"I'll take the couch," Caleb stated.

Stella was speechless.

She kept her eyes glued to the floor, but it seemed like this was the only viable option.

Lemira glanced at Orion. Didn't this guy own, like, a dozen properties?

Before she could say a word, Orion grabbed her hand. "Fine, that works out perfectly. It's best if Stella isn't left alone right now."

Lemira thought about it and realized he had a point.

Was she supposed to let Stella and Caleb stay somewhere by themselves?

Given how skittish Stella was acting, she definitely wouldn't agree to that.

In the end, Lemira kept quiet, and the four of them headed to her apartment.

She never imagined the day would come when her place would be packed with this many people.

She looked at Caleb. "It's just the four of us, make yourself at home."

He scanned the layout. "Mind if I do a sweep?"

"Go for it."

Lemira knew it was just his professional instinct and didn't mind at all.

She pulled Orion aside and whispered, "He probably doesn't have any clean clothes. Have someone drop some off."

"You really do care about him, don't you?" Orion's tone was low and distinctly jealous.

She pinched his waist. "You have all these massive houses, yet you insist on cramming in here?"

He hissed at the sting, then caught her hand in his.

He murmured, "You want to stick Stella and Caleb in an empty house together? Throwing a sheep to the wolf, are we?"

Catching his drift, Lemira immediately dropped the idea.

Orion stared at her. If they went to one of his larger properties, how was he

supposed to sleep in the same room as her?

Lemira headed into the guest room to check on Stella.

Out in the living room, Orion noticed Caleb standing on the balcony and walked

over. "Sorry to make you rough it on the couch, man."

"I don't care, as long as you guys don't mind."

Orion smirked. "I don't mind at all. If you weren't out here, I'd be the one sleeping on it."

Caleb caught the implication. "Still haven't sealed the deal?"

"I'm working on it. But I'm moving a hell of a lot faster than you. Your girl is still pissed at you, so good luck with that."

Caleb narrowed his eyes. "We'll see about that."

"Care to make a bet?"

"Sure. If you lose, you hand over the keys to the car you drove today."

Orion gritted his teeth. "You don't hold back, do you? Did you not make a dime overseas? The second you get back, you're eyeing my ride? Well hate to break it to you but your don't stand a chance."

There was no way he was losing to Caleb.

The two men chatted a bit longer. When Orion saw Lemira emerge from Stella's

room, he immediately followed her into the master bedroom.

She turned to look at him. "Can't you just go back to your own place tonight?"

"And leave you girls unprotected?"

"We have a literal mercenary boss in the living room. I think our security is fine."

Orion clenched his jaw, grabbed her arm, and pulled her close. "He's here to protect Steller you don't have that kind of pull with him. Besides, am I invisible to you?"

Lemira laughed and looped her arms around him. "You still haven't told me what

actually happened between them. You promised me this morning."

His gaze dropped to her lips. "I remember."

"So spill."

Noticing the predatory shift in his eyes, she immediately backed up several steps. "We can talk on the armchair."

Orion glanced at the small chair by the window. Fine. It was better than getting kicked out.

In the dead of night.

Stella tossed and turned. She really needed to use the restroom—probably from drinking too much soda at dinner.

But knowing Caleb was out there, she held it in for as long as she could.

Eventually, the urge became unbearable. She slowly cracked her door open and peeked at the man sleeping on the sofa.

He had to be asleep by now, right?

Holding her breath, she tiptoed toward the bathroom, too terrified to even flick on a light.

But as she slipped inside, she accidentally bumped into the doorframe.

She let out a soft yelp, clutching her forehead, only to have a pair of iron-strong arms pin her in place. A deep voice rumbled in the dark, "Sneaking around like a thief in the night?"