“I’ve got it,” I say more calmly than I’m feeling. Like John, I already want to rip Mike a new arsehole. But this can’t get messy. Sarah appears beside me, her hand resting on my arm. “Call me if you need anything.”

“Thanks.”

Mike sneers at John as he backs out of the room with Sarah. Everything about my oldest friend’s persona tells me he doesn’t want to leave. And he won’t. He’ll wait outside because that’s John through and through. Protective. Loyal. My rock. I give him a nod, telling him I’m good. “I won’t be long,” I assure them both. I have a feeling this is a waste of my fucking time, and I have far more important things to be dealing with. John nods, closes the door, silent and brooding, and I redirect my attention to the prick making himself at home, leaning back on my couch.

He points to the cabinet. “Not going to offer me a drink?”

My jaw stiffens, and I cast my eyes across to the alcohol still holding court. “Want a drink?” I ask, strolling over. It’s barely midday. He doesn’t want a drink, but he’ll have one.

“Vodka,” he says, and I close my eyes, reaching for the bottle. People say you can’t smell vodka. It’s bullshit. I unscrew the cap and pour, shutting off my sense of smell. “One cube of ice,” he adds.

Opening the mini-fridge, I pull out one cube, dropping it into the glass. The disturbance of the liquid makes the smell waft up. “Here,” I say, turning and walking across my office to him, my arm outstretched, keeping the devil’s juice as far away as possible.

Mike smirks knowingly as he accepts. “Not joining me?”

I ignore him and sit on the couch opposite, fighting to keep my temper in check. “Talk,” I order shortly.

“I hear you’re dating.”

I stare at him with every ounce of malice I feel. “I’m not here to talk about Ava.” I can feel a threat coming, and I’m suddenly so fucking glad she refused to come. This isn’t going to end well. My mood was already in the gutter. This arsehole is going to send it into the sewer.

“Ava,” he muses, looking at his glass as he rolls his wrist, making the ice drag around the inside. Her name coming out of his mouth feels like nails down a chalkboard. “A little birdy told me she doesn’t know about The Manor.”

“A little birdy like who?” Who else am I going to decimate once I’ve seen to Mike?

He smiles. It’s cunning as fuck. “People talk, Ward.”

“Then people should learn to keep their mouths shut.” I get up to restrain my increasingly tense muscles before I dive across the table and strangle the fucker. “You wanted to talk, Mike. So fucking talk.”