Dusk (Dangerous Web #1) - Aleatha Romig Page 0,56
that goal to be achieved, we need to work as a unit. One. Not three or four entities.”
“And how can I...?”
“You were doing it, before we lost him. You were helping. I’m not asking you to work for me. You aren’t an employee, any more than Reid or Patrick. I’m asking that even though you married Reid, maybe you could do some of what you were doing before for all of us.”
“You mean like cooking and cleaning?”
“This isn’t meant as a menial request.”
“I-I—”
“It is the opposite,” Mr. Sparrow said. “I didn’t understand it before, but now I do.” He walked back to the chessboard. “I never investigated hiring someone or a service to clean the different apartments because as I said, it’s a matter of trust. I know there are others who would do it, people who would willingly do that out of a false sense of gratitude or others for the money. I don’t truly know most of those people. I don’t want a stranger in my home or yours.”
“I wasn’t sure that you wanted me up here,” I admitted.
“I do, if you are willing. Just don’t move the chess pieces.”
A smile came to my face, raising my cheeks and curling my lips. “I promise.”
“I’ll have Reid set you up with an account to buy any household necessities. There isn’t a checks and balances, Lorna. I don’t need a spreadsheet. Once my trust is given, it’s without question until the day I regret that decision. I don’t want to regret this decision.”
Suddenly, what he was asking of me seemed even more important. “You won’t, sir.”
“What I would like more than anything is to not think about it, but to know it is taken care of by someone I trust.”
“So, you’re asking me to be kind of like the house manager.”
Mr. Sparrow grinned. “You can be in charge of your title. I’m not a big fan of titles, especially amongst friends. Sterling or Sparrow works for me. No more mister or sir. Can we agree to that?”
“I think so.”
“Besides the chessboard, my only other request is that you only enter the second floor of the penthouse when I’m away.”
“I can do that.”
Sparrow let out a long breath. His grin appeared more genuine, bringing light to his dark gaze. “I bet you didn’t count on getting three men when you agreed to marry Reid.”
I shook my head. “I don’t know for sure what I anticipated. I probably didn’t count on his friends being more than his.”
“Well, you have that friendship too. I should warn you. Friendship doesn’t mean I won’t be a pain in the ass sometimes.”
“Noted,” I said with a smirk. “I heard that about you too.”
“I’m sure you did.”
“This will be new to us and you. Work it out. You’re the house manager or whatever you want to call yourself. The schedule is yours, the spending account is yours. There is only one steadfast, unbreakable rule that goes along with this arrangement.”
“What is that?” I asked.
“Believe us.”
I took a breath. “Okay.”
“Lorna, I mentioned that by staying here, you chose danger over freedom. I let your brother down because for a moment in time—one that I would fucking take back if I could—in that moment, I forgot to fully appreciate the true risk that goes with our world. One time I underestimated the consequences. He brought you here to keep you safe. Keeping you here does the opposite. You’re now the wife of a top Sparrow. You’re a target to others. If we tell you that you need to stay in the tower, believe us.
“It’s because as God is my witness, I will never underestimate that danger again. It isn’t because you’re a woman, a sister, or a wife. It’s because Patrick was right. You’re family. We protect what is ours.”
“Reid gave me a similar warning after his proposal.”
Sparrow grinned. “It’s a good thing it wasn’t before. You might have changed your answer.”
“I don’t think I would have.”
“Do we have a deal?”
“Yes.” I started to say Mr. Sparrow but stopped. “Yes, Sparrow, we do.”
He motioned between us. “This doesn’t need to be mentioned again.”
My eyes opened wide. “What doesn’t?”
He nodded. “Very good.” His smile faded. “Or him. My thoughts about him are known. I don’t need nor have time to relive them.”
It was the same warning I’d been given by Reid, not to mention Mason’s name in Mr. Sparrow’s presence. “I’m sorry that I remind you of him,” I said earnestly.
“Fuck that. Be your own person. You are now an