Chapter 6
Callum
When Lucy opens her mouth to protest, I pause to relish the furious red flush blooming over her cheeks.
“I’ve been hired to keep you alive. That means what I say goes. Understand?”
“Just do your job and stay out of my way.” She looks like she might say more, then she pivots, strides to the bathroom, and slams the door. That’s the third time she’s slammed a door in my face in thirty minutes.
This little hellcat needs someone to instruct her on how to behave.
Teach her some damn manners.
Too bad that person can’t be me.
I spend a few exasperated seconds staring at the bathroom door while pinching the bridge of my nose.
Lucy and Maya Marlow rent a two-bedroom apartment on the eighth level of a ten-story high-rise in Brooklyn.
There are only a few entrances and exits on the bottom floor, all of which are well-monitored by the CCTV cameras stationed around the building.
No one questioned me when I first entered and headed for the stairwell, because security at a high-rise like this is basically comprised of glorified door-openers. Even if someone had stopped me, that doesn’t mean they’d be prepared for a Roguilin sanctioned ambush.
No security team could be prepared for that.
That’s why I’m here.
The squeal of old pipes echoes through the bathroom walls.
She’s getting in the shower. Perfect.
I launch into action. I can use this opportunity to work on the second part of my assignment. Finding the crypto wallet Shane described during my briefing.
Being as thorough as possible while also moving quickly, I sweep their modest floor plan with a new set of eyes, examining their bookshelves and furniture for hiding places and ensuring everything appears undisturbed.
Then, I give each bookshelf and book a closer inspection and study the plants stuffed in large woven pots.
My mouth twitches. I can’t believe she handed me a plant to try to shut me up…all while assaulting my eardrums with Dua Lipa. Pretty damn sure nothing about me screams “plant dad.”
Next, I cross through the opening that leads to a tiny dining area. A table for two dominates the space. To the right is a little makeshift work desk.
Nothing here.
I backtrack to their pocket-sized kitchen, checking overflowing drawers and cabinets packed full of mismatched dinnerware. No luck.
Most of the apartment space seems allocated to the two bedrooms. A postage-stamp-sized balcony overlooks other buildings and the park across the street.
If I were a USB drive with a shit-ton of money on it, where would I hide?
My phone erupts in my pocket.
Shane Gallagher’s name splashes across my screen. Shit. He wouldn’t call unless it’s urgent.
Stepping out onto the balcony for privacy—noting the potential security risk and escape route—I answer Shane’s call.
“Status update. Report.” No greetings, no lead-in. The head of the Kings is all business.
Darren already told him about the rat and single red rose, but I go over the information with him again. “I’ll be ramping up her security, which should also help me locate the wallet. No sign of it yet.”
“Upping her security is the right move. Did you hear about one of the other witnesses going missing?”
Muscles in my back tighten. “Yes, sir.”
“Find that wallet, Callum. Time is running out.”
“Yes, sir,” I repeat. “Can I ask…why do you think Lucy has the wallet?”
Always a risk, questioning a man like Shane. Thankfully, he doesn’t take offense. “One of our guys on the inside heard Viktor talking to another inmate. I’m not sure he suspected her right away, but he does now. What about the girl, does she suspect anything?”
“No.” I bristle. “Darren, Veronika, and Maya think I’m just here for protection duty. They don’t know about the wallet.” I hesitate. “And Lucy may not either.”
“And it needs to stay that way.” Shane’s reply is sharp. Cold.
I’m not thrilled with the secrecy, but I keep my thoughts to myself as our call ends.
It’s not my job to question Shane.
I reenter the apartment just as Lucy emerges from her room dressed in a pair of fitted yoga pants and a tight t-shirt.
I stare. Immediately. Like the asshole she thinks I am.
But I can’t help myself.
With her face clean of makeup, she looks younger and even more beautiful. Before I can stop myself, my gaze roams over the rest of her striking curves.
Damn.
I head for the door. “I’ll be right back.”
“Bummer.”
Does she have a quip for everything? I can think of a few better uses for that smart mouth.
After snapping a few pictures of her “gift,” I pick up the box and jog down the steps from the eighth floor. The cool darkness of the emergency stairwell helps me clear my head. Jesus, this assignment already feels out of hand.
Outside, I dispose of the rat and rose in the trash and cross the street to my motorcycle, which contains storage for my duffle bag.
The sight dampens my already sour mood. When I first accepted this detail, I promised Veronika that I’d be prepared if things went south. I packed some clothes just in case, hoping I wouldn’t need to use them.
Watching Lucy during the day has proven difficult enough.
Now she requires twenty-four-hour monitoring.
Darren posted guys outside her apartment so I could take a break and sleep at my own place, but the fucking rat in the box got past them, so I guess I’m up.
Maya has already pre-approved full-time surveillance, so at least I won’t receive any pushback from her.
However, Lucy’s smartass comments may push me to the very edges of my patience. If I’m being honest, though, a small part of me has started to enjoy her snark. A few times, I’ve even said things just to get a rise out of her.
How much worse can protecting her twenty-four seven really be?
Despite the fact that she’s probably up there wishing I’d get hit by a bus, I hike the bag over my shoulder and hurry back to Lucy’s apartment.
When I’m standing in her living area again, she points a purple-painted fingernail at my duffel bag. “What’s in there?”
“Clothes. Among other things.” At her frown, I lift a brow. “Did your sister not tell you? I’m your new roommate.”
I smother a smile as Lucy’s expression morphs into one of utter horror. “Like hell you are,” she screeches.
So she didn’t know about that possibility. That’s fun.
She fishes her phone from her pocket and dials with angry, shaking fingers. “What the hell is he talking about, saying he’s my new roommate?”
I can’t hear who’s on the other end or what they say, but the fury on Lucy’s face is easy to interpret. She hangs up without saying goodbye and scowls at me.
“This is your doing, isn’t it?” Acid drips from her lips.
“We mutually felt—”
“There is no we!”
“Maya, Darren, and I think it’s safest if I stay with you for the time being.
” Following my brief phone call with Maya outside Lucy’s front door and the update I shared with Darren, they both agreed full-time security was the best course of action.
That’s what Maya meant when she told Lucy she wanted me to serve in full capacity.
“Because of the missing witness and the special delivery, not courtesy of FTD or .”
“And no one planned to inform me?” She shoves her phone back into her pocket before crossing her arms over her chest.
“I just did.” My lip quirks, but I resist the urge to smile and piss her off more. “You need to realize the danger you’re in. I know you don’t like the idea of sharing your space with me, but we might as well make the best of it.”
She mumbles something I can’t quite decipher and then carefully schools her face into a blank slate. “It goes without saying you’re not to step foot in my bedroom under any circumstances.”
My jaw tenses at the implication. “Trust me, sweetheart, I have no interest in entering your bedroom unless I need to for security purposes.”
She huffs and glances away. “I seriously doubt someone will be in there waiting to kill me, Batman.”
I shrug and set my duffel on the floor. “Fine, suit yourself. I have no doubt you’ll be screaming for me if something happens anyway. Just like you did with the rat.”
Her nose wrinkles like she smells something foul. “You’re so full of yourself.”
“Or,” I step closer, smug satisfaction oozing through me as she retreats to maintain the distance between us, “maybe you’ll be screaming my name for a different reason.”
Lucy’s gorgeous eyes widen. “What…are you kidding me? You’re disgusting! Keep this up, and I’ll complain to Veronika about your unprofessionalism.”
I smooth my shirt. I mean, she’s not wrong. I’ve never behaved this unprofessionally in my life. She’s also bluffing. I already know Lucy well enough to realize she’s not one to go crying to others for help. She’ll push back, see if she can force me to cave first.
I’ve won this round, so I’ll stop poking her. For now.
“Relax, princess.” I turn around to kick off my boots. “Shouldn’t you be getting your beauty sleep?”
Her eyes narrow. I’m glad I can’t read whatever vicious thoughts are cycling through her head.
When the smirk appears, a wave of uneasiness floods me.
“Maya’s room is also off limits.” Lucy jerks her chin toward the tiny loveseat opposite her television set. “You can take the couch.” She grins.
I glance at the couch in question and utter a mental curse. To fit myself on that thing, I’d need to become a contortionist.
Lucy flounces off to her room while I tip my head back and stare at the ceiling.
This assignment just keeps getting better and better.