Page 44 of Midnight Danger

“I always thought you were being overly cautious,” Ash said. “Guess you’re having the last laugh right now.”

“I really wish I wasn’t,” I muttered.

Dad studied Cassandra when I went to get everyone keys to their new homes until this was over. The building was bombproof and had so many security measures in it that it would be nearly impossible to break into. We’d added more with every apartment I’d acquired. The apartment directly under mine was a mini base of operations that I used when I couldn’t sleep. No one would ever be able to search my apartment and find anything incriminating. Not even a key to that apartment, as it was only accessible with biometrics.

“You’re marrying my son?” Dad asked Cassandra, his gaze taking in the way she casually sat in our apartment and the ring on her finger. It was the little things that screamed she lived here, like the hair bobble on the coffee table and her handbags sitting about. Who knew that you needed more than one handbag at a time? She seemed to have one for every occasion. Normally I found bras hanging on door handles.

She chewed the side of her cheek. “Zee can be forceful when he gets an idea in his head.”

I knew Dad was going to argue because he was disgruntled that he never noticed what was under her nose. “Let’s get you settled,” I interrupted, my hand on his shoulder to guide him out. We could carry out an inquisition another day.

Jordan whistled when I let them into my base of operations, adding their details to the user manifest. “You’ve been holding out on us.”

“I tend to work when I can’t sleep. The back staircase from my apartment can access this level. It means work is separate from home.” The computers were set up the same as the ones in our office. It allowed me to access nearly all the same programmes, but from the comfort of home.

Ash pulled out a chair. “I’ll start the searches to track the money Malcolm was using. It’ll take a few hours to complete.” Ash had crashed here before and had spare clothes in the apartment he preferred to use.

Jordan owned an apartment in the building so he could use the helipad when he needed. He tended to move constantly between his homes, never setting a pattern. Jordan left the room as Ash and I started to track all Malcolm’s assets and anything he did for the Council. By tomorrow, there wouldn’t be a trace of any of his filthy money connected to our names.

“Uncle Lucas is coming for next Friday,” I said in idle conversation.

Ash’s body stiffened. “Is he travelling alone?”

“No idea. Want me to ask him?” I knew my cousin Lucrezia was coming but I wanted Ash to finally put both of them out of their dating misery. The girl had hearts in her eyes every time she looked at him. He’d sulked for days when she left London with Uncle Lucas a few weeks ago.

His slid me a side-eyed look. “He’d kill me if I went anywhere near her.”

“He’d have to catch you first and you can run faster than him.” I stopped typing to look at my friend. “Cas makes me happy. I never realised I was miserable until she wandered into my life and left bras hanging on my door handles and turned my drain into a Wookiee. What if Lucrezia is your Cas and you’re just too stubborn to find out? Show him your damn portfolio and buy a ring to show your intent. You’re obsessed with her, helping with her business venture. I doubt that’s going to change anytime soon.”

“Is she coming?” His tone held both trepidation and hope.

“Yeah, and if you let her leave this country without propositioning her, I’m disowning you as a friend.”

“Noted.”

“It bloody better be,” I muttered darkly.

Cas sat on the sofa surrounded by a mass of cushions, her legs tucked under her and her Kindle in her hand.

“Where is everyone?” I asked, taking a mental picture of her in the place that I’d always claimed was a confirmed bachelor pad.

“Jay came up and got all bossy with Megan. He dragged her off, caveman style.” She set her Kindle down. “Is he always that rude and intense?”

“He probably already has her tied up in his apartment,” I deadpanned.

She put her hands over her stomach. “Shush! Not in front of the baby!”

“Are you covering their ears?” I asked with a grin at her antics.

“Yes. Bubble is too little to hear about their auntie and uncle tying each other up in a sex game.” She’d taken to calling the baby Bubble since we didn’t know if it was a boy or girl.

“I don’t think baby Bubble can hear us.”

Cassandra pouted, her hands rubbing her still flat tummy. “I read they can hear noises and respond to music.”

“Mmmm. We’d better make sure that Mummy is quiet when she orgasms then.” I moved across the room and gently tugged her to her feet.

“Maybe we should stop sex until after they arrive?” she suggested with huge, wide innocent eyes.

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