s. I’m afraid to grip him too tight in case I wake him. Doc gave both Bosses sedatives, along with oxygen therapy. Roman’s foot is bandaged, and Doc checked to make sure there was no lasting damage from what that bitch did. Gritting my teeth, I try to calm myself. Doc issued us all strong warnings not to wake them, and I don’t need to be kicked out.
It’s a valid warning, as all I want is to wrap him in my arms and tell him how much I love him—how much he means to me. Yet, there really are no words for it either. It’s…unquantifiable. How do you explain to the man who carries your heart just how much life would cease to exist without him?Romance has never been in my skill set. Fuck, I’m almost desperate enough to ask Lio for help.
Movement in the doorway catches my attention, drawing me away from my perusal of Roman. Glancing over, I frown when I notice it’s Cristian. He’s been checking in fairly frequently, like a fucking wraith, as he never says anything, just merely stands in the doorway. His heartbroken stare would do more to move me if it weren’t for the fact my body still betrays me thanks to his handiwork, and the pain that he’s put Roman through.
He’s also ducked into Allesandro’s room from what the nurses murmur. My senses are on high alert about that. Those two men together led to the demise of everything I knew…although perhaps it’s more accurate to lay that blame at Leandro’s feet.
Marcus’s whispered warning of how much the kid means to Lio and Roman is the only thing keeping me even somewhat silent. We don’t live in olden times, yet the fucker acts like an overlord. I’d respect his game, and the chaos he’s sewn, if it weren’t for the fact Roman is laying in this hospital bed.
Footsteps fall, and I breathe easier knowing Cristian is leaving. It’s not long before more come toward the door and I bite back my impatience. When I turn my head, I almost breathe in relief. Hollis slips in and I give him a small nod. He’s been working his ass off on everything, and the fatigue is wearing heavily on his face. I wish I could help unburden him, but his mastery of technology puts anything I can do to shame.
At least, having Roman and Lio back will help. All of Roman’s lovers have needed him. He pulls us all together. I lean back, slowly withdrawing my hand so that Hollis can step in. I try not to roll my eyes at his surprise. I’m not sure what Benjamin has told them about me, but fuck, I’m the last person who would try to impede Roman’s relationships. I want him to have everything he desires.
Quietly, I ask, “How’s Tennant?”
If I thought I’d thrown him beforehand, it’s nothing compared to asking that simple question. I bite back any sarcastic retorts as I wait patiently for his response.
Sighing, Hollis replies, “Fine. Bullet just clipped him. Doc is making him stay still at the moment.”
