Page 6 of Undercover Savior

“No!” Con gasped. “NottheMiss Rivers.”

Gus wasn’t the only one who’d had to endure my stories. All three of my friends had heard ad nauseam about the then-eight-year-old girl who’d captured my heart.

“I couldn’t do it,” I admitted.

“Of course you couldn’t,” muttered Tag. “You’re Savior, not Lucifer.”

“Most times, I feel like the latter,” I responded under my breath to the man I knew understood better than most others. I cleared my throat. “Most troubling right now is that it’s unclear who issued the order.”

“I’ve received a communication from Typhon on that subject,” said Con.

I wasn’t surprised. “I spoke with him a few minutes ago, and he requested that, until we can determine exactly what happened tonight and why, I be the one responsible for asset protection.”

“Where is Sullivan now?” Con asked.

“In the other room.” Which reminded me she was also bound to a chair. I couldn’t leave her that way much longer.

“What’s your plan?” Gus asked, no doubt already anticipating my response.

“To bring her with me to Ashcroft. It’ll be the easiest place to keep her safe.”

This pertained to him more than the others, given his mother’s position at the estate.

“One hiccup,” he said. “My mum informed me earlier that Brose arrived today and plans to remain through the first of the year.”

Ambrose Ashcroft, who insisted everyone call him Brose as Gus had, was my father’s younger brother and the bane of my dad’s existence when he was still alive. While he claimed to make a living as an international art dealer and collector, I knew that, prior to my becoming duke, Brose received an extravagant allowance from the estate. Thankfully, my father had set up an irrevocable trust to continue his brother’s annual stipend, saving me from having to dole it out, as well as a potential argument about an increase.

The man was more a doddering nuisance than a threat. However, I wouldn’t risk exposing Sullivan to him.

“You could stay in the cottage until we can figure out a compelling-enough reason to get Brose to leave,” Gus suggested.

“Theone-bedroomcottage?”

“Look at it this way, Ash. Your childhood fantasy is finally becoming reality,” joked Con.

I didn’t laugh. His suggestion reminded me that Sullivan was currently wearing a red, sexy-as-fuck gall gown. “One other thing. She’ll need clothing and, err, incidentals.”

“I’ll have it taken care of,” said Gus.

“It needs to be tonight.”

“Understood, Ash.”

At that very moment, I heard the woman screech, followed by what sounded like the chair toppling over.

“Gotta run, gents,” I said before ending the call and racing from the room.

3

SULLIVAN

“Ow,” I groaned when the side of my head hit the floor. Thankfully, there was a plush rug under the chair that had tipped over when I tried to tug my hands free.

“Sullivan!” The man whose name I didn’t know despite him knowing mine came rushing down the hallway.

He removed the belt from my wrists, then lifted me into his arms. Rather than right the chair, he carried me over to the sofa.

“Are you hurt anywhere?” he asked, stroking my hair with one hand while keeping me on his lap with the opposite arm.

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