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Chapter Eight
Ispend the next few weeks trailing Lorcan around the city as he makes deals, leans on people, and accumulates more and more money. I’m never sure what Finn does with his days. Sometimes I see him, but most of the time it’s like Lorcan and I are the only ones in the house. Finn is a ghost.
When my phone buzzes the familiar sequence, I’m sitting on the edge of my bed, contemplating the gym. I swipe the phone off the nightstand and catch sight of the innocuous message.
Lunch is on me today.
Malik.
Glancing at the clock, I realize I have two hours to make it out of the city to a dive bar in Newport, Rhode Island. I throw on my favorite outfit of black pants and shirt and secure my dark hair into a tight ponytail at the base of my neck. Grabbing my jacket off the chair where I tossed it last night, I head down the hall to ask if I can get the day off.
I ring Lorcan’s office, wishing I could let myself in. We go through the usual pattern, and he buzzes me into the room.
“You should put a camera out there so we can dispense with the back-and-forth,” I say as I enter the room.
Lorcan glances up at me from behind his desk. He’s shirtless again, but he hasn’t started his workout yet. Every single time he’s like this, the pit of my stomach flutters.
“We’re already at the stage where you can tell me my systems annoy you?” His tone is mild, with a hint of amusement flickering across his face.
“I think it’s always best to say what you think in the moment.” I smile.
Lorcan’s face fills with disbelief. “No, you don’t.”
“You’re right. I rarely say what I think. You should feel privileged I graced you with an opinion.”
“Privileged.”
“Yes.” In my peripheral vision, the clock ticks, and it snaps me into focus. I should not be flirting with the guy I’m trying to take down. “Do you need me this afternoon?”
He snatches a pen from his desk and rocks back in his high-backed leather chair. “Not necessarily.”
“I used to live in Newport, Rhode Island as a kid,” I say. “I was wondering if I could borrow a car to drive there, look around.”
Lorcan brings the pen to his lips and taps them. “Borrow a car. Drive to Rhode Island by yourself.”
I bristle. “I’m not going to steal your car.”
He chuckles. “That’s not my concern. You’ve been all over the city with me these past few weeks. Your value is increasing, not only to me but to other people who might be watching my organization.”
“You want me to take a guard.”
“Will you?”
“I did when I worked for Carys. It’s not exactly the trip I was hoping for.”
“Or I can come with the guards.”
I frown. “That would be worse.” But also so much better. I’ve gotten used to having him near.
He comes around the desk and stops in front of me. “How confident are you that you can handle this trip by yourself?”
“Very.” My mind is ticking away the minutes. If I miss the window, Malik will be gone, and this conversation will have been for nothing.
Lorcan runs a hand through his hair in a back-and-forth motion, mussing up his blond-brown strands. “You can go.” With a couple of strides, he’s at the lockbox that holds the keys to the cars in the garages. He plucks out a set and tosses them to me.
I catch them in one hand. “An SUV?”
“Good handling, bulletproof glass.” He ambles to me, close enough for the scent of his musky cologne to touch my nose. No mint and oak today. “You’re becoming an asset. I try to protect those.”