I quickened my pace. “Come on, Bibi!” She was a few steps behind, picking a daisy. I’d nearly reached them when the man checked his watch, pulled Haze in for a hug, and walked up the large steps.
Haze turned around as I reached her.
“Who was that?” I tried to keep my voice level. Aloof. Nonchalant. Totally uninterested.
“Danny something. I used to know him. You know, back in the day.”
“You mean he was an ex?” So much for trying to keep it casual.
Haze shrugged as she reached into the diaper bag. “Just junk food.”
“What?”
She pulled out Bibi’s water bottle. “You know, someone you gorge on for a bit even though you know it’s bad for you.”
I gritted my teeth.Gorge?Images of a naked Haze and the man pawing at each other were playing in my mind in bright Technicolor. “Do you compare all men to food?”
“You’re fillet steak.” Haze smiled. “Okay?” She handed Bibi her water bottle.
I watched Danny as he reached the front door. I took a few deep breaths. I was a weapon. A carefully controlled weapon. I only took out bad men. Men who didn’t deserve to live because of the things they’d done to women—and not because of the consensual things they’d done withmywoman.
I was a modern man. I was better than this primal jealousy. I knew what Haze and I had. I knew I was the first man she’d ever loved. He was nothing. Nobody. I tried to remember a mantra Sally had made me repeat. What was it?
I control my feelings. My feelings do not control me.
Danny turned back to look at Haze just before he went in. Haze was bending over, adjusting Bibi’s cardigan, and didn’t notice. Danny clocked me, and our eyes met. He smirked at me and walked inside.
What a prick.
I felt the rage roaring up inside me. Deep breaths.
I control my feelings. My feelings do not control me.
Haze leaned over. “I think I know why Balgray Hall was mentioned.”
I tried to focus.
“Danny works for an events company, and next month they’re organizing a big flashy charity event here. He said it would be quite a gathering. Big hitters from the UK, and also a lot of rich, dodgy Europeans. That kind of clientele sound exactly like people The Chameleon would be interested in.”
I looked around the grounds. A father was shouting at a snotty-nosed boy. “Caspar! I said stop wiping it on my trousers!”
It did seem like an international assassin would be more interested in a flashy party rather than families on a day out.
“How do we get access to the guest list?”
“I said I’d meet Danny for coffee next week.”
Bibi handed Haze her water bottle back.
“You’re meeting up with Danny?” I stared at Haze.
“I can try and find out more about the event and have a snoop around his office.”
An image of Haze and Danny up against his desk flashed into my mind. What the hell was wrong with me?
“I don’t think there’s any need for that. There’s no guarantee the party will have anything to do with The Chameleon.”
“You heard what Jenny said. His name has been mentioned along with this place more than once. A party here with other dodgy people is what he’s surfaced for, clearly. It could be a handover, a hit—anything!”
