“Yes, sir,” my secretary answers.
I like her. She’s older and doesn’t put up with anyone’s shit, which means Henri won’t be able to charm his way past her. Turning my attention back to my computer, I watch Dove’s apartment. She’s not back yet, which is odd. She’s normally home by now. Maybe she went to get coffee with her boyfriend. The thought has me glaring. I’d be able to check, but she lost the phone with the bug in it, and I haven’t been able to slip into her apartment to add one to her new phone. Yet.
“Sir, you can’t go in there. Sir!”
The door to my office bursts open, and Henri strolls in as if he has any right to be here, slamming the door in my secretary’s face.
“Do you answer your fucking phone?”
Closing my laptop, I reply, “I do.”
“Then why in the fuck didn’t you answer my calls?”
“I was busy. Some of us work long hours and don’t get to go home when the school bell rings.”
He glares, and I laugh. It’s always been a piece of cake to rile him.
“Make an appointment and come back another time.”
He sits in the chair across from my desk, crossing his thick arms. “Not going to fucking happen.”
“Don’t think that just because we’re related, I won’t shoot you.”
“Taking a page from Grandfather’s book? Why am I not surprised?” He looks around. “Is Mo around? Should someone warn him to hide?”
I grip the edge of my desk, so I don’t lunge across and knock out his ass.
He notices and laughs. “Showing your emotions, Luca? Now that’s something that Grandfather never would have stood for.”
“You have three fucking seconds to tell me why you’re here.”
He loses the cocky glint in his eyes, which is interesting. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen Henri this serious before. Whatever he’s going to say is something that I’ll be able to use against him, and the thought makes me tremendously happy. In daylight, I deal with money. But secrets are the best currency, and Henri has a big one.
“It seems we have a common interest, and as much as I hate to come to you, I think we need to work together.”
“A common interest? I find that hard to believe.”
“I’d wager you were just watching our shared interest before I walked in. You have put cameras in her father’s apartment, yes?”
His surefire tone makes me pause for a moment. He might be reaching, but he might also know what I’ve been up to. But wait. He said shared, which means he might be watching her, too. Thoughts of smashing his face into my desk over and over until his brains leak out of his thick head dance through my mind, but I wait. For now.
“Let’s say I believe you. You’ve shown me your hand, and we both know I hold more cards. What’s left for you, Henri?”
Another look I can’t decipher flashes across his face.
“Her father hurt her.”
He’s lying. I’d know if something happened to her!
He fucking gloats. “You didn’t know? No, how would you? She’s been with me all day, which isn’t her usual routine.”
I want to end him. How dare he imply that he knows more about Dove than me? But that would explain why she’s not home yet. Fucking bastard! How did he get to her? I’ve been so careful.
“We’re going to spend the weekend together, though I suspect you’re going to make a move before then.” He leans forward, gripping the edge of my desk. “I want in.”
“In?”
“Mo said you’ve prepped Grandfather’s house, cage, and all. I. Want. In.”