She rolls her eyes, mutters something, and nods.
"Good. Now, go watch TV or read a book."
Her cheeks turn red, and she sort of hunches down a little like someone let the air out of her, and my heart hurts.
"Lyndall, it is a work night and...I won't bore you with it, but I need to prep for the rest of the week, so if you can entertain yourself in a G-rated way, I'd fucking love it."
"Just don't send me back, okay?"
It is on the tip of my tongue to use that as a bargaining tool, but I don't. There is something stinging the air. "What happened?"
"Dad's an asshole, that's what happened." She pulls out one of the stools and sits, putting her head in her hands as she rests at the island.
I frown and take a sip of my whiskey. "Dad's always an asshole."
"We had a fight."
I wait, but she doesn't volunteer more, and I don't ask.
I remember fights like that, things that escalate from nothing to everything. And still they feel like you are being strangled and suffocated while the world ends.
"Okay, you can stay. Watch something. You know all the streaming passwords. I've got work, and I need to call Dad."
I head to my study.
Sunday night is far from my memory. I have been scarce at work, not because I'm playing games with the hottest thing I have seen get herself off in my life, but because I'm trying to piece the past together and see why someone is interested in Lola.
Cade is working his end, and Silas is looking into things I throw his way.
Today was hard. In more ways than one.
I'm aware my little kink-fest fantasy, where I pretended to be someone else to make her masturbate over me, has affected Lola at work. God, I can think of a few people who would have a field day with what I did.
She is skittish and distracted. But not once did her phone come out.
I really wanted to confiscate it.
Of course, Alex has her address now. He asked for it Monday, made it a game, and I sent some red roses to her. Not particularly a unique move, but I don't want her to fall for my alter ego.
I don't want her to fall for me either, but I want her to want me more.
My ego is fucked up.
With a sigh, I set my drink down at my desk, where I had been working when Lyndall came knocking. Thank fuck I wasn't in the basement where I do my work for the Syndicate.
I sit and get my phone, calling Dad.
"Enzo?"
The irritation and pleasure mixed in his voice irk me, like I'm beneath him, but he is sure this call is me crawling back to the family business.
"Dad, I just wanted you to know Lyndall's safe."
"Why wouldn't she be?"
I ignore him. "She's here now, and she will stay with me through to the end of the weekend."
"Those were the plans..." He pauses. "What do you mean she's there now?"
