I roll my eyes and flick my fingers to indicate Aaron should be brought in. He’s flanked by two of my younger men who I haven’t yet persuaded to wear a decent suit rather than black T-shirts.
Nina’s eyes go wide, but she recovers herself admirably. “What’s going on?”
“It’s time for you to pay,” I say simply.
A truly pathetic noise comes out of her mouth.
A little harsh, and hardly the case, but I’m not allowing any room for her wriggling out of staying with me. And blackmail iseffective. I have leverage, and I’m not a good enough man not to use it.
“Bunny.” Her expression drops further as I use her nickname.
“Boss—” Aaron begins.
“We’ll get to that,” I cut him off. “Why don’t you sit down? Let’s all be comfortable.” We’ve entered a short corridor that opens out into a small lounge and kitchen combined with windows that look over the street, and I point at the sofa with a throw over it, pushed against the wall.
“It’s our apartment,” Nina mutters, and I have to hold back my grin.
Nina and Aaron perch anxiously on the sofa, and I pull out one of the two spindly chairs from the tiny bistro-style table and sit in front of them, my legs stretched out in a power play of relaxation.
“It has come to my attention that we have an imposter in the Norwood group chat.”
Aaron’s expression goes panicky, his eyes darting around, but Nina pales like her blood has drained from the soles of her feet.
Interesting. He didn’t know.
“I take security at Norwood very seriously.”
Aaron nods along frantically.
“Intruders could send information to the Essex Cartel.”
She keeps her head down, as though by doing so I might forget she’s there. Not likely. I’d notice her lovely curvy body and the outline of her face anywhere.
I fold my arms and narrow my eyes. “So would you like to tell me about how this significant data breach happened?”
“Nothing, I swear,” Aaron babbles. “I don’t know anything about it. I’ll talk to you, I’ll find out who it was, but just let my sister go. She’s innocent. Please.”
“What do you think, Miss Brookes?” I gaze at Nina.
She sneaks a look up at me, and I dare her with my eyes. She snaps her head back down.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she says into her lap.
“You’re unaware of a spy going by the name of Bunny the Killer who was added to the Norwood Action Group?” I ask.
Aaron’s face falls as he realises what’s happened, but recovers.
“It’s true,” he says urgently. “Nina has nothing to do with this. I didn’t tell her who I work for. I wanted to protect her. Just let her go.”
“Mm.” I stroke my fingers against my stubbly jaw. “So you take responsibility for any security breach?”
Aaron flinches, but nods. “Yes.”
“Brave.” I slide my gaze over to Nina. She peeks up at me with pleading eyes.
I draw my gun and place it across my thigh.
Nina gasps. “No!”
