‘You were amazing up there. You didn’t give an inch. First Ari. Then Foley. I don’t know how you held it together. They were brutal.’

Clover shrugged. ‘I was braced for it. After yesterday’s warning shot, there was always going to have to be a confrontation. They were never going to welcome us with open arms.’ She didn’t bother to mention the near miss in the middle of the night too.

‘I know, but still – that was something else.’

‘Well, they’ve got a lot to lose.’ Clover straightened her back and stretched her neck, trying to calm her nervous system. She didn’t want them to know how shaken she felt.

‘Damn,’ Johnny sighed, rubbing his face in his hands. ‘I have a bad feeling this project is going to make doing solitary with Cory seem like a walk in the park.’

‘Mmm.’

‘Is he what you expected?’ Johnny asked her.

Clover bit her lip. ‘Worse.’

No one spoke for several moments.

‘. . . I was impressed he knew the word “platitude”,’ Matty offered.

Johnny stared at her in disbelief. ‘That’s what you took away from it?’

‘What?’ she asked back. ‘At least it means he’s not a complete animal.’

‘That’s like saying psychopaths can appreciate fine wine!’

‘Well, can’t they?’

A knock at the door made them all jump. Hesitantly, Johnny – as the alpha male – walked over to open it.

Ari stared back at him darkly, then his gaze searched for Clover. ‘. . . Are you okay?’ he asked, finding her in the far corner, leaning against the desk.

She gave a half nod, half shrug.

‘Look, I’m sorry. The way he was just now . . . he never should have spoken to you like that.’

She didn’t reply.

‘He can be . . . intense, when he’s angry. And when he’s hung over on top . . . well, he wasn’t seeing straight. But I’ve just read him the riot act . . .’ Clover sincerely doubted that. He gave a weary sigh. ‘The simple fact is, Kit’s got no choice in the matter. You know it. I know it. He’ll have to come round, whether he likes it or not.’

‘I’m going with not,’ she said simply.

‘No, maybe not,’ he agreed. ‘But like you said, he doesn’t have to like you. We’ll all just have to find a way to work together.’

‘That would be good.’

‘So in that spirit, can we just start slow and not freak him out with anything too intense? Give me a chance to make him listen.’

‘Do you really think you can do that, though?’

‘I’ve known Kit pretty much my whole life. I know he’s his own worst enemy sometimes but I’ll get him on board somehow, I will. Just give me a little time . . . Don’t jump right in?’