Ryuji snorted. “Nice.”
Cas sucked in a breath. “It’s because I’m your bodyguard; it’s my job to keep you safe, and it is not safe to leave this penthouse. Not while we have no idea where Max is.”
Ryuji clicked his tongue. “Sorry, vixen. Unfortunately, and to my utter disbelief, I gotta say I agree with the bodyguard on this one.”
“He has a name,” I snapped, a headache brewing. “Use it.”
“I agree with Caspian. Stay here until we know where Volpe is, at least. Besides, what else do you want to do?” He spread his arms wide, gesturing to the massive penthouse. “We have everything you could want here.”
I stared at the table. “It’s not like I have plans, but I’ve been stuck in this penthouse for two weeks now. Maybe I want to go shopping.”
“You miss being a spoiled princess?” Ryuji smirked. “Spending all your time and money on pointless shit? I thought you’d grown up a bit.”
Hurt sliced a jagged line down my chest. I sucked in a breath. Ihadbeen a spoiled princess. I knew that. But they didn’t still think of me that way, did they?
“Shut the fuck up,” Cas growled.
My lips thinned. “You better be careful, or I’ll have Ciel transfer a big chunk of your money to me, and I’ll go blow it on whatever the hell I want. You know he would.”
He raised his hands in defeat. His eyes went a shade softer, like he knew his comment was dickish. “My point is that we can have plenty of fun here instead.”
“Oh, yeah?” I sat back in my chair, eyebrow raised. “Like what?”
Ryuji grinned and opened his mouth, but Cas stuck his fork out in warning. “Stop. Don’t go there.”
Ryuji wiggled his eyebrows. “I’d love to see her spread out on this island, with my face buried between?—”
“Ryuji—” I said as Cas’s face turned red.
Cas put his fork on his plate. “Say one more word.”
Ryu flipped him off while simultaneously winking at me. Cas glowered.
I rested my head on the countertop. This was so fucking exhausting. I loved Cas, but interacting with Ryuji did something to him. And Ryuji? He did not play nice. Anxiety pinched a nerve in my neck, sending a shooting pain down my spine. Should I do something? Step in?
I had no idea how to manage those two, but they were big boys. They’d get past it, wouldn’t they?
“Eat shit, you dick,” Cas snapped to some snide comment Ryuji made.
My heart sank. I needed to get out of here. My head was pounding, and it wasn’t even because of my concussion. I pushed away from the counter and carried my bowl to the sink.
“You two better figure your shit out. It’s giving me a headache.” They both had the audacity to stare at me like I was the crazy one. “I’m going to take a shower. Alone.” When each pushed back their chairs, I scoffed. “I fucking mean it. Stay here.”
They glared at one another, but I didn’t have the energy to glance back as I stalked toward my room. I had bigger things to worry about than their dick-measuring contest.
First, shower.
Then, think.
We needed a game plan. Whether Max surfaced or not, I would not sit in this penthouse forever. I would not fail again. I’d made promises to forge this new syndicate. It was time I delivered on them.
5
WYNN
When I returned from my patrol around the penthouse and subsequent grocery run, Ryuji and Caspian were giving each other the evil eye across the kitchen. Everything had been fine outside, with no indicators that our location was compromised, but inside this kitchen felt like the real battlefield.
“Is everything all right?” I asked as I started to unbag the groceries. Obi had asked for various ingredients, but the corner of my lip quirked as I pulled out shallots, tomato passata, cream, and vodka.
