“Fiancé,” he said. “Ava and I are getting married.”
She turned to him and mouthed, We are?
He shrugged and turned his eyes back to her father.
“Damn, Ava.” Jasper blinked, and Ava saw his eyes were wet. “Really? You’re getting married? Your mom didn’t tell me.”
“We just decided a little while ago.” Ava decided to go with it. It was probably the easiest way for her mom and Jasper to understand what role Malachi would play in her life. She didn’t care about getting married, but her mom would. “Mom doesn’t know yet.”
Jasper cackled. “You better tell her. She’ll be pissed if you don’t. I’ll wait to call her. Malachi, huh?” He stood and offered a hand. “Nice to meet you, man. Cool name.”
“Thank you.” Malachi shook his hand. “Nice to meet you too. Ava has spoken of you.”
“I’d say it’s all lies, but she’s too honest, so I’ll just offer a general apology for all past behavior.” He sat down and looked around the garden. “Where’d they go?”
Ava thought he looked pretty good for being on a bender. But then, there was a reason she’d chosen to visit in the morning.
“Jasper, I wanted to ask—”
“Sit down!” He waved to the chairs across from him and craned his neck toward the house. “Sit. Those girls were just here. Gotta get you guys some coffee. Where’d you two meet? Malachi, you drink coffee?”
Ava sat. “We met in Istanbul. I was there on a job and Malachi—”
“You’re Turkish, man?” Jasper drew on the cigarette again and nodded. “I can see it. Cool. Yeah. So what do you do, Malachi-with-the-cool-name?”
Ava barely caught the edge of suspicion in Jasper’s eyes. It was odd for him to be protective, but then, she’d never brought a boyfriend to meet him. Never really had a boyfriend stick around long enough to matter.
“I’m in private security,” Malachi said smoothly. It was a practiced lie; he’d implied the same thing to her when they first met. She supposed, in a way, it was true.
“Fuck,” Jasper said with a snort. “I thought you said he wasn’t a bodyguard, Ava?”
“Maybe I should have said he wasn’t just a bodyguard.”
Jasper laughed.
“Hey, they’re the only guys who ever stick around,” she said wryly.
“Carl didn’t hire him, did he?”
“No.”
“Good. All the guys Carl ever hired had a stick up their ass. Of course, Carl does too. So that’s not really a surprise.”
“Jasper…”
“Kidding. Kinda.” He grinned at Malachi, who still sat silently, his expression a careful blank.
Malachi said, “I work for a private international firm based in Vienna. But I take my own assignments.”
“So Ava’s your assignment now?” Jasper’s eyes were keen on Malachi.
“Yes.”
“Good. Too many sick fuckers in the world.” He lit another cigarette and looked toward the kitchen where one of the maids was bringing out another French press filled with coffee and two more cups. “Ah, there she is. And Ava, I never liked you hoppin’ around all over the place.”
“Yeah, you’re one to talk.”
“I speak from experience.” He nodded toward Malachi. “I guess if you’re gonna do it, good you have someone with you.”
“Thanks. Jasper—”
“Hey.” He interrupted her again while he waved the maid away and poured the coffee. “I wanted to talk to you about the Malibu house.”
“You mean your house?”
“No. It’s your house. It’s been in your name for over a year now.”
“Jasper, I already have—”
“Move your stuff from Lena’s place. Live there when you’re in LA. You can consider it my wedding present, if you want. But you need your own base, baby girl. Not a crash pad.”
He refused to meet her eyes. It was an old argument, and one Ava didn’t feel like having again. Jasper had already given her too much. The trust fund alone was in the multimillions. He had more money than God and was constantly trying to give her things. Cars. Jewelry. Houses. She didn’t want that stuff. Didn’t need it.
“I don’t need a big house. I can stay with Mom when I’m in California.”
He gave her his worried look. “This place—have you even been there?”
“Luis sent me pictures.”
“It’s quiet, Ava. I picked it myself. Secluded. Lots of acreage. Overlooks the ocean. You know…” He glanced away again. “Quiet. I know you need that.”
And there it was. The knowledge she’d been skirting around ever since she’d found the Irin. Found the real reason she heard those voices in her head. Jasper had been one of the few she’d never had to hide around. She’d known, even as a child, that the man who heard beautiful music in his head—was tormented by it at times—would understand the isolated girl she’d been.
Jasper had known all along. Somehow, he’d known.
“Jasper.”
His hand shook as he lifted the cigarette. He was getting worse before her eyes. The demons were waking up despite the warm Italian sun and the peaceful garden.
“Just take the house, Ava. I want to give it to you.”