Julian #2
Hold on a minute. What if… I pace over to the window and glance out at Isidoro’s beautiful garden.
From here, I can see the stables that house Mary Eli’s pen.
What if my father didn’t stay home after his driver dropped him off?
There is nothing on the cameras though… But the same is true for whoever killed him, so if someone who didn’t live there could pull it off, what’s to say my father didn’t sneak out without being caught on CCTV?
I fist Isidoro’s sleeve, not even bothering to question how he ended up right next to me.
“We need to go to El Paso. Now.” When his gaze shifts to me with intensity I can’t quite handle, I take a calming inhale.
“I assumed my father was home. You can see when the driver dropped him off. But what if… What if he didn’t stay home and sneaked out to go somewhere?
” I glance at Ria, who nods. “With Ria’s father. ”
“Then why was William alive? He didn’t go missing until later,” Isidoro poses, his hand finding my shoulder.
“Because maybe my father had something to do with Andras’ death…” Ria chips in, flopping back into the chair as a grim expression settles over her face.
My heart hammers inside my chest. “So… You’re saying that whoever killed my dad might have been working with William and might have gone after him too, or something?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised. Allies cross each other all the time when the benefits outweigh their friendship,” Isidoro says, kneading my already tensed muscles.
“I’ll tell Samuel to get the jet ready while we change clothes.
” He glances down at himself, then cocks his head and drinks me in like I’m a display at a museum.
I do my very best not to blush. “Perhaps something less eye-catching would be better so we don’t spook anyone who might not be expecting us there. ”
A knock at the door sounds before he could call his assistants over, Samuel appearing with a bow of his head. “Sire, there is an urgent matter that requires your attention.”
Isidoro’s eyes bounce between all three of us, a hard expression straining his ethereal features. “Are you sure it can’t wait?”
“I’m afraid not. It has to do with the New Haven project. There have been some complications...”
Isidoro makes a sound between displeasure and annoyance. His fingers press a little harder into my shoulder, the added pressure making me wince. “Julian, it seems this matter might have to wait. I must tend to this issue first.”
What? He can’t be serious. “But—”
He presses his index finger to my lips. “You can use the time to catch up on S&S’ matters, or see if you and…” His nose curls. “If you and Ria can find out more.”
“Or we can just go and check out the lead?” I argue, all the excitement threatening to explode.
“No. You are not to go anywhere on your own. If Ria wishes to leave, that is up to her.” He snaps his fingers.
His other two servants appear, bowing their heads.
“Dima, Allen. Make sure Julian is comfortable and has everything he needs while I’m away.
However, he is not to leave the premises without one of you accompanying him. ”
“Understood,” they say in unison.
“But Isi—”
“I will not be long, I promise. Get your affairs in order.” A laptop is handed to me.
Oh, shit. A pleasant buzz overtakes me, my fingers trembling as I boot up the device. I wasn’t expecting him to give me access to S&S until after the meeting. Fuck me, why is he being so nice?
The laptop finishes starting up, presenting me with the login screen. I frown at it—I don’t know the password.
“What’s the password?” I glance at him.
Isidoro leans in, his voice a whisper. “All one word. Isidoroisthebest6969.”
I snort. “What?” Who uses a password like this?
“Isidoroisthebest6969.” He pauses, looks up to the ceiling. “Or maybe it was Naughtyjulian6969. Try both.”
I stare at him, my brain trying to compute. His smile materializes slowly, gradually, a smooth curving of his lips that speeds up my pulse a little. When he’s not glaring or snarling at me, this motherfucker is ten times hotter. Ugh, I better keep him annoyed.
“You have my word that we will go down to El Paso together as soon as I have dealt with this matter,” he says, dragging his fingers through my hair. It feels so fucking good. “Don’t be difficult.”
I want to argue, but it might not be the worst idea to dig a bit more and see if we find anything else about the Red Leaf. Plus, I can’t wait to see how S&S is doing.
“Julian, I need to hear you say you understand.”
I roll my eyes. “Fine, fine. I understand.” At his perched eyebrow, I sigh. “And I won’t try to escape or cause problems for your staff until you’re back. Happy?”
“It will do. Now, excuse me, I must take my leave.”
The room feels bigger the moment he leaves, almost too big. I shiver involuntarily, flopping onto the couch with the laptop. I try both passwords. The device accepts the second one. I roll my eyes—very funny, Isidoro.
Once I’ve changed the password to something more sensible, I log into my email and my company’s internal network. A thousand notifications pop up, messages and emails that need answering.
“Oh boy. This will take a while.”
Ria makes an amused noise as I get started. Part of me is a little annoyed that he prioritized work over me and the mystery we’re solving, but I decide not to dwell on that, afraid that once I’ve gone down that rabbit hole, I might not be able to find my way out.