Page 40 of Hart of Darkness
Norma’s mouth was slightly ajar. “Are you blushing? Dillon Hart blushes for the first time since I’ve met him. This should be one of Maggie’s headlines.”
I laughed… and fucking blushed.Since when do I get light-headed?
Norma’s small fingers grasped my hand.
I stopped fiddling with the pen.
“You need rest and a shower,” she said. “Sign the contract and then head home. The shelter will be fine. Debbie is on cold meds, so she’s asleep. Angel is curled up in her room, reading a thriller series. Rafe will be back shortly. He went home to shower. Hunt is here now. He’ll start tonight.”
I signed the contract. “Are you saying I stink?” I probably did with as hot as it was. I also needed a nap to take the edge off.
The slider whooshed open. “Sorry about that.” Hunt stalked back in. “My brother, Wes, wanted to make sure you signed the contract.”
I waved the document at him then gave it to Norma.
“I’ll send it over to him right now.” Her short legs carried her out of the room.
I trusted Norma. I trusted Rafe. And if Kade trusted Hunt with his life, then I had no worries about leaving the shelter with Hunt working security.
I got up and slapped Hunt on the back. “Thanks, man. I’ll check in with you and Rafe later.” I took the bottle of water and grabbed my keys.
“I’ll walk out with you,” Hunt said. “I need to get something out of my car.”
I said goodbye to Norma then left. Once outside, Hunt strutted over to his truck that was parked at the curb, stuck his head inside, and emerged with a gun in his hand. He then proceeded to tuck the gun in his holster. “Be careful if you venture over to the Crow. Wes told me that place could get rowdy the later you go.”
I was just coming down the last step on the porch, when a car screeched to a halt, blocking my driveway.
Hunt didn’t move from the sidewalk.
A man with a thick mustache climbed out of the passenger’s side with a gun in his holster. He regarded me then Hunt. “Is that you, Hunt?” the man asked.
The driver, stocky and somewhat bald, got out, rounded the vehicle, and sidled up to his partner.
Hunt met the two men halfway and stretched out his hand. “Detective Hughes, good to see you. Rick.”
I darted over to my car, threw my water bottle on the driver’s seat, then joined the men. So this was Hughes. I should thank him for turning Maggie onto Skins and Needles.
Rick took in the shelter before he set his gaze on me. “Are you the owner?”
“I’m Dillon Hart, and yes, I own this house. Is there a problem?” I hadn’t done anything wrong, although maybe Maggie had told Hughes Nadine had been here, and he wanted to question me about the redhead.
Detective Hughes’s head jerked my way. “You’re Maggie’s friend?” His tone hinted that he didn’t care too much that Maggie was friends with me.
I nodded as Hunt regarded me with a confused expression.
“She’s not here, is she?” Detective Hughes asked.
“Last I knew, she was at her office.”
Rick rested his hand on the gun at his hip as though he were expecting trouble. “We have a lead that we’re following up on.”
Ted removed a photo from his back pocket and showed Hunt and me. “Have you seen this girl?”
I deadpanned at the picture of Nadine with a sheet covering her up to her neck. A sharp pain cinched my heart. If I said yes, they might raid the shelter. Then Debbie and Angel would panic for sure. And if word got out that the cops had searched the home, then that could ruin my business. In addition, I wasn’t sure if Maggie would get into trouble with Hughes. A dark part of my brain wondered if Hughes knew Nadine had been there and wanted to see if I would lie.
My phone buzzed then rang. For the moment, I chose to let the call go to voice mail. It couldn’t have been important anyway since I was at the shelter, unless Allie or Bee was in trouble. Or maybe Denim had found out something on the Black Knights. I threw out the last one since Denim had said he would be in the yard with cellblock E on Thursday, and it was only Tuesday night.
The ringing stopped.
