“Better than I thought it would be,” Kenji admits.
Callum raises a brow. “Kai?”
“I would have preferred to spend the evening alone with my wife, but overall, I can’t complain too much.”
Declan smirks. “Hey boss, it sounds like the Yakuza are starting to like us.”
Callum rolls his eyes as Kenji hits Declan in the stomach, making him grunt.
Callum looks over at me. “I need to apologize. I know how you feel about Nikita, but I couldn’t tell my wife no. Especially where Cleo knew.”
I feel the corner of my eye twitch at the mention of that woman. She’s been living in a Westie-owned building for a year and under constant surveillance. So far her family hasn’t reached out, and she seems to have no ties to the Bratva outside of her father, who threw her to the wolves. While she’s been quiet tonight and doesn’t seem like a threat, I don’t like that she’s in my home.
“When Cleo sets her mind to something, she doesn’t stop. She’s like a dog with a bone. As she reminded me, a child shouldn’t have to pay for the sins of their father, even when the father throws them off the bridge.”
“She doesn’t seem too bad,” Kenji admits.
“She’s a fucking gremlin and a pain in my ass,” Declan grumbles before taking a deep drink.
“What, did you fuck her and leave her?” Kenji teases.
I watch as Declan grows tense. “Fuck off. She’s not my type.”
Interesting. I didn’t anticipate any of the men taking to Nikita when I brokered the deal for Callum to keep an eye on her for me. I figured she’d be miserable, but it seems like they’ve slacked in that department.
Callum meets my eye and smirks.
He knows what I’m thinking. He was adamant that if he allowed her to live in his building, he would also take control of her treatment. He knew how unhinged I was after everything that went down. She should be grateful to him. He saved her a lot of suffering.
It seems like he might have found her extra protection too. I’ll need to keep my eye on Declan.
Kenji keeps antagonizing him. “Oh, come on.”
Declan takes a drink. “Want to share what you were doing to Miya under the table? Or has she developed a twitch?”
Kenji smirks around his cigar. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
“Don’t think I didn’t notice how both of you”—I point at Callum and Kenji—“snuck off and fucked in my home. I expect money for the cleaning bill.”
“You can afford the cleaning bill without me chipping in, but if you want it that bad, give me a number.” Callum smirks.
“You looked a little too smug when you came back from the bathroom,” Declan tells his boss.
Callum shrugs. “Autumn agreed to have another baby.”
“Planning ahead this time?” I deadpan.
An animalistic look crosses his face. “You’ll understand the appeal when you knock my sister up someday.” He cringes. “Let’s pretend I didn’t just say that.”
Declan and Kenji laugh.
“Touché.” I raise my glass toward him.
“I won’t lie, the idea of Miya being pregnant makes me want to stab someone.” Kenji winces.
Callum laughs. “It’s hard enough keeping one safe, isn’t it?”
Kenji relaxes. “Exactly. I have a hard enough time letting her leave the house every day, despite the fact we go to work in the same building. I can’t imagine her carrying our child and not being right next to me at all times.”
