Page 77 of Mercy (The Sins Trilogy 3)
“Maybe Byron Pearce did it. You’ve been in his way one too many times.”
I chuckle. “He doesn’t have the balls.” Not to mention he isn’t the type to stoop that low. If he plans to strike at me, he’ll do by taking Ivy from me, or undermining one of my business ventures.
“Just saying.” TJ shrugs.
“No more about this for now. There’s Ivy.”
TJ pulls the Cullinan over, and I open the door. She climbs inside looking a bit wan, but otherwise okay, considering. Once she’s in the car, Bobbi turns and starts toward her vehicle.
I hug her. “How was your day?”
“Good. A little hectic. Somehow Elizabeth heard about the break-in…and the incident on Saturday. She was really upset.”
Sounds like Elizabeth. She gets protective about the people she cares about.
“Then she asked Tolyan to beef up the security in the foundation building.”
I’m sure the Russian hound loved that.
“Is our home ready?” Ivy asks.
I nod, then I remember what Wei said. “It is, but we don’t have to go there.”
“Why not?”
“Because.” I choose my words with care. “Wherever we live, I don’t want you to feel insecure or unsafe. Wei put in a new security system, but we can go someplace else if you want. Start fresh, without the memory of the break-in.”
Surprise flickers in her face, then she takes my hands. “You mean get a whole new place?”
“If you want.”
She holds my gaze. After a moment, she says, “You’re going to have Wei pick something out, aren’t you?”
“Uh, no…” How does she know he’s the one who bought the penthouse for me? “We’ll find something suitable together. Maybe a mansion, if you want.”
She sidles closer. “No.”
“No? You don’t want a mansion?”
“Nope. And I don’t want to move.” She looks at me with crystal-clear eyes. “If we move—out of fear—then the intruder from yesterday wins. It’s our home, Tony. It has good memories, and I like it there. I’m not moving just because some criminal broke in. We’ll move when we both decide that’s what we want, and not a moment before.” She presses her lips to my shoulder. “I’m not fragile, Tony. I can handle it.”
I run the pad of my thumb over the mole below her lower lip. She thinks she’s broken, my North Star. But she’s one of the strongest and bravest people I know. “Okay then. We’ll go home tonight.”
The smile she gives me is more radiant than the sun. “Home, sweet home.”
