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“How about straightforward? What subject? What’s going on?” I bounced my leg, sensing something dire. Maybe he couldn’t give me the money to pay off Conrad’s debt after all. No, Will was a great man. And someone’s life was on the line. He wouldn’t let me down… I hoped.
“I’m not sure if you care or not, and if you don’t, it’s fine. I just wasn’t sure…” Will’s voice trailed off. What the hell? I was in no mood for games this morning. Well, I never was, but more so today.
“What the fuck is going on, Will? You’re stalling.”
“Simone was gone when I woke up.”
I was on my feet, grabbing my jeans. “Gone where? Taken?” Jesus, the pain in my chest was severe as my heart hammered against my ribs.
“Her loft. Darwin called. Said she forced him and Jones to take her home.”
“Fuck.” I dropped onto the bed and threw my jeans on the floor, exhaling a long breath of relief. She was safe. “What else?” I knew there had to be more.
“She convinced York to find her a new bodyguard. She doesn’t want you anywhere near her.”
I could strangle this woman. I should have known her silence when she was in the bathroom last night meant she was pissed. Or hurt. I wasn’t sure which. It didn’t really matter. There was no fucking way I’d let her push me away.
“She doesn’t have a choice. York said—”
“I know what he said. Simone convinced him to find someone else. I just thought you should know.”
“Well, we all know she’s the queen of her universe.” I bit down on my back molars. She was doing what I’d feared she would do. Cutting me out of her life because I left her at the mansion.
Will chuckled. “That she is. But Axel?”
“Yeah?”
“She needs you.”
“She’s made it clear she doesn’t.”
“Come on, man. She’s just pissed you left her last night. She doesn’t like to be in my parents’ mansion. And she really doesn’t like to be bossed around.”
“Not my problem, Will.” Why didn’t Simone like being in her childhood home? I could paddle her ass for putting herself at risk because of me.
“Bullshit. You and I both know you care about my sister. Even if not romantically, caring is still caring. Do you trust Darwin and Jones to protect her?”
I covered my eyes with my hand. Answering Will’s question would give me away. I hated lying, but sometimes it needed to be done. “Absolutely.”
“Liar.” Figured Will could read right through me. After all the time we had spent together last summer trying to get Jason Sayton and the fake Feds, we’d gotten to know each other better than I liked.
“You know what I’m up against with my brother. I can’t be in two places at one time. I’m supposed to be in Atlantic City in twelve days. York is the best in his field. He’ll find Simone’s stalker. I know he will.”
“Can’t your brother take the money himself?”
“Absolutely not. I’m taking it.” Conrad wasn’t always the most honest person. I felt like he was hiding something from me. I’d been waiting him out, showing him he could trust me to not lose my mind, but my patience was thinning.
“And what if the whack job gets to my sister before York figures out who he is? What if he’s in her inner circle? A guy she rejected or someone obsessed with her? She needs you.”
It was as if he could hear my thoughts. “That won’t happen.”
“Okay. I can see we’re not going to agree on this. I’ll figure something else out.”
“For fuck’s sake, what do you want me to do? I have my brother to protect.”
“What more is there to do if I’m giving you the money? Doesn’t that pay off his debt?”
“Hopefully.”
