Page 30 of Emerald

“She is part of my family, yes.”

My brows pull together, that sounds a little cryptic. “Why is she here?”

“She is doing a piece on the cartel.”

“Fuck, Soph,” I say, running my hand over my buzz cut. “And she doesn’t have a friend who is missing?”

“Oh, no, that is true. That’s why she is writing the piece. She’s trying to find her friend while delivering a story,” she says.

“If the cartel finds out she is doing a story, they will kill her,” I whisper yell down the phone at her.

“She’s good at her job. I would even say better than me.”

This has my brows rising high.

“We wouldn’t send an amateur to you, brother,” Brooks adds.

Behind them, I hear the distinct sounds of the call to prayer.

“Where the hell are you guys?”

“Dubai,” Sophie answers honestly.

“What the hell are you doing there?”

“I’m working on a story and Brooks is helping me.”

Are they on a holiday together? I thought Brooks said they were still friends and that nothing was happening between them. I never believed the lying son of a bitch.

“Really?” I’m not convinced.

“Fuck off, Nash,” Brooks curses at me.

“Have we answered enough of your questions?” Sophie asks.

“Not nearly, but I’m sure I’ll be in touch with more,” I warn them.

“Nash, you can trust Ellie,” Sophie adds.

“We’ll wait and see about that,” I tell her before signing off.

“Hey, boss,” Jose calls out to me as I enter the bar. There must be something on my face that tells him I’m not in the mood, and the next thing I know, he is sliding a beer over to me. I raise a brow at him, which makes him smile. “You look like you have a rough morning.”

He can say that again. I take a swig of my beer before I start talking.

“My friends asked me for a favor and now I’m stuck babysitting some woman who’s going to get me in a world of trouble by being here,” I confess to my friend.

“You like trouble, boss.” Jose chuckles.

“Beautiful women are always trouble, Jose,” I say with a chuckle.

He nods to that. “Finish your beer then go home and sort out your trouble,” he says, wiggling his brows at me.

“Don’t think my dick is going to be able to help me this time,” I say, tipping my beer in his direction.

“She’s that hot, is she?” he says, bursting out laughing.

She’s okay. But I’m not interested. “She’s the sister of a military friend.”

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