I do so love your propensity for the dramatic, and I hope like hell you are joking or at the very least, exaggerating.
Franklin stepped into the office and almost laughed when he encountered a wall of frustration. Asia had been right, the shit was about to hit the fan. Catalina was standing across the room, hands braced on her hips, staring at Cooper. Rolling her eyes when he frowned, Cat didn’t pause to ask what he was unhappy about before diving headfirst into Dom-infested waters.
“Yes, I still have my place in New York City. I can’t give it up until I’m sure the new storefront and workshop in Austin will work out. Besides… it’s paid for, so I’m in no big hurry to let some stranger move into my space. It’s creepy. Besides, where would I stay during fashion week? You know how expensive hotel rooms are in the city. The better places double or triple their usual exploitive prices every time there is something big happening.”
“Did you roll your eyes at me, Princess?” Cooper’s deep voice was dark, filled with a less-than-subtle challenge. Franklin made a point of studying Asia’s reaction as she watched the scene play out between her sister and the man who was the only one with a prayer of taming the wildcard, Catalina Adler. Damn, maybe he’d get lucky, and Asia would follow in her sister’s misguided footsteps. The cheeky grin she flashed him was a clear indication she’d heard his thoughts and had no plans to go down the same path.
Not today, handsome. I’m smarter than Cat. Her words floated through his mind, making him appreciate the intimacy of their growing telepathic communication.
Indeed, you are. You’re also smart enough to know a Dom doesn’t need an excuse to paddle his sub’s beautiful bottom. Damn, the woman never ceased to amaze him. Her eyes darkened with arousal, the scent of her cream wrapping its tendrils around him. If he wasn’t careful, fucking her was going to be the only thing he got done.
“As much as I’m enjoying watching you try to win an argument with the indomitable Ms. Adler, I need to make a few calls about the things on Vienna’s list. I also want to do a quick walk-through to see if there are any other items of historical significance my people missed earlier.” He also needed to find the damned hidden tunnel, but Franklin didn’t see any reason to alarm Cooper or Catalina until he knew exactly what they were dealing with.
“I hope you are calling an expert in Knights Templar art. I recognize a couple of those pieces. You might also want to send pictures to Brooklyn via a secure link. She could tell you if they’re on a missing artifacts list with any of the insurers she worked for.”
His shock must have shown because Asia’s tinkling laughter was the next thing he heard.
“Well done, little sister, you managed to do what I’ve been trying to accomplish since I met him. Franklin Cordesi has proven to be very difficult to surprise.” Asia might have sounded amused, but he heard a thread of concern in her voice. She’d never seen him speechless. Hell, he wouldn’t have thought it possible after all he’d seen, but Cat’s awareness of what they were dealing with had definitely blindsided him. “What happened to the visitors coming up the drive? I swear this place gets weirder and weirder.”
“That’s because you’re trying to set a land-speed record for having sex everywhere but a bed.” Returning her attention to Franklin, Cat continued, “What? How do you think I became so popular as a jewelry designer? I study history, particularly art history. A couple of these pieces were crafted by artisans who were lightyears ahead of their time.”
Cat’s explanation told him more about her than she intended. The Adler magic was so much more than it appeared—he wondered if they understood the depth of their power. Shaking off his questions, Franklin turned to Asia.
“I need Vienna’s list. I don’t want anyone stumbling on anything we’d rather keep under wraps.” He’d already cast a spell to shield all the items of historical significance, but he was concerned he’d missed something on Vienna’s personal list. A quick scan of her list made him smile. Damn, the only items he hadn’t already secured were a few very personal items from the bedroom she’d used—a couple of stuffed animals and a few pictures of her parents Vienna said she hoped her grandparents hadn’t found and destroyed.
Holding the list Franklin knew Vienna had written with her own hand, he saw several flashes from her memory and wondered if Cleveland fully understood how traumatic his wife’s teen years had been. A whispered spell was all it took to bring the last items on ViVi’s list to the office.
“Considering the size of this place and the length of time Vienna lived here, there isn’t much evidence of her ever being here.” Cooper looked over the items spread across Quan’s massive desk, shaking his head. “Fuck, it would be almost bleak if she hadn’t asked for all the stuff you seem so interested in, Princess.”
Franklin coughed to cover his laughter. Damn, it was fun to watch Cooper Hicks provoke Catalina, and being the prickly pear that she was, Cat took the bait.
“I’m not interested. I’m simply informed. Cat can read, you know.” Her voice was dripping with sarcasm Franklin suspected her sweet ass would pay for later. She was racking up punishment points like a champ. “Has anyone called Vienna to let her know we have secured all the things she wanted. Probably shouldn’t mention some of them may be stolen. Maybe we should just call Austin. He and Charlotte are supposed to be taking care of things while Vienna and Cleveland are on their honeymoon. If you call Charlotte, you’ll get Austin—he’s watching her so closely, he almost steamrolls her every time she stops suddenly. Holy fucking up-your-ass Batman, I’d strangle him if I was her.” Cat shuddered as Asia laughed at her sister’s irreverent take on their oldest sibling’s over-protective nature.
“I called her, but she didn’t have time to chat. Evidently, Tobi West had some sort of accident between Austin and the Prairie Winds Club. Charlotte tried to get out of the building alone since Austin is in Washington, updating the Energy Commission on a couple of projects Adler Oil has in the works.”
“What do you mean, tried?” Catalina tipped her head to the side, the gesture reminding him of London. Franklin had seen the little scientist do the same thing when she was trying to make sense of something someone said.
“Israel was waiting for her when she stepped off the elevator in the garage. He was driving her, but for some reason, they were both laughing so hard, I couldn’t understand them.”
“Laughing? About an accident? That seems odd.” Franklin knew who Tobi West was, they’d been introduced, but he certainly didn’t know her well, so he understood Catalina’s confusion.
“She promised to call back as soon as she could. I have to admit, I’m looking forward to hearing what’s going on. With Tobi, it’s hard to tell.”
Tobi looked from her pathetic little sports coupe to Police Chief Parker Andrews as he snapped pictures, his lips twitching. Damn, damn, and double damn, he could at least make a sincere effort to hide his amusement, instead of this half-assed attempt to keep a straight face. She’d have given anything to keep this disaster a secret but had known it wasn’t going to happen the minute Parker stepped from the unmarked car. Picking a glob of dough from her sleeve, Tobi sighed. Just my luck, they sent The Grand Poobah, who also happens to be a Dom at the club.