Page 36 of Midnight Torment

“That is not the point,” Xavier grated out. “I told Cas that I would ensure her best friend was safe. I thought you were staying in my apartment block.”

“We did until Jay spotted the same car outside a few times,” Megan intervened and received a death glare from Xavier.

“I should have been made aware of that considering I own apartments there,” Xavier almost spat out. “I would have had the place cleansed of any infestation.”

“Flynn and his team took care of it,” I replied, stepping in front of Megan to save her from the brunt of Xavier’s anger.

“And the house in suburbia that an infected phone and laptop were in?” Xavier demanded. “Is he going to take care of that too?”

“That’s enough,” I snapped. “The house has inbuilt jammers to stop anyone tracking devices there. We only picked up a trail on open roads when we were well away from the house. None of my vehicles have ever been there, and nothing links that house to Jordan Berkeley.”

“Those men out there are part of a bigger network. We could have a fucking army heading in our direction right now.” When Xavier lost his temper, his imagination tended to run amok along with it.

Ash rolled his eyes. “I think you’re overexaggerating, Zee. We all need to calm down right now. Jordan has saved both our asses more times than I can count. He’s human, just like you and me.”

“Megan is my responsibility since she’s Cassandra’s friend,” Xavier replied with a scowl.

“I am Jordan’s responsibility,” Megan said in a low voice. “From the moment we met five years ago. I do not appreciate the way you’re shouting at him when he has always put my safety before his own.”

All eyes turned to the tiny woman with a ferocious expression on her face.

She wasn’t just the light of my life, she was the queen who had claimed her place beside me.

“Megan—” Xavier started but was cut off with a wave of her hand.

“No!” She pointed her finger at him. “I’ve done everything you’ve told me to do. I left my job, moved out of my home, held Cassandra’s hand, and I would do it all again if asked. You never once asked if I was okay. It was Jordan who held me when the nightmares came. Jordan who made sure I was safe. I’m sorry, Zee. You may be the boss of Cassandra, but you are not the boss of me. Not even close.”

She stood, her defiance straightening my spine and sparking pride in my chest.

“Look, Megan,” Xavier said. “I’m just trying to keep you and Cassandra safe.”

“I appreciate that, but that role belongs to Jordan. He’s the only man who has ever made me feel safe.”

My arm snaked around her waist to haul her against my chest, my chin resting on top of her head. “You don’t need to worry about Megan’s safety,” I said. “My house is secure. The only evil soul there is a squirrel hellbent on destroying my window boxes.”

“Jordan!” Megan slapped my arm. “That is our pet! He loves begging for walnuts at our kitchen window.”

Xavier and Ash shared a look that spoke volumes. It was the same look I’d shared with Xavier when we knew that Ash was pussy whipped by Lucrezia and officially tied to a committed relationship.

Fuck. My. Life.

Yet, I’d never wanted to be tied down by any other woman. Megan had been my ultimate fantasy for five years. Everyone else paled in comparison to her. She was the only woman I’d taken to Grampa’s home or my own house. She’d taken my heart hostage all those years ago and had never returned it.

I was in a relationship long before my two friends, even though no one knew about it. I lost my heart a long time ago.

“Okay then,” Ash said. “Megan belongs to Jay and he is in charge of her security. I fully understand that, don’t you, Zee?”

Xavier merely glared at Ash for a moment or two. “Cassandra is going to be pissed. She wanted me to bring Megan home so they could live together again.”

“Cassandra will always be my sister, but Jordan is my future.” Megan leaned her body back into mine. “The only person I will be living with is him. Cassandra will understand that.”

Xavier nodded once. “You can tell her yourself. She’s very emotional at the moment, and I can’t cope with her tears. No one fucking prepares you for this shit.”

I couldn’t stop the laugh that rumbled free at the look on my friend’s face. Xavier had always been in control and unflappable.

“Fuck off,” Xavier muttered. “You have no idea what it’s like since Cas no longer fits into her favourite skirt and shoes.” He shook his head and stared at the ceiling as if inspiration was written up there.

Megan laughed at his forlorn expression. “She loved that skirt and you made her fat!”

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