Gentleman Sinner

‘How long have you been Theo’s butler?’

I can’t see his face, but I expect he’s smiling. ‘I’ve served Mr Kane since he was a babe in arms, though he was rather less demanding of me then.’

‘So you knew his father?’ The interest in my voice is so obvious, I could kick my own arse. I should be ashamed of myself for trying to get Theo’s secrets from his staff, especially when I’ve cut off Theo so curtly. But, damn it, I can’t shake off the curiosity.

This time, Jefferson does turn around. ‘Why, of course I knew his father. This was his house before it was Theo’s.’

‘And the club, was that his, too?’

‘Yes, and the country estate on the south side of the city, where Theo’s mother now resides.’

‘And Theo’s father made all of his fortunes to buy these magnificent properties through running a strip club and organizing illegal prize fights?’

Jefferson smiles, backing into Penny’s room. ‘Good night, Miss White.’

‘Good night, Jefferson.’ He shuts the door and leaves me contemplating what I should do with myself. Theo’s out. I can’t face Judy, or anyone else for that matter. So I head for Theo’s private quarters, pulling my phone from my bag on the way to call Jess. ‘Shit,’ I curse, discovering a dead battery.

Recalling a charging station on the sideboard in the lounge, I head straight there and hook up my phone, then go to get changed. I enter Theo’s dressing room and pull down a shirt to sleep in, quickly changing into it and tugging my hair back as I make my way to his bathroom. I wash my face, brush my teeth, and head back to my phone. Five percent. It’s enough. I pull it free and fire it up, the notifications of a few missed calls from Jess popping up when it comes to life. I dial her and slump on to the couch.

‘Finally,’ she blurts down the line. ‘I’ve been trying to call you.’

‘My phone died,’ I explain. ‘Sorry. Things have been—’

‘Yes, I heard.’

I look down at my phone. ‘You did? How?’

‘Callum turned up a few hours ago.’

My spine uncurls quickly, bringing me up into a pretty prim seated position. ‘What for?’ I’m thinking of too many potential reasons why Callum would go to see Jess.

‘The morning-after pill.’

But not that. ‘Huh?’

‘He explained the situation. Figured me being a midwife, I’d have what you’d instructed him to source. I told him I deliver babies, not prevent them.’

I can’t help it, I laugh. ‘Bless him.’

‘The man is a fucking mystery, Izzy.’ She sounds exhausted by it all. ‘He left on a grunt and that was that.’

‘He left?’

‘Yes! I was standing there in a T-shirt and knickers, and he fucking left. I give up.’

‘Was there—’

‘God, yes. I could have exploded, and very nearly did when he wiped a bit of toothpaste from the corner of my mouth.’

‘And he left.’

‘He fucking left.’

‘Ouch.’

‘Tell me about it. He looks at me like he wants to ravage me and talks to me like he wants to strangle me. I’m done. It’s exhausting trying to figure him out.’ She blows out a tired puff of air. ‘But forget about my frustrating shenanigans with Mr Cold. What the fuck is going on?’

‘She’s come round, and she doesn’t remember anything.’

‘Wow. I bet Theo’s pissed off.’

I nod my agreement, though I’d use a far stronger word than that. ‘Slightly.’

‘The poor girl. Who the hell would have the balls to walk into Theo’s club and do that? They must have a death wish.’

I look across the room to the door, pondering Jess’s statement. A death wish. ‘Indeed,’ I say quietly, thoughtfully. Theo’s impenetrable club has been penetrated. The Playground isn’t untouchable. Theo isn’t untouchable. The irony of my silent thought doesn’t escape me. The untouchable man isn’t untouchable. My conclusion just makes me worry all the more, because how long can Theo go under the radar? How long before he’s cut by the sword? ‘What shift are you on tomorrow?’ I ask on a sigh.

‘Early. I should really get to bed.’

‘I’ll call you tomorrow.’ I hang up and tap the side of my phone on my cheek, unable to shake off my thoughts. Untouchable. And I wonder, as Theo lets down his defences to me, is he exposing himself in other aspects of his lifestyle? Instead of his strength, am I really a weakness?Chapter 23

There’s that moment between sleep and consciousness – the moment when you’re waking up, you’re warm and cosy in your bed, and your brain is empty of everything, except the delicious stretch you’re building up to or the sigh of contentment as you snuggle back down, drifting off into the peaceful quiet of sleep. It’s the moment before you’ve had the opportunity to remind yourself of who you are and what’s happening in your life. And then it all registers, drip by drip, and you spend a few moments, your eyes closed, keeping the darkness, hoping that it’s a dream and you’re still in it. But you’re not. Your eyes open and the drips are replaced with a gush of reminders.