Page 105 of No Longer Safe

“There was an attempted break-in that happened at Ace’s penthouse. I was supposed to be in upstate New York and I guess whoever broke in knew we would all be gone for the wedding. I returned just as they were leaving. Got a few good wounds to show off, but I’ll be back in working order next week.”

“Yeah right, I’m coming over. You can only avoid me for so long.”

“Carina’s mom isn’t very good company I’m afraid.”

“Where are you?” Her voice squealed out of the speaker.

“Maybe it is a good idea if you come over.”

I closed my eyes. I didn’t know how I was going to convince her that this was all an attempted break-in when I was all of a sudden back with Alexei and going to move in with him. My parents chalked it up to him realizing his real feelings and not wanting to waste another minute. I was sure they were slightly suspicious but all they wanted was for me to be happy and they knew how much I cared for Alexei.

“Where are you?”

“I’ll send you the address.”

Lu banged on the door twenty minutes later. I could hear her through the front door at the bodyguard posted there. “Who are you?”

“She’s good, Vance!” I shouted. Alexei still didn’t want me anywhere near answering the door. He had hired several guys from Axel’s gym who rotated watching the house and vetting people at the front door. Vance pushed the door open and let my friend inside. She gasped when her eyes landed on my face.

“Hot damn to all of this. Who’s house is this again?”

“Alexei’s.”

“Audrey’s,” Alexei said at the same time from the stairway. His mother still on his arm.

Lu whistled low. “Got somewhere we could talk privately?”

“She has an office on the second floor,” Alexei said for me. I hadn’t mapped out the house. I’d hardly had any time to really consider what all the spaces would be. I didn’t know how I was supposed to even live with this man.

Lu walked up the stairs behind me. I pushed the door open and the back window had a direct view of Central Park.

“Do you love him?” Lu sat down on the floor right up against the window.

“Yes.”

“Have you told him?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because I feel like this is moving really fast.”

“If all of this happened months ago before everything was broken off, would you have believed it was too fast?”

I shook my head.

“If you love him and the engagement is off with the heiress then that’s all that matters. Nothing else does. All I want, and I’m sure everyone else, is for you to be happy.”

I nodded. My head still seemed to be spinning. “Don’t wait to tell him.” She pressed her lips together. “This new office space is kind of swanky. You should tell my dad you want to work from home from now on.”

“We could always work in the park.” I didn’t care where I got to work as long as I got to do it.

“I’m sure he would love to know that you have a better office at home than at the actual office. He’s been feeling so guilty over giving you a broom closet.”

“Lu,” I laughed. “I’ll need to hear this from him.”

She shrugged. “I hate to see you like this but I’m glad you two are working out your differences. He looked lifeless with those bimbos. He looks like he’s alive again. I figured all of that was fake with those girls. It was, wasn’t it?”

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