“Really?” Hunter shakes his head. “Then I repeat,” he says carefully. “What the fuck is going on?”
“I’m keeping my word.”
Hunter stares at him for the longest time. “I’m not buying it.”
Duke squares up to him. “I don’t give a shit what you think. Just leave it, Hunter, for fuck’s sake.”
Hunter remains cold, calm, unmoving. Much like an unexploded bomb that Duke looks ready to kick.
“Can we get back to Chicago tonight?” I ask, breaking the silent stand-off.
With two private jets on standby, I already know the answer. I’m simply hoping for a different one. After hearing first-hand how Katarina spoke to Duke, I’m in full agreement with Hunter. With the Griffins’ backing, he doesn’t need to put himself through this. He can choose to walk away. He can choose me.
Duke’s face creases with pain. I shouldn’t feel rejected, but it hurts. “We’ll leave within the hour. I’ll get Max to speak to our pilot,” he says, already tapping out a message on his phone.
Maddie gives my arm a final squeeze before going to her husband. “Care to run that past me again,” she says, hand on her hip. He looks confused before she adds, “That bit about it not ending well if you find yourself with an unintended bride.”
I can only guess the pair have an interesting backstory, and maybe I’ll get to hear it one day, but for now, Maddie’s quip serves only to defuse her husband’s tension. He manages a smile. “Not everyone can be as lucky as me.”
“Nice save,” Duke tells him. It’s a peace offering.
Hunter’s grim-faced again. “We’re not done,” he warns.
“For today we are,” Duke says pleasantly. Too pleasantly.
“And on that note,” Maddie interjects before the war of words can resume, “we should go. Duke and Grace need some time alone before he’s pulled back into Katarina’s orbit.”
Hunter fixes the starched white cuffs poking out of his dark grey suit. “Of his own choice, apparently,” he mutters. “But you’re right, as always, wife. And I need to make some calls.” He shoots yet another glare at Duke. “Can weat least agree that we need to tighten security around Grace?”
“Yes,” Duke agrees, too quickly for my liking. He hears my breath catching in my throat. “We’re just taking precautions, that’s all.”
“What kind of precautions?” I’m already imaging bodyguards and bullet-proof vests.
“We can start by strengthening your home security,” Hunter explains.
“It’s a modern apartment two blocks from the Excelsis,” Duke says before I can answer. “There’s twenty-four-hour security at the entrance, surveillance cameras on every floor, and her apartment has its own security system.”
My jaw drops. “How the hell do you know all that?”
“I just do,” he replies, but his evasion makes me suspicious.
I couldn’t believe my luck when I’d been offered the chance to housesit the most amazing apartment situated in a prime location midway between the DeVere office and the Excelsis. Noah had forwarded the email while I was still in Philadelphia, and as I recall, it came from someone with a Moncrief email address. The six-month agreement made it sound like I was the one doing the owners a favor, hence the ridiculously low rent. I have a sneaking suspicion that if I checked that email again, it would have Ed’s fingerprints all over it.
“You own the apartment, don’t you?” I ask Duke.
“Yes. But I can always sign it over to you if that makes you feel better.”
“No, that wouldn’t make me feel better,” I push back. I can’t believe he’s so matter-of-fact about gifting me a whole goddamn apartment. Or that I’m crazy enough to refuse,but as someone who grew up collecting coupons for my grandma, this level of extravagance is dizzying.
“Whoever owns it, we should still get Mace to do an audit,” Hunter says.
Duke nods. “Agreed. All I want is to keep Grace safe.”
“We can do that,” Hunter replies. “We’ll protect both of you, if you’ll let us.” He pauses to give Duke an opportunity to share whatever’s keeping him tied to Katarina. When the silence stretches, he shakes his head. “Whatever happens, Duke, you’re not on your own. Don’t forget that.”
“Noted.”
“Please take some food with you,” I tell them as the Griffins prepare to leave. “You still haven’t eaten and it’ll all go to waste.” I certainly won’t be eating anything.
