Page 4 of Off Limits Mogul

“She’s ready to come out of hiding, Rhys.” The weight of his words hangs heavy in his extended silence.

“This day was bound to come.” I play it down, but this is huge.

“She doesn’t want to go back to London––”

“With good reason,” I say.

“No one can blame her for not wanting to set foot in that city ever again after everything she’s had to endure,” Noah says. The anger in his voice has somewhat faded. Still, a tinge of it remains. Not that I can blame him. His little sister has been to hell and back. “Keira visited me here right after leaving London, but New Zealand isn’t her home.” He pauses. “She’s ready to go back Stateside…”

I remain silent.

“She insists she’s doing better––and I’m sure she is… that was the whole point of her isolation––but I don’t want her living alone in a house or an apartment. She’s not ready yet.” He lets out a loud sigh. “I know I’m asking a lot and I also know this favor might put a serious wrinkle in your pussy time.” He laughs at his own joke. I don’t.

“What’s the favor?” I think I know what’s coming.

“Can she stay with you?”

There it is.

“In between running your empire, attending fancy galas, and holding onto your rank as one of the most eligible bachelorplayboys in LA, I’m also asking for you to big-brother her… like you did when she was growing up.”

I rake a hand through my hair.

“She looks up to you.”

I haven’t been on her list of favorite people in a while.

“I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important,” Noah says. “It’s not like she has anyone else. LA can be a big bad city. She needs a little time to get back on her feet.”

Myriad emotions conflict inside me.

“I don’t want to have to worry about her when I’m on the other side of the planet.” Noah soldiers on. “With you, I’ll have the peace of mind she’s safe because you’ll watch over her.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose before scrubbing a hand over my face in frustration.

I know I told him he could ask me anything. This wasn’t on the list.

“I’ll send you money to cover her expenses––”

“Shut up about that, Weatherly.”

Chapter 2

Keira

Ismile wide at my travel partner.

“I’m so happy you talked me into doing this, Mikki,” I say. “I get to cross Thailand and Laos off my list.”

“This little jaunt was the best way to ease back into our urban jungles,” Michaela says. “Imagine the shock of going from near isolation to living in a hyped-up mega metropolitan city like LA again, or in my case, going back to the City That Never Sleeps.”

That’s the understatement of the century.

“I can’t believe we’re a few hours away from leaving the sanctuary and the safety of being anonymous,” I say. “These past two and a half weeks were a great transition, but I predict returning to LA will be a jolt to all of my senses.” I take a long sip of my refreshing mango juice.

I’m dreading and looking forward to going back. Dreading, mostly.

“When you say jolt, are you talking about the frantic pace of the city or the frantic pace of your heart when you’re near your new roommate?” She narrows her green eyes at me.