Neither outcome was acceptable. I needed to meet with Peter in person, to come to some kind of understanding. How that would look, I had no idea.
And not only that, I’d have to leave New York—the timing for such a trip couldn’t have been worse. Nothing to be done about it.
My phone chimed on my desk—a text from April letting me know she was back home with Willa.
Fuck. Another situation to worry about. Things were so dicey now that leaving Willa alone with April wasn’t an option. It wasn’t a matter of my thinking April wasn’t capable of handling her. More that if things imploded and word were to get out that I was out of town, my daughter on her own with the nanny…I didn’t want to think about it.
They’d both have to come with me. It was the only way I’d be able to keep an eye on the two of them. Sure, I could hire security, but that would require finding men or women I could trust, and on a short schedule.
I texted her back, letting her know I wanted to speak to her in my office right away. The affirmative came moments later.
The next few moments passed slowly as I considered my next move. The closer I got to closing the book on our family’s criminal doings, the more eager I was to finish the job.
A knock sounded from the office doors. I barked out a “come in,” and they opened.
The moment April stepped into the space I became distracted. She wore another one of her effortlessly fashionable outfits, another floral-print dress with some white low-top sneakers, her hair tied back in a ponytail.
I’d spent too much time trying to pinpoint why the woman had such an effect on me. There was her beauty, of course, but New York had no shortage of beautiful women. There was something more, some combination of innocence and strength, blended with a goodness that had been so absent from my life.
She stood in front of me like something out of a dream. Memories of our night together flooded my mind. Keeping distance between the two of us was essential—who knew what would happen if we were to be alone again?
Well, I knew—from experience.
“What’s up?” she asked, her cleavage a magnet for my eyes as she approached.
“Have a seat.”
She did, not breaking her stride as she slid into the chair across from my desk.
“How was Willa?”
She shrugged. “Great, as always. Got some sandwiches from the bodega, and she’s doing her homework now.”
“Good. I want you get in touch with her teachers as soon as you can.”
A tinge of worry formed on her face. “Is something wrong?”
I had to check myself. The answer was “yes”—something was wrong. I would have to lie about it, of course.
“An unexpected situation’s come up overseas. In London, specifically.”
“I see. Does that mean you’re going out of town?”
“It means we’re going out of town. Tonight.”
Her eyebrows rose in surprise. “Are you serious? Tonight?”
“Tonight. And it would be easier for me if you and Willa were to come. Is that going to be a problem? You have a current passport, I assume?”
“Not a problem at all. And yes, I have a passport.” She didn’t skip a beat. It gave me confidence in her abilities that I could throw something like that at her, and she wouldn’t be fazed. “But I’m fine staying here with Willa. Especially if it’s only for a day or two.”
And time for the lie.
“Keeping an eye on her is ideal. And more than that, I’ve been a little upset with myself for how little time I’ve been able to spend with her over the last few weeks. I was thinking a trip out of the country would be just the thing to give us the chance for quality time together.”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Have you been to London before?”