Page 128 of A Dirty Business
He spotted my chain and grabbed it, then tucked it under my shirt before realizing he’d touched me. “Sorry. Just—I need a favor from you tonight?”
“What is it?”
“I kept quiet about you and Tristian West. I need you to do the same about your bosses and about what you do for a living.”
So my gut was right. “Who are those guys to you?”
“Family, and not the family I want you to meet.”
He started to go forward, but I stepped in front once more. “Who are they in connection to Kelly?”
“She met them at that party you left. They came later, and since she moved in, they’ve come around a few times. They’re ... she doesn’t know they’re not good guys, okay? I haven’t gotten around to telling her everything.”
“You need to.”
His eyes flashed. “Right. As soon as you do.”
I didn’t answer.
He scoffed, moving around me. “That’s what I thought. Listen, it’s not permanent. Okay? Either Kelly and I are going to move or ... I don’t know. I haven’t figured it out yet.”
I felt my phone buzzing and pulled it out. The screen was lit up.
Trace calling.
I hit the button to send a text in response.
Me:At Octavia with friends. I can’t hear you if I answered
Trace:Get somewhere you can hear me. Now. I mean it, Jess.
I frowned, but seeing that no one was looking my way, I slipped out until I found a back hallway. The music was a little more muted; then I found an unlocked door, and even better. It was a maintenance closet, but I’d be able to hear him.
I called him back.
“Why are you at Octavia?”
I frowned. “It’s a thing called ‘night out with friends.’ You ever heard of it?”
He growled from across the phone, “Who are you there with?”
“Kelly. Justin. A friend from bowling.” I kept frowning because I’d been to Octavia before. Trace knew this, and as far as I knew, there was no beef between him and the owner. “What’s going on? Why are you being like this?”
“I’m getting reports that you’re there with others.”
Wait. “Reports? What are you talking about?”
He bit out another growl. “Listen to me, where are you right now?”
“I’m in a closet so I could talk to you.”
“Stay there. Ashton’s closer than me. He’s on his way to you.”
“Ashton?Whatis going on?”
“It’s too much to explain. I’ve been trying to keep you out of it because of your job, but you’re in danger.”
“I am?” I reached for the door. “If I am, then Kelly is. My other friends.”
