Page 95 of A Lethal Game of Trust

He was out of the apartment and down the stairs in seconds. Issy wouldn’t go in the lift since our kidnap.

“He’s keen on this new rebound,” Jack laughed and his handgrazed mine as we followed Issy out. He stayed with me at the door as I locked up.

A new girl. He was keen on her. I really was nothing to him.

“I’m glad we’re doing this,” he said, offering me his hand. I busied myself with the key. “I meant what I said; you look amazing.”

Sweet. He was just so sweet. Too sweet.

This would be absolutely fine if Dom was not out with us. It was one thing going on a date with his friend, another thing him being there for it. Or forcing me to see him with another woman.

35

Approximately Three Days

Dom

Miridle was the most expensive restaurant in the whole of the city. Earlier that day, I had asked Jack where Mia had booked to tell my date and only rolled my eyes in response.

DOM: Table is booked for 8 pm at Miridle. See you there.

IVY: Lovely, I haven’t been there yet, but I’ve heard great things! Can’t wait to see you again xx

Sure.

It may have occurred to me that I could pretend my date bailed on me and just go on this double date alone. That way, soon enough, Jack would become the third wheel, leave and I’d get Leonie to myself again.

But my reputation had taken the slightest hit — more of a tap — since Mia went screwing other guys.

So Ivy was my pick. Chris’ quiet cousin, who I had met at last year’s Christmas work party for Belov Security. Apparently, he had hired her in some capacity.

Issy made idle chit-chat with Jack in the car as Leonie and Isat in stony silence. She’d probably noticed my nostrils flaring when I saw her hand threaded through his.

And as soon as Issy pulled up outside of the restaurant and we got out, she left us behind in an awkward quiet.

“Your date not here yet?” Jack asked, looking around more than I did as we waited to be seated.

“Don’t know,” I said with a shrug, checking in on Ghost through my newly installed cameras. He was sleeping, belly up on the sofa.

“Thought you were quite excited by this rebound,” Jack said with a laugh. “Seems you’re not.”

Leonie reached for his hand, her eyes darting around the bar area, scanning for any woman that might be my date.

“He’s just excited to get some,” Leo said, pressing into his side as someone walked past her. “Doesn’t matter who. She’ll last approximately three days.”

I glanced up at her from my phone and she gave me a flinch of a sarcastic smile.

Did we only have three days together? Surely not.

Jack stroked her back and nodded pleasantly to the hostess as she pulled up the reservations for the night on her tablet.

“Table for Mia… Dom, what’s her last name?”

“Mia Vendegift,” I said.

DOM: We’re here. Where are you?

IVY: My bus was a bit late. Will be there in five minutes!