She got to her feet and turned for the door.
“Oh, and Kat?” When she faced him again, he said, “Don’t be too hard on yourself. They say he is rather good in bed, and hard for any woman to resist.”
Ouch. That was a low blow. “Why are you so cruel?” she whispered.
“I’m only cruel when I know I can make it better.”
She trembled with pent-up anger. “Don’t ever think you’ll have that chance.”
He draped an arm over the chair back. “That’s all right. I have time, and patience.”
As she walked away, she did her best not to break into a run.
Her instruction was to meet Lann at an indoor market a short distance from the brasserie. Joss would stay behind to ensure that she wasn’t followed. Trying not to look around obviously, she walked along the aisle of cheese and pâté until she spotted Lann at the end of it. He stood out in the crowd with his unusual height and his long, blond hair loose around his shoulders. She quickly closed the distance and stepped into his embrace. Looking around, he pulled her under his arm, and ushered her outside.
“You all right?” he asked, kissing her cheek while scanning the crowd.
She shivered. “He’s such a dominant bastard.”
“This way.”
He led her to a waiting car. When they’d gotten into the back, Lann gave the driver the address of a restaurant. He pulled her close to him, kissing her fingers and her palm, and then rubbing her arm.
“Lann, he—”
“Shh.” He placed a finger on her lips, his gaze moving to the driver.
They met Joss at the restaurant, but instead of taking a table, they moved through the kitchen and out the back, walking the short distance back to the safe house.
Once inside, Joss flung his coat aside, set the alarm, and went to the lounge. While Lann helped Kat from her coat, Joss poured them each a drink. He handed her a glass of water and a tumbler with a quarter of amber liquid to Lann.
“I gather you heard everything,” she said, accepting the glass.
Only in the privacy of the safe house did Lann show his anger. His eyes were deceptively void of emotion, but his jaw was set in a hard line.
“He bullied her,” he said to Joss.
“I didn’t like it either,” Joss said, “but she got something out of him.”
They spoke as if she wasn’t in the room. She left the glass on the table. “He didn’t touch me.”
“It’s not the physical bullying I’m referring to,” Lann said with flaring nostrils.
Joss shot back his drink. “I’ll have to contact Cain.”
“Do you know anything about accessing my records?” Kat asked Joss.
“No. That’s why we’ll have to speak to Cain. Only he can give clearance, and he would’ve said something if it was him.”
“What about the journalist?” Lann asked.
“Maya’s working on the taps we’ve put on Richardson’s iPad and computer.” Joss scratched his head. “If there’s anything to be found, she’ll find it.” He left his glass on the bar counter. “I’m going to check the perimeter alarms. How soon can we head back?”
Lann looked at Kat. “Not before tomorrow. She’s exhausted.”
“I’m fine.”
Both men ignored her.
“You’re taking care of dinner,” Joss said.
When he left the room, she took Lann’s hand. “I hate it when you act as if I’m not here.”
“I know you’re here.” He took her wedding ring from his pocket and slipped it back onto her finger. “What would you like for dinner?”
“What do we have?”
“I’ll get you whatever you want.”
She thought for a while. “I don’t really care, as long as I can have some brioche.”
Lann grinned. “Apparently my son likes French pastry.” He chuckled. “Traitor.” The frosty yellow of his eyes turned warmer. “Before I take care of dinner, I’d like to take care of something else.”
She gasped, looking over his shoulder down the hallway. “We’re not alone.”
His smile was devilish. “Don’t worry. The rooms are soundproof.”
They made it back to Josselin Castle the following morning. Joss instructed Bono to stay on site in case they needed a quicker means of transport for the investigations.
Upon arrival, Clelia ushered them into the library where she and Maya had been working.
“We can’t find a trail to any newspaper or anyone involved with any paper in Richardson’s communication history, neither telephonic, nor electronic,” Clelia said. She turned to Joss. “How did it go on your end? Did you ask Cain about accessing Kat’s records?”
“Yes,” Joss said, “I called him straight after.”
“What did he say?”
Joss wiped a hand over his face. “Someone used his security code.”
“Shit.” Maya got to her feet behind the desk. “That’s serious. Does he know who it was?”
“No. Someone must have hacked into the system and stolen the code.”
“I’ll look into it,” Maya offered. “Did Cain take the necessary precautions to prevent this from happening again?”
“He’s already changed all the codes and had a new firewall programmed.”