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“If you do trust them, maybe you should bring them in on this?” Stuart says, but he doesn’t seem so happy about his own suggestion.

Annika grimaces. “I’ll consider it.”

“What’s the plan, boss?” I ask, needing to do anything to try and find the arseholes responsible for those poor girls’ trauma.

She takes a deep breath, clasping her hands together on the desk in front of her. “I need to speak to some of the men runningthe localised teams, see if they know anything. If an operation like that is happening in my territory, someone knows about it.”

Stuart nods. “I’ll hit the streets, start talking to those in the know.”

Annika sighs again before looking at her trusty right-hand with a neutral expression. “No.”

“No?” Stuart jerks back.

“No, Stuart. I called you here to keep you in the loop out of professional courtesy, but I don’t want you getting involved in this.”

“Anni, I—”

“Lorraine needs you right now. If you start down this path, you’ll be consumed by it until it’s resolved, and I don’t know how long that will take. I won’t be the reason Lorraine sits home alone.”

“I’ll be sure to keep short days,” he tries to reassure but she holds her hand out to stop him.

“Javier and I have this. Please, enjoy your time off and we’ll call you if we need you.” Her eyes dart to mine again and I’m not proud of the warm feeling I get in my chest when she makes us a team in this.

“Annika, I must protest—”

“Don’t make me fire you, Stuart.” The two of them glare at each other across the desk before each of their mouths start to twitch and something tugs at my gut.Jealousy?Surely not.

“How are you doing with all of this?” For a moment, I think Stuart is talking to me, but when I look at him, he’s frowning at Annika with a twitch in his jaw.

She flicks her gaze to me and back to him so quickly I nearly miss it, then she rearranges a notepad on her desk, clearing her throat. “I’m fine.”

Stuart looks at me, too, before sighing. He says nothing else but is definitely unsatisfied with her answer. I’m desperate toknow what all that’s about, but I dare not ask. A quiet knock comes at the door and Annika calls for the person to enter.

Guinevere pokes her head around the door and smiles seeing Stuart. “Hi, Stuart. How are you? How’s Lorraine?”

“We’re all good, lass.” He smiles at her.

“What can I do for you, Miss White?” Annika asks.

“I’ve been talking to the girls, and they told me they’ve never had a burger, I thought it might be nice to order them in for dinner?”

When she’s met with silence, the door pushes open fully and Keeley stands there, all wide eyes and uncertain smiles. “Please Annika, can we?” She suddenly sees Stuart and freezes, her face draining at the site of the stranger with his bulky figure and severe military style haircut. She squeals and runs back, hiding behind Mabel’s legs, who stands in the doorway just behind Guinevere. At seeing her distress, Annika stands but also seems surprised that her legs have pushed her from her chair. Composing herself, she walks over to the girls.

“Mabel, Keeley, I’d like you to meet my colleague, Stuart.” She gestures at him, and he tucks his hands between his knees smiling at them both. “You remember what I said this morning? About you being safe here?”

They both nod, eyes darting between Annika and Stuart.

“Stuart is my most trusted employee and I promise you, you have no reason to fear him. In fact, although you’re safe with any of the people under my employ, you should know that if you need anything, if you’re concerned by anything, it’s myself, Stuart, Harvey, Guinevere, or Lee you should come to. Do you understand?”

They both nod again.

“Meat ‘n’ Buns on Jay Avenue is the best place for burgers,” Stuart tells Guinevere.

She nods and Annika grimaces. “Don’t worry,” Guinevere reassures her. “I’ll still make you something for dinner.”

“No,” Annika says. “You’ve been with the girls all day, order them and yourself some dinner, I’ll sort myself out. I’m perfectly capable.”

“You’re sure?”