Chapter 128
Keira drove as she did everything else, with supreme confidence. Sutton thought it might be because she was the youngest. She had been very young when their parents had died.
While Keira told her about what had happened at the party she attended with her boss last
night…
“So then this diplomat’s wife shows up,” Keira was saying, barely slowing for a yellow light that she could have stopped for, “wearing the exact same designer dress as the ambassador’s mistress… who wasn’t supposed to be there in the first place and I swear to God, Sutton, you could’ve cut the tension with a knife. It wasn’t that the wife didn’t know something was going on. But golden rule never have them in the room at the same time. I would say after that little stunt the mistress is on the way out. The wife’s family is the one with the money.”
Sutton gripped the door handle as Keira took a corner too fast. “Fascinating. Could you please focus on the road before you kill us both? I’d like my baby to actually make it to birth.”
“Relax,” Keira said, though she did ease up on the gas slightly. “I’ve never had an accident.”
“I’m sure that should fill me with reassurance, but it doesn’t,” Sutton muttered.
Her phone buzzed with an incoming text. Luca again.
Luca: Are you on your way?
Sutton: Yes. Keira is driving like she is in Formula 1. Pray for me.
Luca: Should I be praying for you or for myself when you arrive?
Sutton smiled despite herself.
Sutton: Both.
Luca: I’m not that far away myself.
“Stop texting him,” Keira said, not taking her eyes off the road. “You’re supposed to be helping me practice my intimidating facial expressions for when he shows up.”
“I thought we agreed on ‘civil.””
“I’m civil. Doesn’t mean I can’t also silently communicate that I know seventeen ways to make his death look like an accident.”
Sutton rolled her eyes. “You don’t know seventeen ways to make someone’s death look like an accident.”
“I work for a prince, remember,” Keira countered. “I’ve picked things up.”
“Keira…” God, she really hoped Keira was joking.
“Fine, fine. Whatever.” Her sister waved a dismissive hand. “I’ll play nice. Mostly.” They pulled up at Roman and Blair’s estate.
“I really should ask what you do for this prince, Keira. Some of the things that come out of your mouth are starting to worry me,” Sutton said as they headed inside.
Keira grinned. “Let’s just say most of the time he rubs me the wrong way, but the pay is good for all my bitching. I’m good at keeping his secrets. The fact I signed an NDA and he could sue me might also have something to do with it.”
“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.” NDA, really. She might talk to Blair and Roman, maybe even Luca. They might know more about Keira’s boss than she did. Roman and Luca moved in the same business world as the Prince.
Keira moved up the stairs faster than she could. Blair answered the door before they could even knock, looking radiant in a simple blue dress, her hair
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loose around her shoulders,
“There you are!” she exclaimed, pulling them both into a hug. “Roman’s made cocktails… virgin for you, of course, Sutton.”
“You look happy.” Sutton could see her sister was brimming with… well, something. She had seemed content with Dan, But with Roman, she was clearly very happy.
“I am. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was.” Then she realized that Sutton hadn’t made up her mind about Luca yet and wasn’t sure if she was going to be So, Blair squeezed Sutton’s hand to show support.
Blair led them into the family room. Roman stood at the bar, mixing drinks.
“Ladies,” he greeted them warmly. “Perfect timing. Dinner’s almost ready.”
“Where’s Luca?” Keira asked, a touch too innocently.
“Not here yet,” Roman replied, giving her a warning look. “And when he arrives, you will behave yourself. Blair has filled me in on your revenge tendencies.”
Keira batted her eyelashes. “I have no idea what you mean.”
“Uh–huh,” Roman said, clearly unconvinced. He handed her a martini. “Drink this. It might help dull your homicidal instincts. He is trying, and you don’t know the whole story.” He handed Sutton her virgin drink. “No alcohol.”
“Roman… You take all the fun out of life.” Keira pouted.
“Just remember this isn’t your story. You will have yours, and would you want Blair and Sutton involving themselves in your love life?” It was a subtle warning.
Before Keira could answer, the doorbell rang. Blair moved to answer it. Sutton felt her pulse quicken, annoyed at herself for the reaction. She was a grown woman, for God’s sake, not some teenager with a crush. She and Luca had a past. A past they needed to work through, regardless. If they had a future, they still shared a child.
Luca came into the room with Blair. He must have gone home and changed. His suit was gone, replaced by a beige pair of pants and a blue dress shirt. The top buttons of his shirt was undone. His hair was slightly mussed.
Clutched in one hand was a large bouquet of flowers, and under his other arm was a bottle of wine.
“Good evening,” he said. “These are for you and Roman.” He handed over the flowers and wine. “I wasn’t sure what was for dinner, so I played it safe with a red.”
There was a tension in the room, but Blair broke it by talking about their few days away. Roman handed Luca a scotch, clapping him on the shoulder.
Sutton could feel Luca’s eyes on her. He didn’t move toward her, maybe sensing she needed space in front of her family.
“How are you feeling?” he asked quietly when the others had moved toward the dining area.
“Fine,” she replied automatically, then corrected herself. “Tired, actually. It’s been a full–on 36 hours.”
“I know.” His eyes were soft with concern. “You should have left earlier. From work today. Have a nap.”
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“I wanted to make sure everything was secure and cleaned up.”
He nodded, understanding. There was an awkward pause, neither quite sure how to act around each other with an audience.
“Dinner’s ready,” Blair called, saving them from the moment.
The meal was beautiful–salmon with a crispy skin, asparagus, a creamy potato dish. Blair really was the best cook out of the three sisters-
Chapter 128
The conversation flowed easily about nothing serious as they sat down to eat, Roman and Blair sharing stories from their brief honeymoon
Halfway through the meal, Blair, never one for subtlety, set down her fork and said, “So, Luca, Roman said there was a security scare at Cyber10
Luca looked at Sutton before answering. “Yes, but Sutton’s new Al virus software and her mad skills saved the day. Not only for Kingston but Cyber 10 as well. I offered Sutton a promotion.”
Blair lifted an eyebrow. Sutton knew Blair had been holding off going to Cyber 10 for Warner industries until she saw how the new management and changes with the new CEO Luca. At the time the topic had come up, they hadn’t known Luca was the new CEO. “Promotion already. That’s great
Luca nodded. “Head of cybersecurity. She saved Kingston’s data and caught a saboteur single–handedly.”
“Not single–handedly,” Sutton interjected. “You helped.”
He smiled at her, a real smile that reached his eyes. “I watched and made a few calls while you did all the heavy lifting.”
“Wait, what saboteur?” Keira demanded, looking between them. “What the hell happened?”
Over dessert–a yummy chocolate mousse that made Sutton nearly groan with pleasure. They filled everyone in on what had happened. Nicole’s betrayal and the hacker, Miles Miller.
“Which reminds me,” Luca said when they’d finished explaining. “The news about Miles.”
Sutton set down her spoon suddenly alert. “What about him?”
“He’s talking. A lot.” Luca leaned forward slightly. “In exchange for reduced charges, he’s given up all the details. Turns out Nicole wasn’t his only client.” Luca explained to the others. “Sutton figured out Miles had been paid by someone else to hack into Cyber10 and destroy the database.”
“Who else was he working for?” Roman asked sharply.
“Black Web Tech,” Luca replied. “Our biggest competitor. They were the ones who funded the larger attack. Nicole just provided the access and inside information, thinking it would help her eliminate a ‘problem‘–her words, not mine. Unaware that Miles was double–dipping.”
Sutton felt cold all over. “You mean me. I was the problem.”
Luca nodded grimly. “According to Miles, she was convinced you needed to go. That she saw you as a problem and you wanted to move up the corporate ladder on your back…”
“I’m pregnant. That woman was a nutter.” Nicole also didn’t know/about Sutton and Luca’s history. If she had known Sutton’s name before, she would have known Audrey. But she had never, ever called Luca at work,
“In her mind, it didn’t matter. I hate to say it before Sutton–that I did have a type. I think she saw you as a threat. You were righ he has some sort of weird obsession with me. She thought if Kingston’s data was corrupted and it could be traced back to you, I’d fire you immed
“That’s insane,” Blair said, her voice tight with anger.
“Nicole isn’t well,” Luca said before adding, “The police/psychiatrist confirmed it this afternoon. Severe delusional disorder, possibly exacerbated by stress. I’m not sure of her backstory, but she has this need for control. I have seen that in her at the office.”
“So what happens now?” Sutton asked.
“She’ll stand trial, but likely be remanded to psychiatric care rather than prison.” Luca looked genuinely troubled. “I still can’t believe I didn’t see it. If had known I would have gotten her help.”
“Sometimes we miss what’s right in front of us,” Roman said, his eyes moving between Luca and Sutton meaningfully. “We see what we expect to see An awkward silence. Blair, ever the perfect hostess, cleared her throat. “Coffee, anyone? Tea, Sutton?”
Sutton was surprised at how quiet Keira was being. But also grateful. But Keira had been watching Luca for most of the evening
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