Page 13

Thirty minutes later, thanks to monster traffic, Drake entered his apartment and immediately set out to find Spencer.

She was standing in the kitchen, munching on some grapes, talking to his sister Kathleen.

He walked over, dropped a kiss on the top of her head, and then popped a grape into his mouth. “Hey Kat, how are you?”

Kathleen Drake smiled at her brother. “I’m doing well. We were just talking shopping in Europe. Spencer thinks I should go to Paris. I’m not sure.”

“When are you going to Europe?” Drake asked, eating another grape.

“The day after the wedding. I decided it was time to go explore a bit. Since your nephew went off to college, I’ve been a bit lonely. I thought he would be back after classes finished, but he’s off doing an internship in D.C.”

Drake looked over at his sister, guilt written all over his face.

Kathleens’s eyes narrowed. “You set up the internship at the Capital’s clubhouse."

"Guilty as charged. Sorry, Kat. He reached out and I automatically got him the interview. He got the job all on his own merit, though. I swear.” He held up a hand.

Kathleen sighed and then smiled. “I’m happy for him, and I appreciate the help you gave him. It just leaves me with time to fill. I thought maybe it was time to explore some of the history and culture of Europe.”

She got off the stool she’s been sitting on. “But first, I thought I might do a bit of shopping.”

“Paris is good, but if it’s shopping you’re after, Milan might be the better bet,” he added.

“Not helpful,” Kathleen said as she lightly punched her brother on the arm. “Don’t give me more options.” She glanced at her watch. “I have to run.” She gave Spencer a quick hug and did the same with her brother. “See you at the wedding.”

Spencer waved her goodbyes and watched Kathleen disappear into the elevator. Then she looked up. “I know you didn’t want to alarm Kathleen… but how are you, really?”

“I’m fine,” he said, though his tone was slightly guarded.

“I know you like to think of yourself as super tough—and you are,” she commented as she stroked his bicep, “but I also know the Callahans have been there for you in ways most people haven’t.

I know you’re upset about this business with Gage.

.. and I know you’re even more upset because it’s Teddy B. ”

Drake stared at the woman who had captured his heart. It was still unfathomable to him how she managed to understand him so deeply when so many people in his life—all his life—had failed to. She hadn’t known him long, and yet she knew him better than anyone.

He pulled her into his arms and gave her a long hug, once again marveling at how something so simple could bring him so much comfort. When he let her go, she popped another grape into her mouth and smiled up at him.

“Now I know you’re fine,” she said with a wink.

She rested her hands on his chest, the warmth from her palms calming him for the first time since Hawk mentioned Teddy B.

“I have feelers out. I’m waiting for one of my contacts to get back to me.

Teddy B is quite the guy,” Spencer added as she stepped out of his arms, pulled out one of the stools at the breakfast bar, and sat down.

Drake grunted. “You have no idea.”

“Actually,” she said, “I do. One of my contacts has been watching him for quite a few years. She sent me the lowdown. Teddy B has been hated far and wide for a long time.”

Drake cocked his head. “Hated? That’s news to me. Teddy was the darling of English society.”

Spencer nodded. “ Was being the operative word. Turns out, he tried to pull that same investment scam he ran on you on several other people. And one in particular didn’t go well.

Much like you solved the problem... they solved it, too.

Only this time, the guy Teddy B tried to burn had connections—deep ones.

Dangerous connections, you know. Once word got out, Teddy’s circle turned on him. So, he’s officially on the outs.”

Drake leaned back against the counter, a dark smile tugging at his lips. “Well, well, well. That’s nice to hear.”

Spencer grinned. “I thought you’d like that. Not only is he out of favor with his former crowd, but he’s tried to establish himself in different places all over the world. And from what I’ve heard, it’s not going well. Where he used to ride high, now he’s dealing with scum—the lowest of the low.”

She paused, then added, “Okay, I shouldn’t say that. I mean, it’s not street level, but he’s not working with the fine quality citizens he used to.”

“Not that the British aristocracy are fine quality citizens,” Drake said dryly.

Spencer snorted. “Not in the slightest. But you get my point.”

“So, who’s he dealing with these days?” he asked.

“From what I could gather, African warlords.”

Drake let out a bark of laughter. “That’s quite the comedown for Teddy B.”

She shrugged. “I think he’s even dealing with some terrorist organizations in the Middle East.”

Any trace of humor vanished from Drake’s face. “Now that sounds more like him.”

“But why would someone like that want to frame Gage?” Spencer mused, leaning back in the stool.

Drake could only shrug. “No idea.”

Spencer shook her head. “My friend at MI6 is going to dig deeper and get back to me. I pressed her on the urgency, so hopefully, we’ll hear something in the next hour or so.”

Drake’s eyes moved over the woman who possessed his heart. “So… we’ve got some time to kill,” he said with a suggestive smile.

Spencer popped a grape into her mouth, but caught sight of that look in his eyes. Her own lips curved.

“I don’t know that we have that kind of time.”

Drake’s grin turned wicked. “Aw, honey, I think we do.”