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“I gathered.” Her smile is brief before she looks toward Justin’s photograph on my computer. “How much do you know about Justin Mills?”
Nash’s attention shifts between us, and some of the anger leaves his face, replaced by caution. “Why?”
“He came to my attention two days ago.”
“What kind of attention?”
“The kind that starts when people come to me because someone hurt them.”
His jaw tightens, but he doesn’t answer. The reaction is small, yet it tells me more than anything he’s said since walking through the door.
I gesture toward Justin’s photograph on my screen. “You were at Obsidian the same night he was, and Declan saw you watching him at Perfection. We reviewed the security footage afterward.”
Nash’s glare comes straight back to me. “So you’re still fucking investigating me.”
“I’m now investigating Justin.”
He looks at Alessia again. “What did he do?”
“He has a history of hurting people and enough family money behind him to keep avoiding the consequences.”
Nash’s entire posture changes. This isn’t a surprise to him. Whatever he knows about Justin, hearing Alessia confirm it seems to settle something for him, but before I can push for an answer, her mouth curves slightly.
“That’s a conversation for another time.”
Judging by Nash’s expression, he would prefer that conversation happen right fucking now, but Alessia doesn’t give him the opportunity. She looks between us instead. “You two have more immediate things to work out.”
She makes it halfway to the door before stopping and looking back at me. “I like him, Duncan. Bring him to dinner tonight.”
Nash turns toward her so fast I almost laugh. “Wait. You can’t just invite me to dinner and leave.”
“I believe I just did.” Alessia gives him the innocent smile I’ve seen far too many times to trust. “Six thirty.”
She walks out and closes the door behind her, leaving Nash staring after her before he slowly turns toward me.
“Did she seriously just invite me to dinner with your family and leave before I could say no?”
“She did.”
He opens his mouth, probably to tell me exactly what he thinks of that, then seems to reconsider. “I’ve known her for three fucking minutes, Duncan.”
I can’t stop the smile this time. “She likes you.”
“That doesn’t make this less insane.” He drops onto the couch with an exaggerated sigh and drags a hand through his hair. “I came here because someone broke into my apartment. Now I’m leaving with dinner plans with the Murphys. You people are exhausting.”
I watch him for a moment before walking over to close the office door and turning the lock. Nash immediately looks toward the sound.
“Did you seriously just lock the door?”
“This conversation doesn’t need an audience, and I’d prefer not to have another member of my family walk in and add something else to your evening.”
His eyes narrow. “You do realize locking the door while saying that makes this feel significantly more kidnapping-ish.”
“You walked into my office willingly, Nash. I’m not keeping you here.”
He looks pointedly at the lock, then back at me without saying a word. The message is clear enough that I reach behind me and unlock it, earning a grin from him.
“Much better. Consent is sexy, Daddy.”
