Page 27

CHAPTER 27

Tristan

“Do you know anything about cars?” Birdie’s voice streams from her office as I exit the control room.

“A thing or two, ma’am,” Marcus says.

Keys rattle. “Excellent. These are my car keys. It’s in the garage, but I haven’t used it in a while,” she says, standing behind her desk when I lean against the doorframe. “Can you check if it’s running? I’d like to take it for a spin.”

I fold my arms across my chest. “Where are you going?”

She hands Marcus the keys without so much of a glance my way. “Tristan, nice of you to finally join us.”

Great. She’s more upset than when I left her this morning, as she should. I wasn’t there when that detective showed up unannounced and grilled her about Saldana. “Where are you going?” I repeat.

“Please let me know when it’s ready. I’ll go get dressed.” She smiles at Marcus and taps his shoulder on her way out. Then she flashes her teeth at me. “I like him. He should be my number one.”

A tightness grips my chest at the way her hand has lingered on his arm, at the stabbing words that followed. She’s messing with me, punishing me still, but I can’t shake that irrational surge of...possessiveness over her.

“Give me those keys,” I glare at Marcus, my voice a gritty growl, “now.”

“I said Marcus, not you,” she says in warning, sashaying away.

My hands curl into fists as I dart after her. She ups her pace, as if racing me to her room. “Seriously?”

She lifts her chin defiantly and runs up the stairs. I roll my eyes and climb after her. My feet gain on hers easily; I’m a foot taller than she is. Then I cut her path in the hallway. “What did I say this morning? You never—”

“Enter a closed room, not even in your own house, without me or someone from the team securing it first,” she finishes the sentence for me.

“Good, because I don’t like to repeat myself. Follow me.”

I slam open her bedroom door, and after inspection, I say, “Clear.”

She saunters inside and then gestures for me to leave with a dismissive wave.

I stride to the door but only to close it. “You can’t just decide to go for a drive. There are different security arrangements for vehicles. While we secure you, another team should be following to secure the car. With the current situation, we need every man inside the house. If you just wait until tomorrow, I can bring more men in to—”

“I’m only taking it for a spin. I don’t need a parade for that. Marcus will suffice. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to change.”

That woman is going to be the death of me. “We need to talk about that detective.”

“Do we? You can review the meeting in the control room, if you haven’t already. You’ll see that Marcus got my back. He was amazing in there.”

Inexplicable jealousy simmers beneath the surface at the thought of her newly forming admiration. The irrational need to keep her close, to reestablish my place, overshadows any rationality. I’m losing my grip, and I must regain control before it’s too late. “Stop pushing me, Birdie. This won’t end well for any of us.”

She walks toward me, every step quickening my heartbeat, and stops only when she’s one breath away from shattering my composure. Then her brows knit in confusion. “I don’t understand why you’re so worked up. Marcus is one of my bodyguards, the man in charge when you’re not here. I only asked him to start up my car, make sure it was running after being untouched for so long. Per Monarca protocol, I must choose one of the team to come with me as I take it for a drive, and I choose Marcus to accompany me while we get some air and…enjoy the ride.”

I can’t stand the idea of her being with another man, even if it’s one of the security team like Marcus, just driving in a car alone together . Mine. The word slithers through me. “Birdie,” I growl instead.

She peers up at me intently, a sickly-sweet smile on her lips. “Wait a second. Are you... jealous?”

Unmistakably. “Stop,” I hiss. “You don’t understand.”

“What do I not understand, Tristan?”

“I had to ignore it. Last night… That voice… I can’t listen. And you…” Goddamn you for waking it. “You have to stop pushing me, Birdie.”

“And if I don’t, what are you going to do about it?”

It takes every ounce of willpower to fight the urge to pull her into my arms, fist a hand in her hair and crush my mouth against hers in a harsh, branding kiss like I’ve been wanting, needing to, since her lips feathered on mine. A shudder runs through her as she seems to sense the dark possessiveness rolling off me in waves. I wait for her to recoil but she doesn’t. Am I at the crossroads or have I already chosen the path? “Trust me. You don’t wanna know.”