“He’s kidnapped me,” she said, her accent spicy and mysterious.
“Has he indeed? I suppose he thought it was necessary.”
“He dangled me off the side of a high-rise,” she added, her lips twitching with suppressed amusement.
“He’s always been that way inclined.”
“Yes, I’m sure,” Lilah nodded sympathetically. “He’s making up the most atrocious lies about my staff, too.”
“Such as?” Harry prompted, lifting another beer from the fridge and undoing the top. He handed it to Lilah.
Will was about to tell Harry to save his drinks when Lilah surprised them both by sipping it. She pulled a face of distaste then cringed. “Such as my staff being in some elaborate plot to kill me.”
Will finished his drink then placed the bottle heavily onto the kitchen bench. He tried not to think of Maddie, and the number of times they’d eaten her spaghetti at this counter.
“Who’d wanna kill you?” Harry said simply.
“My point exactly,” Lilah propped her hand on her hip. “He’s obviously made the whole thing up.”
“You know,” Harry wiped his hands on a nearby towel. “Will’s not one for exaggeration.”
“He isn’t?” She was still smiling, and she took another sip of the beer.
“If he’s worried, I’d take it seriously.”
Lilah’s expression didn’t show any change. It was as though she still had no appreciation for the danger she was in.
“He’s a journalist. Aren’t they natural-born story-tellers?”
Harry cackled loudly. “I like her. She tells it how it is.”
Will drank from his beer. “She tells it how she sees it. That’s not the same thing.”
Harry rubbed a hand over his jaw. “No.” He switched his attention to Jalilah.
“Will’s a good man. A soldier more than a journalist. If he thinks there’s a problem, I’d suggest you listen, honey.”
“A soldier?” She blinked over at Will. “You didn’t say.”
“I never enlisted, thanks to Harry,” he picked up his empty bottle and Harry’s too, carrying them both to the recycling tub. “And we really have to be going.”
“I’m Harry Lenardo,” the older man said, ignoring Will’s attempt at escape.
“Pleasure to meet you. I’m …”
“Someone you can’t know,” Will interrupted.
“You haven’t really kidnapped me. My brother told me to follow you to the ends of the earth remember.”
“And you always do what your brother says?” Harry prompted curiously.
“I have to,” Lilah smiled. “He’s …”
“Harry?” Will turned his back on Lilah, his face a mask of pleading. “For the love of God, don’t let her give you her life story. The last thing any of us needs is for the FBI to turn up here pumping you for info.”
“The FBI?” Harry laughed. “I guess you never did do nothing by halves.”
Will didn’t smile. “Yeah, I guess not. I need a car. And I need you to stash mine somewhere.”