Page 188 of Fallen Princess: Shadow Stalker

“I’m good with the shake for now, thanks.”

“I heard the shower on in Haze’s room,” Ash remarks. “And I saw Callum heading to the gym.”

“That’s early for him,” Eden chuckles.

“Yeah, I think he’s trying to break his tobacco habit and is switching his addiction to sports.”

“Well, that’s a good thing, I guess,” she says and sighs. “What should I do about Catalina?”

Asher opens the fridge door but turns to us. “Have I missed something?” His eyes dart between the two of us, and Eden explains the text message.

“I have to pick up Storm later this morning, but I don’t want to drag Carl with me to find Catalina.”

I exchange a glance with Asher.

“What?” Eden asks.

“Eddie, darling,” Ash leaves his breakfast preparations, grabs a stool, and slides it over to her. “Rick’s funeral is taking place today. Carl said his family didn’t want to create a delay. He’s with Rick’s wife today.”

“I didn’t even know he was married.”

“Security detail rarely talk about their personal lives, mostly because of privacy reasons. Carl left me with the funeral details in case you want to go.”

She nods her head with determination.

“We should attend his funeral. I also would like to reach out and see if his wife needs anything. He died protecting me. It’s the least I can do to see his family get through this. Did they say anything about the other person who died in the blast?”

“Umm, yeah, Carl spoke with his contact at the LAPD. A homeless person was there at the wrong time. I think they are looking for their next of kin.”

“Oh.” She looks down in thought. “What happens if they can’t find the family?”

“Dunno about here, but in England, they’d get a pauper’s burial in an unmarked grave that’s shared.”

“Shared grave?” she shakes her head in disagreement. “No, that won’t do. Can you try and find out? Maybe they’d allow me to cover their funeral costs and get them a proper grave with a plaque and their name on it. They died unnecessarily, and everyone deserves a proper place of final rest.”

Asher picks up her hand and kisses it.

“You’re a real gem.”

She definitely is.

“Eden,” I catch her attention away from Ash. “I’ll phone the FBI agent and let them know of your wishes. I’ll also let Carl know we’ll be attending Rick’s funeral. I can drive you to pick up Storm afterward.”

“And I have to be in Irvine later this afternoon,” Asher announces. “Why don’t you arrange to meet Catalina at that Greek diner we once visited in Huntington Beach. I can drop you off on the bike and pick you up once I finish. That way, you have an excuse to cut your meeting short with her if things get tense like they did in New York.”

“I’d feel better if she had one of Carl’s men with her,” I interject, feeling slightly uneasy about still letting her around LA without a proper escort.

“I don’t want to do this in front of security. This is too personal.”

“Fine,” I mumble, not happy with the idea. “But you,” I turn to Asher, “make sure the area seems decent and that you don’t delay picking her up.”

He nods in agreement and turns to Eden, pushing a strand of hair from her face, and his hand lingers on her cheek. “What do you say to dinner after? Just you and me, and leave these wankers here.”

Charming, except I stay silent after seeing Eden’s face blow up with a massive smile.

“Like a date?” I don’t miss the excitement in her voice.

He grins back at her. “Yeah, like a date.”

---