Page 21 of Criminally Yours

“Welcome.” The stranger’s voice pitched, a sure sign she’d witnessed everything. She was a little shorter than Millie, with long brown hair in the kind of waves Millie spent her teenage years craving. She held out her hand. “I’m Liss.”

Millie shook it. The diamond ring on a chain around her neck glinted in the sun. “The princess?”

Liss chuckled. “I prefer Bodyguard Corp gopher, but I sometimes answer to princess. When I give you the tour of the house, I’ll tell you about my past, if you’re interested.”

Bear—or as she remembered him, Drew—came barrelling out of the house. “Liss, what have I told you about being covert? You can’t run out of the house when people are at risk,” he shouted.

Millie trembled. Bear was stocky and beast-like. When he worked as a doorman, he was the first to grab the misbehaving punters and escort them out or pick them up and toss them out the door for police to deal with. He always let her into the club, but she didn’t go much because she didn’t have friends.

She opened her mouth to apologise, when Liss grabbedthe scruff of Bear’s T-shirt and pulled until he was low enough for her to kiss his cheek. He smirked as she replied, “I’m sorry. I was excited to greet our guests.”

“I know, Princess, but you’ve got to check the cameras first. Morning, Millie. It’s been a while.” Bear pulled her into a hug. He hadn’t been the hugging sort before, but she let him envelop her. As her arms went round him, he added, “We’ll protect you.”

He let go and eased back, his eyes wary as he glanced over her shoulder. The heat from Strike’s body warmed her. When had he stepped so close?

Her knees weakened at his familiar scent, and she busied her hands with the broken tool in her pocket.

Liss mouthed to Strike,Don’t be a dickhead.

Two dogs ran out the door.

“Here comes the untrained cavalry,” Strike grumbled. “Bear, we need to talk about plans.”

“Plans that involve me?” Millie asked. Strike’s breath near her ear made her shiver. When he’d smiled in the car, little flutters teased the edges of her heart. But it was muscle memory.

Millie knelt to greet the dogs and escape his looming presence. She scratched their ears in turn, and the bigger, fluffy one rolled over for belly tickles. Her old dog had always been there for her, especially during those months of tears after Strike left.

“These are the worst guard dogs,” Strike grumped.

“They’re great therapy and full of welcoming care. We could all learn something from them,” Millie said over her shoulder. Her heart rate picked up at the view of him bathed in early morning sunlight.

Strike raised his eyebrow, and he squeezed his lips tighter.

“I asked if the plans involve me.”

“The plans are about many things, but yes, you too,” Strike replied. “Is that a problem?”

“They never learn,” Liss told Millie. The two women shared an eyeroll, making Strike grunt.

Liss raised her voice as she addressed the men. “If the plans involve Millie, she should be included in decisions. You don’t get to tell people what to do. We’ve been through this.”

“But—” Bear grunted.

Liss held up her hand, silencing him. “No. We’re doing this properly. I’m your ops manager, and I’m telling you to grab some food and make some for Millie, too. I’ll show her the clothes I’ve bought, and then we’ll talk plans.”

“But—” Strike replied.

“Are we clear, lads?”

Millie stared in awe, vowing to learn Liss’s story and emulate her.

“Yes, we’re clear.” Strike glowered.

Bear bent and kissed her hard on the lips. “Yes, baby.”

Millie continued to stroke the dogs, snuggling into their fur, but her curiosity about this new world left her sneaking glances at Bear and Liss. The lads had changed so much, yet she was the same person she’d always been.

“Are you a vegetarian or vegan, Millie?” Strike mumbled.