AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You are so stubborn. Why don’t you want to come to the clubhouse?”
I smirked. “Are we going there to fuck?”
His eyes widened. “No, that’s not what I meant. We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to.” He stepped toward me and put his hand up to my face. I flinched back. “Sorry,” he said. “I forgot.”
I stepped up, grabbed his hand, and put it up to my cheek. I leaned in to his touch. “I’m sorry. It’s a reflex.”
He rubbed his thumb over my scars, and I had to mentally tell myself to stand still and not shrink back. “Do they hurt?” he whispered.
I blinked up at him. “Not at all.”
Leaning down, he kissed me again, only this time it was soft and slow, unlike before. After pulling away, he looked down into my eyes. “Please, Devon? Just for a couple of nights?”
My resolve was faltering. “I don’t know…”
“I won’t sleep if I think you’re in any kind of danger.” His lips tipped up in a ghost of a smile, and I folded like a lawn chair.
“Okay, but I have something I have to do first.”
His eyes bounced back and forth between mine. “What is it?”
“I have to finish a job. I owe a guy some information. It’ll only take a few minutes.”
Parker brushed some hair from my face. “That’s fine. I’ll go with you.”
I shook my head. “No, my clients expect complete secrecy and discretion. I’ll meet you at your clubhouse when I’m done.”
“You don’t have a car, and it’s not walking distance.”
Laughing, it was my turn to put my hand on his scruffy cheek. “I’ll manage. I promise I’m not lying. I’ll be there. I’ll text you once I make the delivery so you’ll know I’m on the way.”
He hesitated, and finally said, “Fine. But I’m driving you back to your apartment.”
“I can live with that.”
After he dropped me off, I grabbed the manila envelope I’d forgotten to deliver to Gregory a couple of nights ago in lieu of the excitement down on the east bank. I’d apologized for standing him up, stating I had an emergency, and rescheduled for tonight.
I looked up at the half-moon and the clouds that now covered the sky, realizing it was looking like rain. I pulled the hood tighter over my head and walked toward the park. Once I arrived, he was waiting faithfully on the same park bench.
“Hello, Rocky.”
I sat down and pulled my hood down. “Hi. I think you’re going to be pleased with what I found.”
He opened the envelope and read the printouts. He stared at Sue Ann’s driver’s license, and then looked at me with unshed tears in his eyes. “This is definitely her. I can’t believe I forgot about that birthmark on her neck right there.” He pointed to a small mark peeking out from her blouse in the photo. He chuckled and said, “Sue Ann’s Southern Sweets? Oh, that’s so her. The woman was baking treats constantly.” Gregory looked up at me. “I can’t thank you enough. I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
I laughed. “Nah, but a thousand bucks will do.”
He reached into his inside jacket pocket, pulled out a money clip, and counted out cash. I put it into my pocket and stood up. He pulled me into a hug unexpectedly. “Thank you, Rocky. I can’t wait to see her. I hope she’ll have me!”
“You’re welcome. Good luck, and pleasure doing business with you!”
We parted ways, and I walked back toward my apartment whistling the tune to “When The Saints Go Marching In.” Yes, I was actually whistling. I hadn’t been this happy or in such a great mood in… well, I couldn’t remember when.
As I was rounding the corner to my apartment, someone sucker-punched me in the face, and I fell to the ground in a heap, seeing stars and then nothing at all.
Chapter 16
Lost And Found
