Page 45 of Mine This Time
“Nash, I thought you talked to those people.” I hated how squeaky my voice sounded.
“I did. But it doesn’t mean they’re still not gonna try to put any pressure on the situation. Sit tight, and my guy will be there any minute. Come straight to the office. I’m going to get off the phone so I can call the police station.”
“Okay,” was all I could manage in reply.
After I hung up with Nash, I was restless, so I called Max. My brother answered just as quickly as Nash had. “Hey, Mari, what’s up?”
After I summarized the situation for him, Max swore, “Fuck. I don’t like this. How are you? You know you can come out here today if you’d like.”
“I know, Max. I just want this resolved. I don’t like feeling like I’m running from something that I wasn’t even responsible for.”
“Between Nash’s contacts with his PI and the police, I think they’ll be arresting Brett any day now.”
“Really? Sounds like you know more than I do.”
The moment that statement crossed my lips, a sense of frustration rippled through me. Max appeared to know far more than I did. I wanted to vent to him about that, but that meant potentially revealing what had passed between Nash and me. I sure as hell didn’t want to do that. I could already predict Max’s lecture. This time, he’d probably tell me I was moving too soon and ask me what I’d been thinking. Of course, those were my very own questions.
Just then, a car pulled up beside me, and I glanced over to see one of the security guards I recognized from Nash’s office building. He gestured for me to pull in front of him.
“Max, the security guy’s here, so I’ll call you later.”
“Got it. Call me when you can.” Max paused briefly before continuing, “And sis…don’t forget you can get on a plane today, if it helps you feel safer. We aren’t trying to run roughshod over you.”
Before I pulled out of the gas station, I didn’t miss the fact that sitting on the opposite side of the street was a familiar charcoal gray car. As I drove back to Nash’s office, the security guy stuck to me like a burr. I likely would never know whether it was pure coincidence or not. However, with the security detail following me so closely he was practically an extra bumper on my car, the charcoal gray sedan didn’t follow me this time.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Nash
“Okay, so you’re bringing Brett in this afternoon?” I asked.
“Yep. We already have his location. Considering that he’s on the run from far less savory characters than the New Orleans police, my guess is he’ll come in without any incident,” the detective said on the phone.
“Any suggestions on how to handle the situation with the loan shark?”
The detective’s laugh was dry. “Look, we have plenty of investigations going on with gangs in the area. It’s constant. In your case, I can’t tell you what to do. I can tell you they usually don’t play dirty with people who work on the right side of the law. You have enough sway in this town that I don’t think you’re gonna need to worry about trouble if you decide to pay them off. They dabble in real estate and prefer not to make enemies.”
“All right then. I’ll think on it.”
I hung up the phone just as my cell phone screen lit up. Greg was texting to let me know Mari had just entered the building.
An immense sense of relief rolled over my shoulders. When she’d called earlier, I’d almost flipped out and insisted I go out there myself. However, I knew perfectly well Greg was a good fifteen minutes closer than I was because he’d already been out running an errand.
I could acknowledge to myself that I wanted more with Mari. Yet, I was still rattled by the depth of my reaction to her and wrestling with how to handle it.
Moments later, there was a light knock on my door, and then Greg was gesturing Mari into my office. I didn’t have to stand when she entered because I was already pacing in front of the windows.
When I met her eyes, I sensed something was off. I was across the room and in front of her almost instantly. “Are you okay?” I asked as I instinctively reached for her.
Mari took a step back, crossing her arms tightly in front of her chest. “I’m fine.” She stared at me for a moment, two pink spots cresting on her cheeks. Her eyes were weary and unquestionably guarded.
“What’s wrong?”
“Other than the fact that apparently I have someone following me? What the hell do you think is wrong?” she snapped.
While her words were accurate, I knew there was something she wasn’t telling me. “What is it? There’s something else.”
Mari turned away, striding to the windows to stare out into the street, her arms still wrapped in front of her like a shield.
