CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Kerry opened the door of her apartment to see Nathan standing there with a stern, determined look on his face. He looked like a man on a mission. Behind him were four gloved, burly men wearing similar-colored t-shirts with a small logo at the side. She could make out the word “movers” on their logo but nothing else.
“Um, morning,” Kerry stammered as Nathan pushed through the doorway. It was the weekend and she hadn't even had breakfast.
Nathan smiled grimly at her, his eyes gleaming with heat and purpose. “These guys are here to help you move.” Nathan indicated the muscled men behind him. “Tell them what needs to be packed, and they'll get everything done in a jiffy.”
“P-packed?” Kerry spluttered.
“Hi, Nathan,” Tia called sleepily as she strolled out of her bedroom. “Woah, who are these guys? What's happening? What am I missing?”
“Hi Tia.” Nathan greeted her with a grin. “You are missing nothing, young lady. You'd better get dressed though. You and Kerry are moving today.”
“Moving?” the sisters said in unison.
“Yup. You're moving into the apartment just two floors down from mine. I own quite a few units in the building, and the tenant has just vacated that unit. A vacant unit is a damn waste of space so you girls are moving in today,” Nathan said matter-of-factly.
Kerry glared at him. He spoke as if the matter had already been decided.
“Which building is this?” Tia asked curiously. “Where will we be moving to?”
“Regent Towers,” Nathan answered.
Tia's eyes bugged. “Regent Towers? No way! The rent there is sky high!” She chortled. “It is sky high! There are like...ninety floors or something. Maybe more. I'm not even sure. I bet you can touch the clouds if you open your window!”
Nathan laughed. “Sorry but I'm pretty sure you can't touch the clouds. Speaking from experience.”
“Gah!” Tia exclaimed. “Regent Towers! Gosh!” She took a deep breath and said, “Okay. Let the other shoe drop. How much is the rent?”
“I own the unit. You'll be staying rent free,” Nathan said simply.
“No,” Kerry said.
Tia glanced at her and turned to Nathan. “Why?”
“Why what?” Nathan shrugged.
“Why are you doing this?”
“Kerry is my mate. I take care of my family,” Nathan replied simply. “Family stays together.”
“Your family, eh?” Tia lifted a brow and smirked. “What if—we don't want to move? What you gonna do?”
“Then I'll move into your apartment,” Nathan answered without hesitation.
“You're kidding,” Tia snorted. She saw the expression on Nathan's face and muttered, “No you're not. Oh my God, you're serious.” Her eyes flew between Nathan and Kerry and a slow smile spread across her face. “You're serious about Kerry.”
“She is my mate.”
Tia nodded thoughtfully. “You can't be apart from her. And you...” She pointed at Kerry. “You're miserable without him.”
“I'm not miserable!” Kerry protested.
“You're my sister. I know you,” Tia said. “You've been like a zombie, Kerry. You miss him and you luuuuurve him.”
“I...”
“I know you love me too,” Tia said, smiling. “But you belong with your mate.”
“We are staying together, Tia,” Kerry said adamantly. “I have to take care of you...”
Tia rolled her eyes. “I'm not a baby. And you'll just be two floors up. I'm an adult. I want to stay on my own.” She turned to Nathan and said, “So this is the arrangement. I move into the apartment. And Kerry moves in with you. Right?”
Nathan regarded Tia for a moment and said, “I will hire a full-time nurse for you. And I will equip you with a wrist monitor. All you have to do is press a button on the monitor and Kerry and I will be notified immediately.”
Tia grinned. “Awesome! See, you don't have to worry about me.”
Kerry planted a hand on her hip. So now they were ganging up on her. “Wait a minute, I didn't agree...”
“Kerry, please,” Tia pleaded. “You can't be mothering me all the time.”
“Yes I can. I'm your big sister...”
“And you're also his mate,” Tia said. “You have your life. And I want to be independent. I'm not an invalid. Not yet anyway. Don't treat me like a corpse before I'm one.”
“Tia!” Kerry cried.
Nathan went to Kerry and tugged her gently to him. “I won't let anything happen to Tia. I will hire the best nurses for her. She will have round-the-clock care. Tia is my sister too. I promise you she'll be safe.”
Tia smiled smugly at Kerry. “You're a mated woman now,” she said, wagging a finger. “You can't live at home forever, Kerry.”
Kerry released an exasperated breath, but she did see her sister's point. And this arrangement was in fact way better. Right now, Tia was left alone for most of the day while Kerry was at work. Their neighbors dropped by every hour or so to check on Tia, and Kerry knew that it wasn't the ideal arrangement but she couldn't afford to hire a full-time nurse for Tia.
“Okay,” Kerry said at last. “Okay.”
Tia grinned at Nathan. “You can thank me later,” she whispered.
He grinned back and indicated the four men waiting patiently behind him. “These guys are professionals, the best in the business. They'll pack all your things and deliver them in perfect condition.”
Tia rubbed her hands gleefully. “Let's start with my stuff then. We don't really have that much stuff, so we should be done in an hour. Kerry, don't just stand there and glare at Nathan! It's moving day! So let's get moving!”