Page 50 of Relentless (The Titans of Founder's Ridge 2)

I can’t stop the derisive snort that escapes me.

“Stop. I think you and Levi are soulmates. I thought that even when I didn’t know for sure that you two were together behind closed doors.”

“No, we’re two people with a complicated history and intense attraction to each other.” I look over at my shoulder. “Please don’t push us this summer.”

She pouts. “No promises. What if the chemistry is still there?”

“Then it’s there and maybe something happens or maybe it doesn’t. I just don’t want anyone getting in the middle of anything.” I attempt to look stern, “deal?”

“It feels like a kitten is glaring at me,” she laughs. “You do know who my boyfriend is, right? The king of the glare. You have to work to do if you’re trying to intimidate me, but yes, I’ll stay out of it.”

“Thank you,” I say primly. “Now, what are we ordering for dinner?”

* * *

“Good morning,” Con says when I come into the kitchen to get my coffee. “While Lil is in the gym working out, I need to ask you a favor.”

I rub the sleep out of my eyes. “Okay,” I’m barely functional before coffee anymore. I have to work hard to divide my attention.

“I need your opinion,” he says watching my face closely, “on a ring.”

“An engagement ring?” I shriek and launch myself at him. “You’re gonna propose?!”

“Yeah,” he hugs me back with a big smile on his face.

“Oh my God! This is the best news!” I have to hold myself back from hugging him again. I’m honestly surprised he hugged me back the first time. Love has made him all snuggly. “When do you need me?”

“I have an appointment with the jeweler at six tonight. I’ll send a car for you.” He rinses his coffee cup out in the sink, and his casual scowl is back on his face when he turns around. “Give me your phone,” he holds his hand out.

“Crabby Con is back, I see, glad your abrupt mood swings are still the same.” Since I’m feeling feisty, I add, “What’s the magic word?”

“Now.” He replies deadpan.

“Why?”

“So I can put a tracking program in it,” he says.

“Uh, no thanks.” I give him the side eye. “Points for honesty, though. Care to explain why I need a tracking program in my phone?”

“My family still has threats against us, and with you living here, you’ll become a target, too.” As if he can sense my doubt he continues, “I can’t keep you safe if I don’t know where you are. I know it seems extreme, but none of us could live with ourselves if something happened to you because of your proximity to the family.”

Lilith has mentioned the threats off and on when we’ve been out over the past three years. I know that there’s been varying levels of corporate espionage occurring between VI and Owens Energy. It doesn’t really give me any pause though, this summer in the city I’ll spend a majority of time in either the Marsh Financial building or living here at VI. I’ll probably be one of the most protected people in Manhattan.

“Fine,” I hesitantly hand over my phone, “who has access to the data?”

“Lilith, Victor, and myself are the only three. Then we can pass information along if necessary to our security teams.” He takes my phone and holds it back to back with his. “There is a black icon with a green backslash through it. If anything ever happens and you have the ability to hit the icon, it’ll alert all three of us but it also continually tracks your movement.”

“Creepy,” I drawl.

“Lifesaving,” Con replies.

“What’s creepy and lifesaving?” Lilith asks as she walks through the door, drenched in sweat and flushed from her workout.

“The tracking program in our phones,” Con says pulling her by the waistband of her shorts into his side.

Their embrace starts innocently enough, but then I catch the intensity of the way they’re looking at each other. I’m not in the mood to be a voyeuristic this morning, so I back away toward the hall to finish getting ready for work.

I set my clothes out for today last night, so I wouldn’t have to devote extra time to styling myself this morning. I shower, dry and straighten my hair, do my makeup, and slip into my favorite black Elie Tahari skirt suit with a deep purple blouse paired my classic black pumps. I’m not sure where I’ll be starting my internship, so I’d rather be overdressed than show up too casual.

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