“How did the trip go?” I asked Kade. “Is Sage with her grandparents?”

He stopped wolfing down his eggs and nodded. “Safe and sound. She actually followed through on her threat and made me listen to nature sounds too.” His expression said exactly how distasteful he found her choice of music. “For hours.”

This time, I couldn’t hide my smile. “Did you feel calm by the time you arrived?”

He rolled his massive shoulders. “No, I felt like ripping the stereo out. There’s only so many waterfall tracks a man can be expected to listen to. But does she see that? Oh, no. She advised me in no uncertain terms that the soundtrack would be good for my blood pressure.”

I privately agreed. But for all of his complaints, there was a certain fondness in his tone. Perhaps Sage had grown on him.

Zeke laughed. “She’s a cheeky one.”

“She’s an eccentric,” Kade said.

“There’s nothing wrong with that.” I silently dared him to disagree.

He dipped his chin. “The most interesting people are eccentric. I didn’t mean it as an insult. She’s an unusual little thing, that’s all.”

“Well, okay then.” I dropped the topic. Sage wouldn’t disagree with his assessment, and unless he was badmouthing her, I had no problem either. I picked up my cutlery and tasted the egg. “Mm, this is good.”

Zeke shrugged with false modesty, as if to say I should have expected that.

“Do we have any updates?” Ronan asked. He’d finished his breakfast and pushed his plate aside. He leaned onto his forearms.

“Tom is in the wind,” Zeke said. “We’ll find him, but he’s making it difficult. We’ve managed to track down Mark Orlov, the guy who left his fingerprints on those photos.”

“Good,” Ronan grunted.

“One of my men is shadowing him,” Kade added. “We won’t lose him.”

Ronan nodded. “Zeke, what say you and I have a conversation with Orlov?”

“Me?” Zeke’s eyes widened. “Wouldn’t you rather have The Incredible Hulk by your side in case the conversation isn’t friendly?”

Ronan’s gaze settled on me and warmed a fraction. Something tickled at my insides. “I’d rather Kade stay with Willow. If someone was to find her, I’d prefer they have to go through him than you.”

Zeke’s eyes flashed with humor. “Right. Got it.”

“I’ll keep her safe, King.” Kade’s lips curved in what might have been a smile. “We can practice some self-defense moves.” He turned to me. “I’d rather you didn’t need them, but it’s better to know them and not need them than to need them and not know them.”

“I’d like that.” I was sick of being on the back foot. That stopped now.

His teeth flashed. “We’ll start as soon as they go.”

To my surprise, Ronan got to his feet immediately. “No point in delaying.”

Zeke frowned and gestured at the remainder of his meal.

“The sooner the better,” Ronan added.

Kade nodded. “Agreed.”

With a last longing look at his eggs, Zeke got to his feet. Ronan rounded the table and stopped in front of me. I stood, unsure what he wanted, but then he kissed my forehead. Heat licked up my cheeks. I darted a look at Kade and Zeke, but Ronan didn’t seem to care if they’d witnessed our private moment.