Chapter Twenty-Six

I was sure Billy wasn’t happy about my request, but as we loaded into the two cars, I was utterly certain it was the best option. It wasn’t because Blair’s parents’ cabin wasn’t safe—it was just that I was paranoid about its remoteness. If something happened to me and Billy, it could be days before Cass realized, and who knows how long after that before she might be able to get ahold of someone to take her off the mountain. Sure, Blair knew where her friend was, but as far as she was concerned, Cass was on a romantic getaway and in no hurry to get back.

Besides that, if the wrong person got to Cass first…

So far Monato had been a little too good at finding us, and the thought of hiding Cass somewhere she couldn’t get away from scared me. I had to assume that Monato had more than one set of eyes on me. My track record for keeping her safe wasn’t good. The hotel was compromised. So was the warehouse. It was safe to assume my private apartment was being watched, too.

No. She needs to be somewhere no one would think to look.

I wanted her somewhere with better-than-spotty cell service, somewhere she could easily escape from.

And somewhere I can access her, I admitted to myself.

So. The house was it. Only Billy and I knew about its existence. Even the neighbours on the street had no idea who lived there. The electric bill was in my dad’s name, there was a landline, and it was so completely un-John Seever that it was practically a safe house.

I didn’t know how long it was going to take me to chase down Monato, and I wanted Cass to be hidden. But accessible.

“It’s the best option,” I muttered again.

Billy shook his head, but he didn’t argue. Cass just looked concerned, and I smiled at the sight of her furrowed brow.

“Hey,” I said. “When this is done, I’ll come right to you. I won’t even stop to gloat.”

“I’m worried,” she admitted.

“Oh, so now you’re worried?” I teased.

“I can tell from your face you are, too,” she told me.

I kissed her cheek so I wouldn’t have to tell her a lie. I helped her into the car and closed the door carefully before turning to Billy.

“Take her the back way off the mountain,” I commanded.

Billy grumbled something about the suspension in the sedan and priorities. I put my hand on his arm, and he looked up at me in surprise as I spoke again.

“Please,” I near-pleaded. “Don’t let anyone see you. I’m not going to be shy about driving through the city, and I’d prefer it if all eyes were on me rather than on her.”

“All right,” Billy agreed gruffly, and stepped into the driver’s seat.

I waited until they were out of sight before I climbed into my Jeep, thankful I had it rather than my boat of a car. I had no interest in making a grand entrance, and I wouldn’t stand a chance of making a subtle one with the Parisienne. I had a feeling Monato might be expecting me anyway.

I got into the vehicle and began a slow descent off the mountain. The sun was just barely visible on the horizon, and I was conflicted. I was in no hurry to confront Monato, but I wanted this part of my life to be over. I’d been chasing Colin’s ghost for what seemed like a lifetime. When I’d upped and run to come after him I had nothing to hold me back. Our parents were long gone. I wasn’t married, and had no intention of becoming attached at any time. And I owed it to my brother. He followed in my footsteps and had died as a result.

I’d happily and forcibly transferred my skills to business with Billy, and strong arming my way in had been surprisingly simple. My associates likely sensed I’d had nothing to lose. My fearlessness had led to controlled recklessness and an absolute ownership of my role there. None of them questioned my motivation—no one even knew about my family ties to Colin. He’d been low down on the rungs, but I was an instant celebrity. There was no reason to connect us. So I’d been able to stalk his murderer without fear of interference, and I’d been able to carry on with the finance end of my business with no problems as well.

But Cass wanted to know the why for everything. She pursued my motivations and made me question them by pervading every corner of my mind.

I tapped the steering wheel in time with the steady hum of my thoughts of her.

I could still smell her light scent on my own body—not quite perfume, not quite sweat. Just her. And the remembered feel of her soft skin underneath my hands made me shift uncomfortably in my seat. But it was more than that, even. I loved the look of my ring on her finger. It was beautiful there, and I was secretly pleased she had been leaving it on, even in private.

Did it matter, if I never found my brother’s murderer? I had never considered it to be otherwise. If I could have a life with Cass…maybe it didn’t. Or at least it could matter less.

I smiled to myself as I made the last turn off the mountain. I would do what needed to be done with Monato, and then I would pursue Cass with a vengeance. I was pretty sure it wouldn’t take much to seduce her—or maybe that was a wishful assumption—but I was suddenly very sure I wanted something more than that. I wanted my ring to stay on her finger. Permanently.

I glanced at my watch. I’d been on the road for over an hour already, and forty-five minutes more would put me at the city limits. I slowed down, considering what my options were. I wasn’t sure exactly how my impromptu meeting with Monato was going to go, but I was sure it wasn’t going to be either smooth, or pleasant.