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“Big bro, I’m telling you it was all a miscommunication?” Bas answered the first call.

I could bet he had been waiting all day for me to call him. “Look, hear me out. A woman I had seen twice thought she saw me the other night, but she saw Luca. Crazy woman followed me last night to the suburbs.”

“Really?”

“Yes, now you see it from my point of view. Honestly, I’m a victim here.”

Pinching the bridge of my nose. I had just suffered through Madeline cleaning half my house with bleach. I was the victim.

“Bastion, on that particular night, were you pretending to be Luca?”

If he thought, I didn’t know about the game they played. He had to think I was stupid. I swear, it was a matter of time before it blows up in their face.

He groaned, “Come on Vince, that’s not fair. Not everyone knows to ask that question.”

“My fiancé thought I was cheating on her.”

“Oh, shit I upset Maddy?” Actual remorse in his voice. Who knew he was capable of it? “Fine, just come over and punch me already. I’ve got a busy night.”

Grinning, “No brother, I’m going to wait. When you least expect it, you’ll get payback for this.”

“Fuck that Vince, come hit me or something already. You know I can’t stand waiting.”

I ended the call. The sheepish look on her face. “Sorry Vince, I umm” she moved back and forth on her heels. “Can we watch my show now? And order food?”

I had a feeling her mood would change when I told her the television wouldn’t be working.

Tomorrow I was contacting the cleaners to ask them to keep all cleaning products out of sight. Maybe I could get them a safe or something.

CHAPTER 24

Madeline

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” I faked a small smile.

Clark slowly ran his tongue over his bottom lip. “Absolutely not,” he gently took the gun from me. “No need for you to be covered in recoil bruises just for me.”

Seriously, it works every time. “Such a gentleman.” Stepping back, watching as he shoots the targets. Silencing my phone when it started to ring, by turning it off. If anything, him realizing he had my undivided attention only helped.

Twenty minutes of ego stroking, before he was ready to step away from the field and negotiate on price. Even with his lunch offer declined, we still got above the expected asking price.

Nate owed me for this. Normally, I dealt with the supplier. It had been years since I handled a buyer. Though it was nice to know I still had it.

Opening my car door, I waited until his cars pulled away.

“I don’t need an escort back,” I looked at the security team. “Tell my uncles to call me if they have a problem with it.” Seriously, having one car was intense, but the five following me around was excessive.

One grabbed my car door, stopping me.

“Mr. Crow has requested that you turn your phone on.”

My eyes widened. “Excuse me?”

He looked immediately uncomfortable. “Your phone. He has requested it to be turned back on.”

Looking at the five cars. “How many of you answer to him?”

Why hadn’t I even questioned the sudden extra security team?