He hit a button and barked, “Status update.”
Gen felt Duke’s body tighten a little at whatever the news was, and jumped a little as he gave a curt, “Thanks,” and disconnected.
“Sorry you had to sleep in your clothes. C’mon, we both need coffee before we figure out how our days are gonna go.”
“I have an eleven o’clock appointment, Duke. I told you last night.”
“Coffee first, Gen.”
She was trying hard not to get too pissed off at him, but he wasn’t helping. She’d never dealt well with high-handed males trying to tell her what to do, and Duke had a way of pissing her off even faster than most.
“Please, Duke. I don’t want to fight. I did what you wanted last night and kept my questions to myself, but I need to go home and get dressed today, and just to be sure we keep up the communication, you’re rapidly heading towards irritating me.”
A few women were in the room, making coffee and arranging baked goods on a table against the wall. They watched quietly, but at least one of them seemed a little shocked.
For his part, Duke downed his cup of coffee and poured another. “Ten minutes. Sit down and drink your coffee. I’ll be ready to talk about your day in ten minutes.”
“What, you want me to bow to you or something? Yes, Your Majesty? I’ll do as you order? Here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to find a bathroom and brush my teeth, pull my hair into a ponytail. Then I’m going to get in my car and leave. I realize I can’t open the damned garage door, so if you don’t arrange for someone to let me drive out, I’ll call a cab and I’m sure I can arrange to get my car back later. It’s eight o’clock in the morning. Bad guys are asleep. When you gave me the option of here or my brother’s house, I clearly chose wrong. Keep it up and I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
Gen turned on her heels and went down the hall until she saw a bathroom. When she came out, Duke was leaning against the wall on the other side of the hall, his arms crossed, his eyes focused.
“Sorry I was gruff,” he said.
She shook her head. “I can’t deal with you right now, Duke. I just can’t.” She turned towards the steps. “Which is probably okay, because you apparently have a bunch of shit to deal with as well, and don’t have time for me.”
“I have to be sure you’re safe, Genesis. Paco cleans up okay, and I trust him to watch your back. He’s showering now. Give him ten or fifteen minutes to shave and change into dress clothes, and he’ll stick with you today. He’s young enough you can call him an assistant or an apprentice or whatever.”
“Brain said you were shorthanded last night. You don’t need to be sending people to bodyguard me, Duke.”
“Let me worry about manpower issues.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Gen dropped her final clients back off at their house at six thirty that night, and looked to Paco as she drove off.
“I need to run home, pack a bag. I’ll run you downtown, drop you off at the compound, and then I’m going to my brother’s house.”
He shook his head. “That won’t work. Let’s see if we can’t get someone to pick me up from your brother’s. Duke won’t want you driving away from the compound by yourself.”
Gen shook her head, realizing it would do no good to argue with Paco. He was following orders and she’d have to talk to Duke.
Duke’s motorcycle was in her driveway, and he sat on her front porch. She looked at Paco, “Did you let him know we were headed home?”
“No. He made it clear I was here as bodyguard, not spy. Wanted you to trust me.”
She grimaced. “The tracker on my car. Of course.”
Duke tossed his keys to Paco as they walked up. “You’re off duty. Thanks for taking care of her. The problem should be resolved, though we’ll need to be on high alert tonight. I need to be here with Gen, Brain will let me know if I need to meet up with you later, otherwise, I’m out of pocket tonight.”
* * * *
They watched Paco drive away, looking odd in a suit on a Harley, and Gen unlocked her front door and went in, assuming Duke would handle the alarm, which he did.
“If something happens to one of your people tonight because you aren’t there, it’ll be my fault. We do need to talk, but I don’t want to pressure you to be here.”
“I kind of went off the reserve today, Beautiful. Two groups who’re normally enemies decided to team up and work together against us. All the enforcers of both groups are either in the hospital or being taken care of by loved ones because the hospital isn’t an option for them. Most of their top guys are in a world of hurt, too. They don’t have the people to do anything tonight, but just to be sure none of the other groups joined their side, I called a meeting with the leaders of all of them, and formed an alliance with one while making arrangements to ensure the others know not to side with…other factions.”