It didn’t look good on anyone.
He adjusted his cuff link as he looked at me. I’d never cared for brown eyes, but I loved his. They were warm like mocha but dark like the bark of a tree. They could be intense or playful at any given time. “Would you like to come with me?”
I froze in place because I couldn’t believe he made the offer. After meeting with Crow and Cane yesterday, he was angry that he took me to begin with. Now he was asking on his own? It only took a few seconds for me to figure out why. “I’m okay. Thanks anyway.”
He raised an eyebrow. “You don’t want to come?”
“No. I’ll stay here.” I didn’t mind pestering him until I got what I wanted, but the last thing I wanted was his pity. If he felt too terrible handing me off to Bones, that was one thing. But this was another.
He slid his hands into his pockets as he stared me down. “London.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, refusing to give in. “Hmm?”
“I know you want to come, so what game are you playing?”
“I’m not playing any games. You’re only inviting me because you feel bad for me. Don’t feel bad for me. I hate that.”
He glanced at his watch like he was running late. “I think having a pity party for yourself is worse than my feeling bad for you. But do whatever you want.” He walked to the door with no intention of looking back.
I didn’t want to be here alone, not when I had no idea how long he would be gone. I couldn’t explore the property when Dunbar was giving me evil looks all the time. He was one of Crewe’s trusted employees, but I knew he would betray Crewe if he thought he could get away with it. I could picture him holding me down and doing unspeakable things to me. And Ariel…she was a loose cannon. “Wait.”
Crewe turned back around like he’d been expecting me to say something.
“I’ll come with you.”
He bottled his arrogance for once. “I’m leaving in five minutes. Hurry up.”
It was just the two of us in his shiny black car. It was a two-seater, and judging by how loud the engine was, it was fast. I looked out the window and didn’t ask him any questions. If I was lucky enough, last night wouldn’t come up at all.
Crewe never had the radio on, which I thought was strange. He never listened to music.
“What are you doing with them today?”
“Going over weapon selection.” He wore thick sunglasses, hiding his pretty eyes.
“Why did you buy weapons from them?”
“Protection is important. I want the best of the best.”
“Do you have a lot of enemies?”
“Everyone has enemies. If you don’t, then you’re doing something wrong.”
That was debatable. “I can stay in the car if you want…” He’d already done something nice by letting me come with him. I’d rather sit in a hot car than be back at the house with his men.
“Why do you hate Dunbar so much?”
“Because he’s an ass. He’s hit me twice now.”
“He thought you were escaping.”
I shook my head. “No. He has a problem with me. I honestly believe if you weren’t around, he’d do something worse to me…just because he wants to.”
Instead of shutting me down right away, Crewe considered what I said. “Dunbar has been working for me for a long time. He wouldn’t cross me like that.”
“I’m not so sure…”
“You need to give me more evidence than that.”
“It’s a gut instinct. I can just tell.”
Crewe drove with one hand, his other arm on the windowsill. “I don’t know about that.”
“You’ve never been a woman. You don’t know what it’s like to feel like prey all the time. You wouldn’t understand.” I knew when a man wanted to cause me harm for his own sick pleasure. If Dunbar thought he could get away with it, he would force me on my stomach and take me like a dog.
Crewe turned to me, his gaze unreadable behind his glasses. He looked handsome in anything he wore, even sunglasses that hid some of his face from view. He could be wearing a sombrero and tights, and he would still look good. “I know what it’s like to feel like prey. But no, I don’t know what it’s like to be a woman. You have me there.”
I wondered if he was referring to his family’s death. He was probably the last target on the list, but they never succeeded. “Do you think you could take me back to Fair Isle? I could be one of your women that you just see while you’re there.” He had women in Edinburgh, and probably everywhere else too.
“You like it there?”
“Yeah. I wouldn’t be in your way, and I like Finley. Actually, he’s the only employee you have that I feel comfortable with.”