Page 51 of Danger and Dominance (Black Fox Security Doms #1)

“That sounds smart. So what do you need from me?” He wasn’t going to be any help when it came to making décor decisions, as she knew. She always teased him about how utilitarian his apartment was.

“A place to stay while I’m here. I was going to do a hotel, but I’m trying to budget wisely. I’d ask Grandma, but I think Mom would blow a gasket. Though she is my backup choice because I do need to come.” Though still cheerful, there was more than a little strain in her voice.

Normally, when Audrey visited, she stayed in a hotel.

It had been one of the ways she’d been able to visit without their parents throwing a fit.

She was always trying to keep the peace, and that way, their parents could pretend she was just visiting Pittsburgh, the city, not the son or the stepmother they hadn’t acknowledged in years.

“Budget wisely? Mom and Dad aren’t willing to pay for the hotel even though it’s for your business?” He didn’t say it aloud, but normally, they were controlling enough that they liked to pay for everything. It was their way of making sure Audrey and David felt like they ‘owed’ them.

David had gotten out of that trap, but it was a tactic that had always worked really well on Audrey.

That and the fact she didn’t like disappointing them, whereas David had eventually realized he couldn’t live up to what they wanted without losing everything about himself.

Audrey had managed to live in the middle space for so long, he had started to assume it would always be that way.

“Ah, yeah, well. It turns out, they thought I was going to fail long before this point.” She hummed, a little noise that she did when she was holding back her emotions.

Their parents didn’t believe in their children expressing themselves, especially when they were upset.

“For some reason, they didn’t think I was serious. ”

That tracked. They’d done the exact same thing when he’d decided to join the army, all the way up until when he’d actually left. It didn’t matter that he’d signed a contract, they’d been sure they could buy him out of it when he changed his mind—not if, when.

You’d think they would have learned their lesson, but apparently not.

“Of course, you can stay with me,” he said immediately. “Though I can put you up in a hotel if you prefer. I um… I kind of have someone staying with me at the moment.”

“I can take the couch. It’s no big deal. Unless you think it’ll be too crowded… or if you’d rather not introduce me to your guest.”

The hesitation in her voice had him hurrying to reassure her.

“No, no, it’s not that at all. In fact, I very much want you to meet her.

” He cleared his throat, shifting out of the way of a couple who passed him on their way into the restaurant.

Moving farther from the doorway, he settled beside one of the large potted plants beside the entrance.

“And there won’t be any need for you to sleep on the couch. The guest room is still open.”

Pure silence.

He waited.

“Oh… oh. So, it’s like that, is it?” Audrey sounded gleeful. “When I talked to Grandma last week, she mentioned something, but I thought she was exaggerating. Cassidy, right?”

“Yes. And she might have been exaggerating. Cassidy moved in with me for her own protection. She’s got an obsessive, abusive ex who’s been stalking her.”

“Okay, well, that sucks. But she’s staying in your room? Is that for her own protection, too?” There was real concern in Audrey’s voice. Though she kept her tone light, it was still more strained than it had been. She would remember what had happened to Tasha, too.

“No, that’s for my enjoyment.”

Audrey made a gagging noise, and he grinned. She should know better than to prod at him; she was always going to regret it. That’s what older brothers were for.

“All gross innuendoes aside, I can’t wait to meet her. Just try to keep it down while I’m there, okay?”

“Sure, we’ll break out the ball gag just for you.”

She made a groaning noise.

“I’m starting to think I should call Grandma instead.”

David chuckled.

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop. Seriously, I’m looking forward to you meeting her. I think you’ll like her. And the whole team should be in town for once, so we should all get together at some point. The ones who haven’t met you yet are excited to.”

“I’m excited to meet them! I’m sure we can find a time that works. It’s not like I’ll be able to do any apartment shopping or work in the evenings.”

“Great. I’ve gotta get back. We’re celebrating Claudia’s birthday right now, but text me tomorrow with all the details of when you’ll be coming in and whatnot.”

“Oh, tell her happy birthday for me! And say hi to everyone!”

“I will.”

“See you next week, big brother!”

“See you then. Stay safe, and don’t let the parentals get you down.”

“I won’t,” she promised, but they both knew she was lying. Still, there wasn’t much he could do. He was just glad she was finally getting out of Philly and coming to Pittsburgh to be closer to him. Farther from them.

If she was ever going to get their hooks out of her, distance could only help.

For now, he set his thoughts of his sister aside. He wanted to get back to his girl.