Page 38 of The Warlord

“What do you want?”

“Is Sloane around?”

“I just left her apartment. Why?”

“I wanted to take her shopping then go out for lunch. Maybe show her the sights.”

I rubbed at my eyes. “I can’t let her go anywhere unprotected. Plus, Finnan needs me today.”

“So, send someone with her.”

I couldn’t tell her that I didn’t trust anyone else with her care. “Who the hell would want to trail around with you and Sloane?”

“How about Torin? All he does is drive you around, right?”

“Yeah,” I replied slowly, wondering where the hell she was going with this.

“How about he drops you off to do whatever it is you do with Finnan, and he comes with us.”

My instinct was to sayhell noto the proposition, but before the words could form, I stopped. I thought about it. My men already knew that I’d spent more time than necessary with her this morning—and just now—and that I’d spent even more the night before. If I refused to let someone watch her today, it would give them more reason to talk.

Even though it killed me, I gritted out a “Fine.”

Fallon let out a little whoop of excitement. “Want Torin to bring her to me, or should we meet somewhere?”

“Meet somewhere,” I replied. “I’ll go and ask Sloane now.”

“Just give her your phone,” Fallon said.

My brows rose. “Why?”

“I’ll sell the idea to her better than you can.”

I would do just about anything for my sister, but she knew how far to fucking push me. Turning on my heel, I marched back to the apartment door and opened it. Sloane was in the kitchen, taking a sip of what smelled like coffee from a white porcelain mug. She was still wearing a white t-shirt that showed the shadow of her dusty pink nipples and a pair of black lace panties, but I averted my eyes so I could focus. With my jaw tight, I thrust my phone at her.

With a puzzled expression, she took it and then put it to her ear. Whatever my sister said to her made a small smile appear on her face.

“Sure. I’d love that,” Sloane replied. “When?... Okay. Great. See you then.”

When the call was over, Sloane handed back the phone.

“What time did Fallon want to meet?”

“In an hour.”

Finnan could wait. I took the coffee cup from her hand and waved her off. “I’ll wait for you.”

* * *

An hour later,Torin pulled the Rover to a stop outside a café in town and put the car into park. Fallon was waiting on the curb, practically vibrating with excitement. I got out of the car, circling the back and opening Sloane’s door.

The two women greeted each other with a hug while I slammed the door shut. Turning to Torin, I gave himthe look. The look that said I’d have his balls on a platter if he fucked this up and either Sloane or Fallon got hurt.

“They’re safe with me, Grayson,” he said, trying to reassure me. It was too fucking bad that the only way I’d be reassured was if I was going with the pair. But Finnan was waiting for me, so I had to relinquish control this time.

“Check in with me every thirty minutes. Get her back by six.” I rounded the hood of the car and got into the driver’s seat, tearing away from the curb, and Sloane, before I could change my mind.

I drove too fast to the warehouse where Finnan had set up his primary offices. Even though it looked like a run-of-the-mill industrial building, there were more security measures in place than a maximum-security prison.

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