“Short meeting.”
Aleki nodded and followed them out, leaving the door open so he could hear her if she got upset. When he reached the living room, Caleb was standing. Wolfe sat on the armchair, while Aleki sprawled out on the couch.
“We need to update a few things in her file,” Wolfe said. “The rules need to state that she cannot leave our side when we are out of the house.”
Caleb nodded. “Seems we need another chat around safety. She put herself at risk today. I know she was trying to help a child. But she can’t just act impulsively like that.”
“I’ll deal with it,” Aleki told them.
They both stared at him. “You sure?” Caleb asked.
“I’ve got this.”
Caleb nodded. “It was on your watch.”
Aleki winced. “I should never have taken my eyes off her. I just thought she’d stick close by.”
“Perhaps we need some sort of safety harness,” Wolfe suggested. “Don’t parents use that with children who run off?”
Oh. He could just imagine Vivi’s reaction if Wolfe tried to put a leash . . . on her.
“Perhaps we’ll hold off on that,” Caleb said calmly. “Although it wouldn’t hurt to mention it so she gets an idea of what’s in her future if she does any more running off from us.”
“She was trying to save a child,” Aleki pointed out.
“I know,” Caleb said. “But she still could have yelled for you. Or for help from someone else. If that little boy hadn’t come and found you . . .”
Aleki had panicked when he found her gone. He’d been searching for her and had been about to call Wolfe to track her when the young boy and his sister had found him and explained what happened, showing him to the alleyway where Marilyn was holding his girl at knifepoint.
“Did anyone find those kids?” he asked.
Wolfe shook his head. “Beta team has been asking around, but so far nothing.”
“And Marilyn?” Caleb asked.
“Locked up nice and tight,” Wolfe said. “If she wasn’t a woman . . .”
“I know,” Caleb said. “But we’ll let a judge decide her fate.”
“I don’t like what she was saying about getting revenge,” Aleki said with a frown.
“They could have been idle threats,” Caleb suggested.
“Yeah, but she said she’d seen to it, as though she’d done something.”
“We’ll have to be extra vigilant,” Caleb told them both. “Let’s get back to our girl. If we leave her too long, she might have a nightmare. Who’s sleeping with her tonight?”
Both he and Wolfe called it at the same time then glared at each other.
Caleb sighed. “Let’s all sleep with her tonight. There’s enough room, and I don’t think any of us can be away from her.”
She awoke to the scent of sandalwood and sugar, the ocean, bergamot and mint. An interesting mix. Her men.
She attempted to open her eyes. She felt kind of sluggish and slow.
“You awake, jelly bean?”
A smile crossed her lips at his words. “Yum, Caleb.”
His chuckle filled her with more warmth. “I’m yum, am I?”
“Yep. You know it.” She moved closer, pressing her face into his chest. He wrapped an arm around her and she rested her head on his chest.
She raised her head. Her hair was across her face and she shoved it back with her hand.
“Hi,” she said huskily. “You slept with me last night?”
“Actually, we all slept with you. But the others got up about an hour ago.” He ran a finger over her face. “You scared me yesterday.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“I know. Sorry to wake you up, but I need you to do something.”
“What’s that?”
“Speak to Aleki. He’s been baking since five this morning.”
She chewed her lip. Shit. She hoped he wasn’t blaming himself for what happened yesterday. “I should have stayed closer to him. I should have yelled out when that little boy was trying to get me to leave with him.”
“Yes,” he said sternly. “You should have. But I’m going to let Aleki deal with that since this happened on his watch. Right now, you need to go to him. Wolfe is at the palace, dealing with Marilyn and I’ll be in my office.” He left the bed after giving her a mind-altering kiss.
After using the bathroom and quickly brushing her teeth, she pulled on some panties, shorts and a T-shirt then wandered out to the kitchen.
Before she even reached it, she heard the sound of something being banged around. She winced. Not a good sign.
She walked into the kitchen right as he slammed a bowl down on the counter. It cracked and he swore.
“Guessing you didn’t like that bowl?” she asked, moving towards him.
He turned to glare at her.
“You want another one to break? Maybe that will make you feel better?”
“No,” he growled. “It won’t make me feel better.”
She reached into a cupboard and pulled out a plate then threw it on the ground. “Ooh, that actually is kind of fun. I want to try that again.” She grabbed another plate. “Fuck you, Dad! You asshole!”
She’d never realized how therapeutic this could be. Another plate went smash. “Fuck you, mystery man!”
Another plate. “Fuck you, William!”
All right. She was on a roll. She glanced up at Aleki to find him gaping down at her.
“What?”
“I . . . you . . . fuck. That was hot.”
“Umm. Okay.” That wasn’t the response she was expecting.
“What’s going on in here?” They both looked over as Caleb ran in, looking frantic. “I went outside for a minute. Just a minute. And when I came back in, I heard smashing. Why the fuck are you throwing plates with her standing right there? She could step on a shard and hurt herself!”
Aleki dropped his gaze to her bare feet. “Fuck!” He stepped towards her, grabbing her around the waist and lifting her onto the counter. He was smart enough to be wearing shoes.
“Does someone want to answer me?” Caleb snapped.
“We’re fine,” Aleki replied without taking his gaze off her. “We’re working through some issues.”
“By breaking all our plates?”
“Yes,” Aleki bit out.
“Vivi?” Caleb asked.
She glanced over at him. “We’re fine, Caleb.”
Caleb still looked unsure.
“I promise,” she told him. “Please, I’ll clean it up. Just give us a minute.”
Caleb frowned but nodded. “I hear anything else breaking and I’m coming back in here. And both of you are in trouble.” He stormed away.
“We just got told off. Do you think if he has to come back, he’s going to spank us?” Her attempt to lighten the mood didn’t work as Aleki continued to stare at her.
“Do you feel better? After doing that?” he asked.
She gulped, looked around at the mess. “I’ll clean it up.”
He grabbed her chin, raising her face up. “I don’t give a fuck about the mess. Do you feel better?”