Page 159 of Watch Me Burn
“Whatever. I’m over it. But you better have gotten your world rocked last night to ignore me like that.”
“Is that why you called me five times?”
“Oh, no, it’s not, actually. I may be over having to wrangle this three-ring circus, but the Wolfe’s asshole sidekick has been here since ten, waiting for the two of you. He’s getting on my last fucking nerve so bad, I’m plotting ways to murder him.”
“Why is Cade there? Why didn’t he just come to Damien’s?”
Luna looks at me with confusion, and I shake my head. I have no idea.
Maren snorts again. “Apparently, he did. But he turned right back around and left when he heard you screaming upstairs. I told him he should have at least checked to make sure you weren’t being tortured or murdered, but he said it wasn’t those kinds of screams.”
Luna glares at me, but what the fuck did I do wrong? I didn’t show up unannounced at somebody’s house.
I pull into the sanctuary’s long driveway and park next to Cade’s Tahoe. Why the fuck did he drive up rather than take the helicopter?
“We just pulled up. I’ll be right in.” She disconnects the call and glares at me. “This is your fault.”
I grab her hand and bring her fingers to my lips. “And I don’t feel the least bit of remorse.”
“Of course you don’t.” She tries for stern, but her lips betray her, curving up at the edges.
We exit the car, and Athena scampers over to greet Ghost, who’s relaxing on the main house’s front porch. I follow Luna into the sanctuary’s front door. The moment we step inside, Maren’s voice carries from the back treatment area.
“I swear to God, Rambo, if you don’t back the fuck off, I’m going to punch you in the nuts.”
“Twenty-three minutes.” The smirk in his voice is audible from here. “That’s how long you’ve been cursing at that equipment. I could have solved your issue in five.”
“Did I ask?” The sound of something clattering against a countertop punctuates her frustration. “Go mansplain somewhere else.”
“You know, most women appreciate my expertise.”
“I don’t need your help. Has anyone ever told you, you’re an arrogant pain in the ass?”
“Yes, frequently. But judging by how flushed you get when you’re yelling at me, I think you might actually enjoy a little pain in the ass now and then.”
“That’s it!” Maren screeches.
Luna pushes through the swinging doors. The scene that greets us is both hilarious and terrifying, with Maren brandishing a tranquilizer injection pole at Cade, the long aluminum rod extended to its full six-foot length. He stands with arms crossed over his broad chest, one eyebrow raised, unfazed by the needle-tipped weapon hovering inches from his throat.
“Come on, old man, give me a reason.”
“Maren.”
Luna’s voice breaks the standoff. Maren wheels around, dropping the pole to her side.
“Oh, thank God. Get this walking red flag out of my sight.”
I bite back a laugh. She's not wrong. Cade is an absolute red flag for most women.
“Where’s Ricky?”
“He’s on the sofa in your office, playing with his monkey. Don’t worry, he has a diaper on.”
“Come on, let’s go see him. How bad was it?”
They head toward Luna’s office, and I turn to Cade. “What are you doing here? Why didn’t you just call? Or better yet, why didn’t you bring the helicopter back?”
“I did. It’s on the helipad in your backyard.”
