Page 49 of Retribution

He nods. ‘That womanhas emerged. She’s lurking, so watch what you say, Master Jack.’

I nod in understanding.

‘I’m just here to see Pop,’ I say loudly enough for anyone listening to hear.

‘I’m afraid he’s on an important call, sir. Perhaps it would be best to call on him later.’

‘You’re right, Stephens. My father is a very busy man and he hates interruptions. I’ll come back tomorrow. Any particular time?’

The butler thinks for a moment. ‘Evening, I believe, sir. Perhaps you and your father could have dinner.’

‘Perfect. Do I need to speak to his assistant?’

‘I’ll let her know, Master Jack. Good afternoon.’

He practically closes the door in my face, as I hear clicking heels and a woman who can only bethat woman, demanding to know what I was doing there.

‘Master Jack is welcome in his family home, Nurse Smith,’ Stephens says in clipped tones. ‘He merely came to see his father.’

‘And where wasshe?’ I hear her cry in shrill tones.

‘Miss Marguerite was on her run around the grounds which she takes most days as you’re aware. She returned a few minutes ago and is now...’

I stop listening and go to my car, gazing up at her window for a second. I hate leaving her here. At least I was able to smuggle her in some clothes, and the shower products she likes.

As I leave my father’s house, a red Miata drives up, and I take my time so I can see who it is. My jaw drops when Lu Garrett steps out, wrapped in a fur coat complete with matching fur hat, and looking like she invests in blood diamonds.

I shake my head. She mentioned she’d be pretending to be someone else, but she’s gone full method actor.

Knowing Daisy will be in safe hands, I drive into Richmond, parking by the side of the club and going inside. Work has only just started, so it’s still a blackened shell with a jagged, gaping hole in the middle of the floor from the blast. The lab, miraculously, was almost untouched. I’ve locked it up and given strict instructions that if anyone needs to get in there, they’re to come to me.

Our bedroom off the Dark Lounge, however, was completely destroyed. Our bed was crushed. If Daisy or Blake had still been in there when the bomb went off…. I swallow hard and try not to think about it.

They’re alive. They weren’t killed.

I look around quickly, making sure everything is the way it should be. On the way out, I notice a parked car at the front with a guy sitting in it, reading the paper. At first, I think it’s a cop, but then I realize he’s familiar to me. One of Sauvage’s guys. He ignores me completely.

Why is he watching the club? Is this about the stalker? I pretend I don’t see him, though, and hope I’m not about to be pulled off the street into an unmarked van. That French fuck loves doing that shit.

I get a short message from a frustrated Mav, who is currently taking a break from working in Sauvage’s lab inside some bunker under his ritzy hotel. He still can’t get Envy right. He’s made two batches and they’re not coming out the way Daisy’s do. He’s getting pissed at himself and Sauvage is already starting to become impatient.

I wonder for a second if Ishouldask Daisy to contact Mav about it, but I shake the idea off instantly. Daisy has enough people who want to hurt her. I was serious before. We don’t want that crazy French asshole anywhere near our girl. I don’t even want to imagine whathemight do to her.

I go back to the KIP house, where we’ve been spending most of our time, and find that Blake isn’t there. I take a shower, fisting my dick to thoughts of Daisy this morning. The sounds she made, the way my back burns under the hot water from the scratches she left. I come hard, my body shuddering, but it’s nowhere near as satisfying as being buried inside her.

As I walk back to my room, I see that Blake is now in his room.

‘How is she?’ he asks immediately.

‘She was okay, considering. She was out for a run when I got there. I was able to spend a little time with her alone.’

‘Lucky fucker,’ he snarls good-naturedly.

I can’t help my Cheshire cat grin, but I take our conversation into less agreeableterritory because, however much he’s pretending he’s fine, I know Blake and he’s anything but without Daisy here. She’s his anchor. I mean, maybe she’s all of ours, and maybe we’re hers too.

‘Found any info on the Winters family, the stalker, the bombing, or the fires? Anything at all?’ I ask with a sniff, assuming that ,as usual, there will be nothing new to report.

‘Yeah, actually,’ he replies, surprising me as he turns back around to face me. ‘I was just gonna bring it up.’