Page 109 of Coveted

Wondering how strongly I smell of sex, I flatten my hair with my fingers.

Sadie flashes me two thumbs up, which makes me want to climb back into bed and kiss her.

“Lucan?” calls my father. “Are you still asleep?”

For fuck’s sake. The sun isn’t even up yet.

Giving her one last look, I exit through the door and lock it with a swipe of my fingerprint.

“I’m here, Dad,” I say, entering the living room.

The Stranger still lies on the coffee table. Down the hallway, I glimpse the scrap of torn fabric from Sadie’s dress. Is it too much to ask that he hasn’t noticed?

He wears pressed trousers and a knit sweater, with a fresh shave from his personal barber. A morning ritual for him.

“Don’t you mean Captain?” he asks with a wry smile.

Continuing past him toward the kitchen, mostly to draw him away from Sadie and the evidence of last night, I press buttons on the coffee machine to make espressos.

“I would delete the announcement if you called first,” I say.

“I’m not in the habit of wasting time, son. Nor should you be.”

Since he’s probably here with updates about the killer attacking Sadie at the gala, I let it slide.

“So what’s going on after last night?” I pass him a coffee. “Any breakthroughs from our security firm? Or the police?”

“I’m afraid not.” Dad downs the espresso like a shot of vodka. “Our agents swept the venue and reviewed surveillance tapes. There are a few flashes of the suspect in a black hoodie, but nothing identifiable.”

Disappointment cuts through me. “Fuck. Really?”

“I’m not shocked.” He shrugs. “We know the killer’s good at blending in.”

“Yeah.” I nod slowly. “He murdered Parker during the Founder’s Run, with everyone around. Stole car keys from the Darkbloom archives.”

“Exactly. He was probably on the gala’s guest list.”

I groan. “That’s hundreds of people, not including staff and plus-ones.”

A sick heaviness settles in my chest. I shouldn’t have let Sadie get away from me at the gala, even for a minute. That’s all it takes.

My diligence can’t lapse again. Maybe I need better surveillance tactics, just to make sure she’s safe.

Dad studies me carefully. “Now. Sadie Marlowe. Is it serious?”

Should I answer?

Though I wanted to spare her my father’s scrutiny at this early stage, I do like the idea of bringing her into the fold sooner rather than later. I like it a lot. What better way to feel in control again than to introduce her as mine to the people in my world?

She’ll get over her doubts. I feel more sure of that now. Once she sees how well we fit together, she’ll stop pushing me away.

Besides, Dad would’ve seen me leave with her last night, and I’m fairly certain her claw marks are peeking out from beneath my T-shirt collar. No point in denying that she’s here.

“It’s very serious,” I say.

“I’d like to meet her,” he says. “We’ll organize a dinner soon. Sadie can get the proper measure of us.”

And he of her, no doubt.