Page 90 of The Black Trilogy

Yes, I was perfectly aware of the havoc it would create with the scheduling of all the other jobs for weeks afterwards.

“Everyone,” I confirmed.

Nate gave an exasperated sigh but didn’t try to argue. He knew I wouldn’t pull a stunt like this lightly.

“Fine.” He sounded more like me than he’d ever admit. “I’ll make the calls and speak to you when you get back to London. By the way, Nick and Dan flew over to the UK when we spotted you in the house. They’ll be waiting for you to arrive.”

“That’s the best news I’ve had all day. I’ll let you know when I get there.”

“You’d better. If you do another runner, I’ll hunt you to the ends of the earth.”

Aw, at least he still cared.

“I’m back now, and I’m staying back. And Nate, I’m so, so sorry.”

“You can grace me with an explanation later. I’ll be waiting with bated breath. Now, get off the phone so I can make some calls.”

Well, that went about as well as expected. I was definitely in Nate's bad books, but I deserved it. And at least he stayed professional rather than letting his feelings towards me impede the hunt for Tia.

When we arrived at the house, I drove straight into the garage. Luke was still unsteady on his feet as I bundled him into the lift. Usually, I hated the thing and took the stairs, but it did have its uses.

I helped him into the kitchen and found Dan seated at the breakfast bar, a mug of coffee cupped in her hands. Nick was speaking on the phone, staring out of the window, but he hung up when he saw me.

I’d known Nick Goldman since I was eighteen. My husband introduced us. They’d worked together on various black-ops projects until my husband quit his not-so-cushy government job to strike out with Nate instead.

When I’d come onto the scene, Nick had helped to train me, and not just on the job. He’d educated me in the bedroom as well. Things didn’t work out between us, but we remained close, and when I was twenty-two, he’d become the fourth shareholder in our security company.

Daniela di Grassi’s background was similar to mine. We’d met by accident in not-so-pleasant circumstances and just clicked. She’d moved in with us for a while, and over bottles of wine and cold case files, we discovered she had hidden talents.

Dan could ferret, wheedle, and cajole information out of people better than anyone. Her mind could assemble a jigsaw puzzle of clues into a work of art. Aside from my husband, she was the best investigator we’d ever had.

Along with Nate and his wife, Carmen, and Mack, the office geek, Nick and Dan made up my inner circle. I trusted them with my life.

And neither of them looked happy.

I balanced Luke on a leather and chrome stool then walked over to where Nick and Dan now stood in silence. What should I say? They just stared, seemingly lost for words too. Finally, Dan stepped forward and hugged me tightly.

“Ease up. Can’t…breathe.”

When she let go, Nick still hadn’t moved. He’d turned into a statue, arms folded, brows furrowed.

Dan’s eyes were damp as she mumbled, “Where have you been, you stupid cow? We thought you were dead.”

“You think I’m that easy to kill?”

“I s’pose not. Where have you been, then?”

I jerked my head towards Luke. “Living with him.”

She shot him a sideways glance. “Hot. But who is he?”

“Luke. It’s a long story, but his sister’s missing, and I need your help to find her. They know me as Ash, and neither has a clue what I do for a living. I’d like to keep it that way.” Luke groaned from the other side of the kitchen. “Before we do anything else, he needs his head stitched up.”

“Want me to do the honours?”

“Please. Your hands are probably steadier than mine right now, plus he can’t stand the sight of me.”

She gave me a puzzled look. My hands never shook, at least, not before.

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