Pink blushes her cheeks at my comment, and I know I have her. Next, I’ll have to work on her softer side, appeal to her shy nature. She looks at me and smiles, the colour of her cheeks returning to normal, and she heads back to change.
Today hasn’t shed any further light on the Cane women than I’d already deduced from last night, but at least it's cemented that opinion. If I’m going to make further headway with Emily, I’ll have to do it without Gabby. Her motives are unclear, but I don’t trust her. Is she hiding something? Are the brothers? Vico relies on my intuition, and I can’t fail him simply because of the circumstances. I just need to find out what Gabby’s unhappy about.
“I’m not sure what further plans you both have while in New York?” I strike up the conversation on the ride back to the hotel.
Neither takes the bait, so I turn to Emily and wait.
“Oh, I’m sure Quinn will let us know. I’m not sure if we’re heading back to Chicago. I have some things I would like to do before that.”
“Anything fun?”
“Well, it is for me. I’m a photographer, so I’ve planned some time capturing some of the sights. I’ve not visited New York before.” Sweet, I suppose.
“Sounds like a perfect idea. If you’d like some help with places off the main tourist lists, just let me know. Here.” I hand her my card with my cell number on.
“Thank you, but Quinn will be with me. I’m sure we’ll be fine.” Her beaming smile, followed by a contented look that falls over her features, tell me this is special to her. It's intriguing to me given the man she's married to. Strange.
“Well, maybe we can fit in a drink if your plans allow? I think our paths will be crossing more regularly in the future, don't you?” She turns to me, her hands reaching for mine. I watch them covering my skin, kindness coming with them, and force the frown that wants to emerge off my features.
“I’d like that. Sometimes it can be hard to meet new friends with Quinn’s profession,” she replies, a genuine gaze hoping for more from me. “I guess with Benjamin’s, too?”
Friends. Odd concept, but… “It would be lovely to stay in touch. And if you’re ever in Chicago?”
“Of course.” My hand squeezes hers, an attempt at friendly. It’s the first information I can use—the lonely wife pushed into a world she knows nothing about. It's also the first part of the Emily Cane puzzle that makes any sense.
We say our goodbyes, and I allow myself a small exhale before thinking of my next move.
Emily’s honest reactions today and seemingly genuine pleasure at the simple connection of a friendship compounds her innocence. Perhaps her opinion of me might change when she learns of my intentions towards her family.
Something tells me it will be Quinn and Nathan who will have the greatest shock, though, learning that there’s another Cane sibling.
A sister set on vengeance.
Five
Cane is in my space, has been for two days. This one’s damn near taken over the entire tech department, all the time snorting in derision about their inadequacies—myfucking inadequacies. I’ve watched him from my corner office all morning, as I did yesterday while Quinn and I talked through the basics. I watched the way he moved, using his intellect to challenge any of my team who tried to outmanoeuvre him with excuses. He’s sharp, aggressive in demeanour, and, at least in this guise, on fucking point.
“You often let people you don’t know in your systems?” Quinn quips, amusement in his tone.
My head whips back to him, eyes focused on the threat that just left his mouth. He sits at the other end of the room, lounging in the leather chair, having only got here a few minutes ago, and smiles out towards the window. It’s genuine as far as I can tell, his brow raised as if warning me he’s only being congenial. Fuck him. At the moment I’m cautious of both of them, regardless of this plan of theirs and his cool attitude.
“The hell’s he been doing for so long out there?” I mutter, annoyed. “Two damn days?”
“Making your systems safe. He’s good at it.” He spins his dice, looking out at the skyline beyond him without a care in the world. I snarl and look back to Nathan, part wanting him gone and part interested in what he’s actually doing to make my systems safe.
“Columbians,” I grate out. I’ll distract myself with that for a while longer. Perhaps talk of money will make this interference seem acceptable.
“Yeah. We’re going out for that,” Quinn replies, standing and crossing for his coat. He shrugs into it without another word, his feet heading for the door. “This high-end world of yours is in the wrong location for discussions with them.”
“And you expect me to just leave your brother here with access to all my systems?”
He laughs.
“I expect you to know your limits, Vico. If we wanted anything from you, he’d have taken it already. Remotely. Without you even knowing.” My body rises at yet another small nudge close to threatening. He flips his collar straight, head turned back towards me. “Besides, what makes you think my balance sheets aren’t healthier than yours lately? An alliance,” he says, walking over and halting in front of my desk, “is just that. You want him to sign a fucking NDA?”
My fingers drum the table. Fucking alliances. I don’t align with anything, and yet here I am letting geek boy strip my security apart, all the time putting up with this cunt and his damn attitude in my face.
“Careful, Cane. We’re not there yet.” Another snort of amusement, one that has him turning to the door and opening it for me.
