“I’m not a baby.”
“That's your favorite line.” I start walking backward; it’s hard to take my eyes off the beautiful young woman.
As soon as I'm out of earshot, I pull out my cell phone and dial Brick, one of the ex-Navy SEALs, for a debriefing on Whitson’s current circumstances.
“The old man is safe. Very easy. Stays home. He fired the nurse, and he seems to want to be cooped up in his bedroom all the time.”
“No signs of Everhart?”
“Not a whisper.”
After hanging up, I run my hands over my face, dialing Monica. Bypassing a greeting, I ask, “Any updates on Dr. Charles Everhart?”
“Not entirely. Paul followed his relationship with Jonah since they were in undergrad all the way to Whitson pioneering an updated model of the pacemaker. Vic, they were an unlikely pair. Almost more in competition but always associates. I don't see any sort of rift that would cause Charles to want to murder Gina, let alone put a hit out on Jonah.”
“Work harder.”
“We will.”
“Tell Paul and the others I pay them with their capabilities in mind. Shall I readjust everyone’s compensation to their current level of ability—including you?”
“Sir, Paul’s penetrated Everhart’s IP address a few times but—”
“Provide me concrete details or a bloody location for thewanka.”
We hang up. As I make it back to my childhood home, Burt is in the kitchen chatting with the fleet of kitchen staff.
Burt stops cutting up his apple. The staff hushes, oblivious of our lenient relationship. I do not give a bloody fuck about their gossip.
“We need to talk.” There goes the fatherly stance.
“You have at least a year’s worth of holiday that you haven’t taken over the years,” I retort, not at all interested in the influential chin-wagging. After Silas’s major cock-up in the parenting department, I try to forgo Burt’s efforts. A lot of it accumulated when Burt stayed behind to protect me when Silas and I returned from our hunting trips.
“Lux assumes she's inArlington,not Somerhaven.” Burt pauses as if that tidbit of information will get a rise out of me. He succeeds at a bloody mass exodus of servants, though.
Once the last member exits, his reproaching gaze finds me again. “I thought you divulged the truth before I left? If Luxury finds out that theheirto Somerhaven is the Duke of Arlington . . .”
I sigh. The Queen hated my father so much she gifted me my own duchy. “Yes, yes, everyone in the country—but Lux—knows I am to inherit Somerhaven, which is where we are. And yes, you thoughtwrong.I’m not taking Luxury to Arlington.Ever.”
“Dig your own grave, Victor. I must resign.”
“That's preposterous. Burt, take the jet. Venture anywhere you want to fucking go.”
“I’ve just returned from a sabbatical.” He snorts, a weary hand rubbing the back of his neck. “Wasn’t bloody long enough.”
“Take two years off. Matter-of-fact, take yourself a butler and a chef.” I point to one of the kitchen staff who has just meandered in from the pantry. “Here, Burt, this one is yours,” I say, placing my hands on the chubby lady’s shoulders and walking her over to Burt.
As the woman’s cheeks warm, Burt pays no attention. “It’s notpreposterous.It’s a fact. From this point on, I am retired.”
“That’s a negative.”
Burt picks up his apple and starts for the door. “I quit. If you would like me to reclaim my position in the future, have someone send for me the day you decide to take Luxury to Arlington.”
“No. If you’re forfeiting another holiday, then forget the two years. I’llsend for youby the end of next week.”
“I will not take a holiday, Duke of Arlington.”
“Then it’s final.”