“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“There’s more where that came from. If you’re a bit nicer to me, I might let you have it straight from the source.”
“What game are you playing? Just make your move already,” I dare him.
“Oh no, I prefer to have you right where you are. You’ll be seeing me. I have only just started with you. Enjoy your time with your husband, Mrs. O’Dell. There isn’t much of it left. Tick tock,” he taunts and hangs up, leaving me worried by his threat. I step in front of Cole, protecting him, as I’m pretty sure the threat was against him and not me.
“Liv? Was that Cade?”
“Yes,” I say quietly. My phone goes off again, making me jump, and the caller ID says ‘CK.’
“Are you okay?” he asks before I can say anything.
“Yes, I think so,” I reply.
“Think so?”
“Cade rang me. His closing statement rattled me,” I say in French so that Cole won’t understand me. I don’t want to worry him. I scrunch my nose up at him and he grimaces at me, knowing I have purposefully excluded him from the conversation but instead of pulling away, he comes closer, draping his arms around me and putting his hands in the front pockets of my jeans. I smile at the action and snuggle up against him.
?
??What did he say?” CK asks.
“He said to enjoy my time with my husband as there isn’t much of it left. I think the threat is against him, not me.”
“I see,” CK says thoughtfully. “Aefre, I want you to let me know immediately if you see him again. Nico is looking for him, but he remains elusive. It seems that he only turns up around you, and only then when he wants you to see him. The man is so far underground, it is a worry,” he pauses but then says, “I will have Nico send some of his team up to you. They can stay on to watch Cole when you come back on Monday night.”
I scowl at the Monday night comment but leave it as he is doing me – and us – a favor.
“Merci,” I say softly, as I know it is hard for him, adding, “I’m grateful.”
“It is of no consequence. I won’t let anything happen to him. I don’t want you that way,” he says quietly. “You can make it up to me on Tuesday,” he adds then with a smile in his voice.
“Mm, indeed,” I mutter, wondering if I should tell him about the bloody rose. Probably not. “I should go,” I add as Cole starts to nuzzle my neck, causing my Dragon to ripple across my back. I inadvertently gasp in delight.
“Yes, well, I shall see you soon,” CK grouses, clearly unhappy with me now. “Au revoir.”
“Au revoir, mon amour,” I say, and he hangs up.
“Liv, my darling. What the fuck is going on?” Cole whispers in my ear, as a crowd of onlookers gawk at our intimate pose.
“Cade is now causing me concern,” I say, needing to tell him something. “CK is sending some people up here to watch over you after I leave on Monday.”
“Monday? I thought you were going on Tuesday?”
“Change of plans,” I sigh.
He frowns at me. “He wants you first thing on Tuesday morning, doesn’t he,” he says angrily.
“Six in the morning,” I answer shortly, and I turn in his arms. “Please be careful. I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you,” I say desperately.
He looks concerned at my tone. “I’ll be fine. I’m more worried about you. This guy seems to be obsessed with you. I’m pretty sure when you leave, he will too.”
“I hope you’re right,” I murmur as I tighten my arms around him.
T he mood has been somewhat soured by recent phone calls, so we head back to the hotel soon after. I’m not surprised to see a basket of white roses outside the suite door.
“Yep, obsession about sums it up,” I mutter as I pick it up, smelling the blood straight away. “Do me a favor and call Devon,” I say, opening the door.