Page 18 of Bossy Wicked Prince

Her shoulders drop and she sighs. “Why bother? They never do anything about it. All it does is make a record of what happened, but nothing ever changes, and they never find the people responsible anyways.”

She might be right, but I hate it. Whoever did this deserves to be locked up. Fuck, what if Cat had been home alone when they broke in? What if she was in bed, asleep? What if…

Unwittingly, I picture two masked men all in black breaking in the patio door. I see them sneaking through the living room and into Cat’s bedroom. They loom over her small body, her face soft from sleep. Her bare legs tangled in her sheets.

They might’ve come looking for money and valuables, but what if they found her…

What if this was HarryfuckingPinkerton?

My fists clench until my knuckles turn white. Anything could have happened. She shouldn’t be staying in a place like this.

Cat tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, avoiding looking at me. “Thanks for the ride, Nate. You should…you should probably go home now.”

I shake my head. “I’m not leaving you here.”

When she looks up at me, her wide amber eyes flicker with wounded pride. “This is where I live.”

“Not tonight, you don’t. Grab some things. You’ll stay in my guest room until that asshole installs proper security and gets your door fixed.”

“What? I can’t intrude on you like that.” She shakes her head, but her eyes dart toward the patio door, broken and open to the cold night. She’s smart enough to know that staying here isn’t an option.

“Is there anyone else you can stay with?” I ask, and grind my teeth when I realize I hope the answer is no.

“My friend Pippa…but it’s way too late to call her.” Cat lets out a long breath. “I could stay at a motel.”

The look on my face must say it all because she purses her lips and huffs.

“Fine. I’ll go pack.”

“Great. I’ll be right outside.”

Once I’m outside and out of earshot but not out of eyeshot, I dial my business manager. The phone rings three times before he picks up.

“This is John,” he says blearily. It’s not the first time I’ve woken him up, but as always, he’s too much of a professional to complain.

“3534 Beckett Street,” I say. “Buy it.”

If Steve can’t manage basic security for his buildings, it’s time for someone qualified to take over.

I hear John typing on the other end. “Four-story apartment building?” he asks.

“Yes.”

“Looks pretty run down, boss.”

“Did I ask how it looked?”

“Right. Checking for the listing now. Hmm. Doesn’t look like it’s for sale.”

"Everything's for sale if you offer the right price.” I tap my foot, impatient to get this done. Cat will be out any second.

“Buy the building and then get one of my lead guys from UPS over there to install proper security throughout the entire thing with increased measures and tamper proof glass in all street level apartments. I want the deal done and closed and the security installed by next Friday."

Cat steps out onto her small patio and turns to close the door, laughing darkly to herself when she remembers it's broken.

“But Nate, that’s?—”

“Just get it done,” I growl before hanging up as Cat quickly rushes over to me.