Page 39 of Keeping Katie

Nodding, I study his face, and everything inside me melts. Is it possible to fall in love with someone after a week?

13

GRADY

Iknew he was bad news. The name sounded so familiar. Which is why I’m standing in front of Calvin Dunlap’s office with Bash, Killian, and Cage Black at my side. I don’t really know why Cage is here, but he said he wanted to join us, then gave me the most evil fucking grin I’ve ever seen, so there was no way in hell I was going to say no.

After my conversation with Kieran about Calvin, I reached out to Cage and asked him to dig up some info about the real estate agent. Cage came up with a lot of shit that I’m sure Calvin hoped would never be brought to light.

The young, pretty receptionist stands when the four of us walk into the pretentious office, her face going pale. There’s no doubt we’re intimidating. We’re all over six feet tall, have hand tattoos, and wear suits that cost more than most cars. Except for Cage. I’ve only seen him dressed up once. It was weird. Like today, he usually wears jeans, T-shirts, and some worn-in boots that I think are meant to look that way. I don’t think the guy is into fashion, but then again, I’m also pretty sure he’s a psychopath, so who knows what shit he’s into.

“Um, hello,” she says so quietly I barely hear her. The poor thing is shaking like a leaf. I wish we could reassure her that we’d never harm her, but I’m doubtful it would do any good.

“Hello. I need to speak with Calvin Dunlap. Can you point me to his office?” I ask.

She swallows and stares up at me for a few seconds before we’re interrupted.

“Doll-face, you gave me the wrong report.”

I turn toward the voice and glare. Calvin Fucking Dunlap. Past charges of fraud. Theft. A handful of other misdemeanor crimes. All of which he’s somehow gotten dropped. All by the same judge.

He pauses mid-step. When his gaze lands on Cage, his eyes bulge.

“Hey, oldfriend,” Cage says with a grin.

Calvin backs up, but Cage follows, and we go with him until the five of us are inside a large office. Killian closes the door and locks it.

“W-what are you doing here?” Calvin asks, wiping sweat from his forehead.

Cage shrugs, smiling at the asshole. “I’m just here for fun, and I’m having a fucking blast, man. How about you?”

I look from Cage to Calvin and back again. Okay, so obviously they know each other. Cage didn’t mention that. Whatever their history, it’s not good.

“Good, man. Good. Real good. Yep,” Calvin squeaks out.

Shaking my head, I charge toward him. “You’ve been working with my girl, Katie, on selling her parents’ house.”

Something flashes in Calvin’s eyes before he nods. “Right, right. Yeah, the old ranch house.”

“Yeah. You no longer work for her. As of today, you’ll never speak to her again. The list of bullshit you gave her to do to fix up the house, what the fuck was that all about?”

“I was just trying to help her get the most money for the house, man. She’s trying to pay off her parents’ medical bills,” he answers quickly.

I take another step closer, my irritation prickling the back of my neck. “Trying to get top dollar so you could line your fucking pockets. We pulled some financials on you, Calvin. Seems you’ve been getting a really high commission off your sales lately.”

He shakes his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Bash scoffs. “Like hell you don’t, asshole. You know exactly what the fuck you’re doing. And it seems you must be blowing a judge on a regular basis to get all these fucking charges dropped over and over. You’ve been doing sleazy shit ever since you were a teen.”

Cage snorts. “I’ll say. Ole Calvin, or as I know him, Walter Boris Dunlap the Third. How the fuck did you come up with the name Calvin? You decided to give yourself a different name, and you fucking chose Calvin? Shows what a fucking idiot you still are. But I guess when your father is a judge, you can do whatever the fuck you want, am I right,Waltie?”

What the fuck?

“Walter’s parents fostered me for a few months,” Cage adds. “And boy, oh, boy, Waltie here always made me feel right at home. In between the times he was terrorizing neighborhood animals, of course.”

Oh, shit.

Calvin’s skin turns so pale it’s almost scary. It’s also fucking hilarious.

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