Page 62 of Mean Machine

He ducked away when recognition flashed in the eyes of one of the boys, and accelerated his steps. Nathaniel seemed to catch on to what was happening and walked faster at his side too, then raised his arm to signal for the Jag.

Eric showed up a moment later, and they got in the car. Brooklyn sank back in the seat.

“Anything wrong?” Eric asked.

“No. I’m not quite ready for….” Brooklyn shrugged. “All that.”

“Somebody recognised him.” Nathaniel’s voice was low and soothing. “Where to?” Leaving the decision entirely up to him.

“I really need some clothes. This here is as much as I own.”

“What kind? Workout clothes? Eric, do you know where to buy such things?”

Eric turned in his seat. “I do, sir. I could take Brooklyn there, unless you need me.”

“Ah, yes, we don’t all three have to buy clothes together; that would be strange.” Nathaniel reached into the inner pocket of his jacket, pulled out a wad of notes, and gave it to Brooklyn. At least several of the notes were fifties. “Buy whatever you need.”

“Thank you.” Brooklyn took the cash and stuffed it into his pocket. He didn’t even own a bloody wallet. “Make sure you keep track of it.”

Nathaniel waved it off but nodded. “Eric, if you take me to Knightsbridge, then you guys can take the car and do some shopping. Let’s meet again for a late lunch at my place.”

NATHANIEL’S ABODEwas the kind of open-plan affair that was advertised in newspapers for bankers and other City elite. Polished stone floors, strategically covered with thick designer rugs. A whole wall to the back was glass and offered a view over Hyde Park. The terrace looked like it was never used.

Nathaniel rose from a light brown leather sofa. “Were you successful?”

“All done, sir.” Eric smiled and stepped back. “Will you require me?”

Nathaniel seemed about to answer, but then looked at Brooklyn. “No, I think we’re good. Would you like to stay around for lunch, Eric?”

“I should hit the weights, sir. Looking at Brooklyn shirtless keeps me humble, I guess.” He grinned.

His own smile more polite than warm, Nathaniel waited until the door had clicked shut behind Eric. “Tea?”

“I could do with one.”

“Great. Sit down. Don’t mind the papers, I was just reviewing a case.” Nathaniel walked off to a small kitchen to the left, and Brooklyn took a deep breath. The neatness and brightness of the flat made him worry about dirt sticking to his trainers. Those sofas with their fine suede leather were spotless and like new—spilled tea would ruin them. Two stacks of papers and a notepad covered Nathaniel’s side of the marble table, and Nathaniel’s swift, precise handwriting would have been readable from his side if Brooklyn had tried.

“Your tea.” Nathaniel arrived with two fine china cups and set one down before him, then sat down on his side again, cup held before his chest in an unconscious dainty affectation that seemed both upper class and oddly endearing.

Brooklyn slid forward on the couch and lifted the cup from the saucer. “Nice pad.”

Nathaniel nodded. “It’s close to work. On the weekends, I try to escape the city. Do you want a tour?”

“Sure.”

They set their cups down and Nathaniel waved him along. Doors from the living room led to a study and office, with bookshelves surrounding a desk and Nathaniel’s laptop parked alongside a thick stack of papers. The kitchen was tiny, barely enough space for two adults who didn’t want to brush each other. A staircase led upstairs from the corridor, and up there was a bathroom, a large adult bedroom, and a smaller bedroom that held Hazel’s bed and boxes of toys. A tiny desk in primary colours was adorned with traces of vigorously used crayons, and the walls were painted with a simple landscape, a large yellow smiling sun, a rainbow spanning a whole wall. A teddy was tucked in neatly in the bed.

“Where is she?”

“Off to her toddler group. I didn’t want her to grow up lonely.” Nathaniel gently herded Brooklyn back downstairs. “At least not while I decide whether I want another one.” Even with everything he’d done for Hazel, those last few words rubbed Brooklyn the wrong way—like he’d pick and choose from a catalogue to complement the one he already had. Brooklyn shook his head and pushed those thoughts aside.

They settled back on the couch. “So what do you think? You could live here when you pick up your training again.”

Tempting. It beat the hotel, and it would mean he’d get to see Hazel, work out how he felt about her, how he could fit into her life, or she in his. But this whole place didn’t feel like him at all, didn’t feel like home.

“I’ll think about it.”

Nathaniel leaned forward and folded his hands between his legs. “Whatever you need to win that fight against Thorne, all you have to do is let me know.”

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