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H arlow decided that a heavy make-out session seriously enhanced the appetite. Either that or Grayson’s grilled cheese sandwiches were so good that she couldn’t resist a second one when he offered. He’d made them on sourdough bread, and inside were three different gourmet cheeses, crisp bacon and a sliced tomato. She never would have thought to put a tomato on a grilled cheese sandwich, but right then and there, she decided that was the only way she was going to eat them from now on.

She nibbled on the kettle chips he’d added to the plates while the guys ate their third sandwich. “Where are you people putting that?” Liam still sat next to her, and Grayson and Cooper were on the other side of the island, standing up to eat.

“Growing boy here,” Cooper said, patting his stomach.

She loved the banter and all-in-fun insults they slung at each other. It was obvious that there was love and respect among them. She envied their friendship. She’d had close friends once, and seeing these guys together made her regret even more that she’d allowed Anthony to cut her off from her friends.

Cooper pulled the bread apart on the last half of his sand wich and eyed the cheese. “What do you call cheese that isn’t yours?”

Grayson groaned. “Not the dad jokes. I beg you.”

“Nacho cheese,” Liam said.

Cooper poked his arm. “Hey, stop horning in on my punch lines. Just for that, I get to tell another one.”

Her gaze slid to Grayson, who rolled his eyes, but she caught the twitch of his lips as he tried to hide his amusement.

“What do you call two ducks and a cow? Quackers and milk,” Cooper said without giving anyone time to answer.

She laughed.

Grayson reached across the counter and tapped her hand. “Don’t encourage him.”

“Sorry. Couldn’t help it.”

Cooper winked at her. “At least someone around here appreciates me.”

While they joked around, Grayson stacked the dishwasher and cleaned the counters. “Time to talk,” he said as he leaned back against the sink. His eyes met hers. “I need to ask you some things about Pressley.”

Must they? She sighed. “Okay.”

“Can you give me a list of the people who work for him, what their jobs are, who the ones closest to him are, what his typical day is like and the layout of his house? The most important information is who comes and goes in his house and when.”

“That’s a lot, and it might take me a day or two. Also, I don’t know what’s changed since I left.”

“No problem. Just be as thorough as you can. You said you know the combination to his safe?”

“Yes, unless he’s changed it.”

“Let’s hope not. Include that and any other information you think would be helpful.”

“What’s your plan to get in the safe? If it’s going to be dangerous for you, I… I don’t want you to do it. I’ll think of some other way to get Tyler back.” She didn’t know how, but she couldn’t live with something happening to him—to any of them—on her conscience.

“You let us worry about that, okay?”

Liam leaned toward her, bumping his arm against hers. “We’re like ninjas. Sneaky, invisible and badass. No need to be worrying about us.”

But she would.

* * *

Why today? Harlow groaned. As much as she wished otherwise, that was Anthony’s car in her space when she arrived home. She’d had a wonderful morning with Grayson, and she resented that her ex was going to ruin the rest of her day. What she wanted to do was sit out on her balcony and think about kissing Grayson, how her lips felt against his, how every nerve in her body had hummed in pleasure.

He’d told her to think about what she wanted before they went any further. She didn’t need to think about it, she wanted more, but that he needed her to be sure only proved how honorable he was.

Unlike the man leaning against his car as she approached. Anthony couldn’t care less about her feelings. The man she had at one time thought handsome until she’d seen the ugliness inside him watched her like a predator stalking its prey. And that was what she’d always been to him. Prey to be devoured until she forgot who she was.

But she was remembering.

“You’ve been gone all morning,” he said as if she’d com mitted a crime. His gaze traveled over her, pausing on her bare legs, and his lips thinned.

She stopped on the sidewalk, keeping her distance from him. “What’s it to you?”

“I was going to let you spend time with Tyler, but that window has closed.”

Liar! There was no way he was going to let her see her boy. “I’m so tired of your games, Anthony.” She took a step closer and let him see her hate for him in her eyes. “I’m done playing them.”

A smirk played over his lips. “I don’t think so.” He moved until there were only a few inches between them, then he gripped her chin, his fingers squeezing so hard that tears stung her eyes. “I own you, Harlow. Don’t ever forget that. I can do with you as I please.”

With that said, he returned to his car. At the door, he gave her a grin so sinister that chills snaked down her spine. “And I do please.”

It took every ounce of her strength to remain standing, not to sink down on legs that felt like over cooked noodles.

He backed out of her parking space, then the car stopped and he rolled down the window. “I don’t know where you’ve been all morning dressed like that, but if I find out you’re cheating on me, whoever he is, they’ll never find his body. You can believe me on that.”

Oh, God. Somehow, she managed to stay upright until his car disappeared from sight. The moment she couldn’t see it anymore, her legs decided they were done pretending to be brave. He’d said to believe him, and she did. She had to fire Grayson and The Phoenix Three.

Until she’d met Grayson, kissed him, wanted more with him, nothing had mattered but getting her son back. But she knew him now, and she couldn’t be the reason he got hurt or worse. Anthony had a tracker on her car and phone.

What if he knew she’d spent the morning with Grayson? They’d been careful. When she’d left, he’d sent Liam via the road to where she’d parked, to keep an eye out for anyone watching her. Cooper had walked ahead of her along the beach until she’d reached the parking lot. If any of Anthony’s men had been around, they would have noticed.

So what if he’d tracked her to the beach? He couldn’t know where she was or whom she’d been with. Her phone! As she sat on the sidewalk, it hit her that she’d forgotten to record her conversation with Anthony, his most threatening one now. If she’d gone for a spy career, she would have been fired her first day.