Page 83 of His Fury

I gulped down my coffee, ignoring the burn in my throat, and followed him to the car. Happy Rye meant something was coming, and I needed to be prepared to fight it.

“Why the fuck are we leaving so early,” I grumbled, getting into the passenger seat.

“It’s eleven o’clock.”

“So?”

“So some of us have work that happens duringdaylighthours.” Rye pulled his shades on, and I simply pulled the hood of my hoodie over my eyes. “I have an idea. Why don’t you try sleeping in the bed instead of banging Barnie every waking moment.”

“Fuck off,” I muttered, closing my eyes. “I was going for a run,” I told him as I settled into the plush leather seats. “And I slept,” I mumbled, feeling petulant that I had to defend myself.

“When she left for work?”

“Fuck off, Rye.” His low chuckle made me grin. “Dick.”

“Asshole.”

I didn’t ask where we were going. I was wearing sweatpants and a zip-up hoodie. I knew wherever we were headed would be via Elixir, so I could change at the loft.

“We had an email from Anneta. She wants to know if she can do the bedrooms that’ve been locked to her this week.”

Anneta was the housekeeper. She had been scarce since Isla had been at the house. “Yeah, tell her to come now.”

I couldhearhis look. It would be both loud and disgruntled. “She isn’t dropping everything for us, Zayn. She has other work.”

“Then she can go back to it when she’s been to the house.”

“It took me months to find someone as discreet as her,” he started to protest, and I smiled inwardly with satisfaction as he started complaining loudly about how I was an insensitive dick.

“You fucking with me?” he suddenly asked. It was my turn to chuckle. “Jerk.”

When we were parked at the club, I headed to the stairs to get to the loft. I didn’t like relying on the elevator, and I needed the workout. I’d spent too many nights—and mornings—tangled with Isla, and I hadn’t worked out properly in days.

“Take a change of clothes with you,” Rye shouted after me. I turned to look at him, one eyebrow raised. “Hey, I said so far today…”

We exchanged a look, and with a shake of my head, I turned and jogged up the stairs to the top floor to change into my “work wear.” After a quick shower, I dressed in a dark-gray suit and a dark-navy shirt with the collar open, and I was putting on my cuff links when I received a phone call. I hesitated when I saw the caller ID.

With a sigh, I answered, otherwise, she’d just call back until I did.

“Mom.”

“You’rescrewingIslaWells?”

“How are you? It’s so nice to hear from you,” Ideadpanned. I finished getting ready with my phone held between my chin and shoulder.

“Do not try to be smart, Zayn McCabe. I will kick your ass.”

Fun fact. She probably would try.

“Who told you?” I knew it would never be Rye. “Julian?”Fucking weasel.

“What I want to know, Zayn, iswhyyou didn’t tell me,” she snapped. “Isla is…”

“Perfect?”

Her groan was very similar to Rye’s. “No, notperfect. Jesus Christ, you saying she’s perfect is making me nauseous.” My mother took a deep breath. “She’s a liability you cannot afford.”

“Funny, I always thought that was you.”

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