stood. He paced the room and said, “What about an unofficial safe house.”
“Explain, please?” Isla asked.
“Why don’t we rent a house and stay there? They wouldn’t know where we are. We work from home.”
Isla bucked at that idea. “I have to go into the office regularly. That defeats the purpose.”
I stepped in, adding, “Same for us. We can work from home for certain things, but meetings with clients must be face-to-face. Locating us would be simple. They could tail us from the headquarters.”
Acer nodded. “When you put it like that, I get your point. Then two houses?”
“I like that idea,” Isla answered. “We split up. They won’t know which house we’re staying in. And one more thing. We need an escape plan.”
An idea struck. “Why don’t we do this? Stay in a hotel for a few days while we create an explosion-proof room in both houses?”
“Can we add an escape door leading to the outside?” Cruze asked.
“I don’t see why not? We can do anything as long as we’re willing to pony up the bucks.”
Isla grinned. “I love the sound of that. Keep in mind, the room should be large enough to fit everyone.”
I glanced at her and said, “Duh.” That broke the tension and everyone chuckled for a moment. “I’ll call Drex. Surely he knows someone who can install this.”
That evening, the entire Kent clan, including Isla’s mother, checked into a hotel. We took up an entire floor and cut off anyone else from accessing it. The hotel was very accommodating, considering the late request.
The next day, construction began on our safe rooms. They were digging into the ground next to the basement and then would attach it by drilling out an opening through the wall. The opposite end of the room would have a door leading to a staircase that exited in the back yard. They would camouflage it, but we hadn’t decided how yet. The two jobs would take a few weeks at a hefty price tag, but who could put a dollar amount on a human life?
My next job would be to persuade Scottie into moving in with us. The thought of something happening to her was unbearable.
Chapter Twelve
Scottie
Raiden had gone off in a huff over a week ago and I hadn’t spoken to him since. Isla filled me in on the latest Kent project, aka, Operation Safe Kent. It was damn ingenious if I said so myself.
Isla was getting coffee when I bumped into her this morning.
“Scottie, need a cup of morning perk up too?”
“You bet. Can’t go long without it.”
She took a sip of hers and hummed her pleasure. “Gah, I love this stuff. Hey, how are the renovations coming along?”
“Terrible.” A long sigh huffed past my lips. “I’m frustrated with the company I’m using. The entire front of the house is gone, and they have made very little progress.”
“Hmm. Want Acer to stop by and check things out?”
“Does he know anything about construction?”
She shrugged, then took another sip of coffee. “But you know contractors. Their reputation with women can suck. Maybe having a male popping by would help.”
“It surely can’t hurt. If he doesn’t mind, then yes.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yeah, what?”
“What’s up with you and Raiden? He’s as grumpy as an eighty-year-old man.”
Grabbing her free hand, I asked, “Has he told you anything?”
“Not a word.”
“He was so angry I didn’t immediately call him about the bomb.” I turned my attention to making my cup of coffee and when I finished, I went on. “I probably should have called him, but that night, all I was thinking about was Jeremy and being grateful he wasn’t dead. Then there was getting my things together to stay at the apartment. I was a mess. The next morning, he blew in here like a thunderstorm and dumped a shit load of hail on me. I get it upset him, but so was I.”
“Kent men are fierce and protective. They like to control things. I got the gentler one of the family, so I understand your dilemma. He’ll get over it.”
“He’ll have to if he wants us to be together, plus he owes me an apology.”
She squeezed my shoulder. “Good luck with that. Raiden considers himself the boss and caretaker of the Kent clan. He’ll also, I’m sure, consider it his duty to see you’re safe too. I doubt he’ll apologize for something he sees as the norm.”
I rolled my eyes. “Oh, boy, we have the alpha male getting his hackles in a dither.”
Isla winked. “Sure, but