Reckless (Benson Security 1)

“It’s how she shows she cares.” Dimitri wasn’t about to explain his complex and highly violent relationship to a stranger.

“Why didn’t you two phone for help?” Callum was back on track.

Bill waved a hand at his underwear. “Does it look like I’m keeping a phone in here? Anyway, we don’t abide by them mobile phones.”

Bob nodded. “They fry your brain.”

“Landlines,” Bill added. “They’re the only phones that’re safe. The other ones send microwaves in to destroy your mind.” He pointed at each of them. “Brain tumours. Mark my words. Get rid of your phones before it’s too late.”

“The intruders,” Callum said through gritted teeth. “What happened with the intruders?”

“The morons were crashing around when the cops arrived. Then all hell broke loose.” Bob looked at his brother.

Bill nodded. “They came charging back down the stairs. Then some idiot on the ground floor fired at the cops.”

“Through the window. We heard the glass shatter.”

“Bloody idiots,” Bill said. “The guy in charge shouted at them to stop and get out the back. Ten seconds, he shouted. It seemed like a weird thing to shout at the time. We didn’t have a clue what he meant.”

“But we only had to wait ten seconds to find out,” Bob said. “That’s when the blast went off.”

“I’m serious about a panic room. You really need it,” Bill said. “One with a toilet. I almost crapped my pants when that blast went off.”

“Heart attack material.” Bob patted his chest. “I nearly died.”

Tessa turned her back on the brothers, effectively dismissing them. They didn’t like that at all.

“They had a car waiting at the back of the house,” she said to Callum. “They were gone before the smoke cleared. We tracked them on CCTV but they swapped cars and we lost them. No distinguishing marks. There were four of them, decked out in black with gloves and balaclavas. There won’t be any prints. We need to check your security footage, see if we get anything that might help identify these assholes.”

Callum hung his head. “There isn’t any. We’re on a limited system and the cameras aren’t operational yet. I’ll tap our sources. See if we can find out who’s behind this.”

Tessa stared at Callum for a long time. Any other man would have shifted nervously under her gaze. Callum just waited, daring her to say something. Which, of course, she did.

“You know this is a security firm, right? You’d better hope this doesn’t get out, or your business will tank. If you can’t even monitor your own property properly, what the hell chance do you have of doing it for someone else?”

“We are under construction.” The words were squeezed through Callum’s teeth.

Tessa’s eyes sparkled. “Tell you what. I’ll keep it to myself—for a price.”

“What do you want this time?”

“Dinner in a venue of my choice.” She practically oozed glee. “I hear Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant is very nice.”

Callum mumbled something about evil women being the bane of his life. Tessa just laughed.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

When Dimitri snuck back into their room, Megan was asleep, sprawled face down across the middle of the bed. Even in her sleep, she took up all the space around her. He was beginning to think there was no way to contain Megan Donaldson. And

he wasn’t entirely sure he’d want her contained even if there were.

Knowing nothing would wake Megan when she was out cold, he showered before he slipped into bed beside her.

“G’way.” Mostly asleep, Megan shoved him out of her space.

With a chuckle, Dimitri wedged himself under her and hauled her up against him.

“Joe?” Eyes closed, she tucked her head against his chest.