Page 12 of The Silencer

“We have to get Casey first,” Angel reminds me as we take the stairs slowly down to the first floor. I glance to my right and see a few paintings on the walls, abstract and colorful. I’ve seen them many times, the house seems to be covered in them, but I never thought to ask about them.

“Who painted these?” I ask, and Angel’s eyes soften even more.

“My mom. She loved to paint.”

“Oh,” I say, stopping and looking up at the yellow and blue and green splashed across the canvas.

“I don’t think she was any good,” Angel says in a whisper. “But my dad refused to let her believe she was anything but genius.” I grin at him and his eyes sparkle. “He did love her, so much.”

“I can see that.”

“They really are shit, though.”

I let out a loud laugh and then gasp, holding onto my ribs.

“God, Angel. Stop making me laugh.”

He nods and crosses his hand over his heart. “I promise to stop being funny immediately.”

I roll my eyes at him as we continue forward. When we get to the bottom of the stairs, I see Anthony’s office to the right. The doors are shut and most likely locked.

I’ve tried to snoop and have been unsuccessful.

Sadly.

I’ve tried, several times to no avail.

“Don’t even think about it, Tatum,” Angel warns when he sees where my eyes are stuck.

“I can’t help it. It’s so intriguing.”

Angel tugs me into the kitchen. It’s there that we find Casey, eating a cookie while Agatha is bustling around, cooking and baking nonstop. Honestly, this woman is amazing. Not only is she here, working from dawn until dusk, but whenever I visit, she always has special treats waiting for me.

She’s a gem and must be protected at all costs.

“Oh, Tatum,” Agatha says with a wide smile, reaching out toward me and placing a Paine Suisse in my hand. “I’m so glad you’re up and about.”

“Me too.”

She pulls me into a gentle hug and pats my back.

“I’m sure Angel told you, but I have an ointment for you to put on your bruises. It’ll help them heal much quicker.”

I nod and take a bite of the croissant. “Yeah, he told me, and oh god, Aggie. You gorgeous creature. This is delicious. Your talents are wasted here. You should come move in with me. I’ll pay you in smiles and love.”

She beams at me and then swats at me. “You keep those words to yourself, young man. Don’t make me go complaining to Mr. Costello about you trying to poach me.”

“You’d never,” I say back, already feeling more like myself the longer I’m up and about. Being bedridden is not for me. My mind can’t cope with it.

“Casey, we’re ready to go out into the gardens when you are,” Angel says, leaning into him and snapping a quick bite of his cookie. Casey eyeballs him and then sighs, feeding him the rest of it.

“If you weren’t so cute, I’d murder you for that,” Casey says and then stands up, swiping another cookie from the plate and walking to the large French doors and pushing them open. His long legs step outside, and I can’t help my gaze taking in his tall, lithe form for a little appreciation before moving to the greenery all around us.

Anthony’s mansion sits on several acres and abuts a literal forest. I’d asked about security on the premises when first arriving months ago, and apparently, from what Angel’s told me, Anthony has spared no expense. There are electric fences surrounding his property, guards at all entrances, and cameras everywhere.

We’re always being watched.

And yes, I’ve debated jacking off in full view of one of those cameras just to see what happens. Not that I’ve had a chance to do that.