A Dirty Business (Kings of New York #1)(78)

“Don’t talk to me.” I was going for the door.

“Trace, stop.”

I opened the door.

“Trace.” He hurried forward, and then something was being shoved into my hand. “Read it.”

I closed my hand around whatever he gave me and was out the door.

Demetri saw me coming, hurried from the front, and opened my back door.

I got in and called Ashton. “Wipe everything. We need new phones. New computers. Everything.”

Demetri was getting back inside but heard me and looked at me through the rearview mirror.

“What happened?” Ashton said.

“My uncle’s been spying on us, and that seriously pisses me off. Wipe everything.”

“On it.”

I unraveled the piece of paper Bobby had put in my hand.

Your mother is alive. He doesn’t know.





CHAPTER FIFTY


JESS


He didn’t come.

I left work, thinking we’d follow our routine of the last few nights. I didn’t like admitting that I’d come to expect him, but ten minutes after I was home, there was no knock.

I waited up an hour; still no knocking.

My phone flashed next to me, lighting up the room, and I rolled over to grab it.

Trace: Don’t contact me on this phone. Not safe. Tell you later.

I jerked upright, my heart already starting to pound. I wanted to call, text him, see what was going on, but he’d said his phone wasn’t safe.

I hit the floor, already moving before I’d fully formed my plan. It didn’t matter because I was already going.

Clothes were on in a flash. Socks. Shoes.

I had my coat fastened, my keys in hand, when I opened the front door and stopped.

“Kelly!”

She was shivering, her eye makeup running down her face. Snowflakes were still on her eyelashes, and she held up a hand, her coat completely swamping her. “Hi.”

“What are you . . . come in. Come on.”

She did, a bit tentative at first, but once she was through the door, she collapsed. Her shoulders fell. Her knees crumpled, and a sob left her. “Oh—hey! Hey.” I caught her, helping her to one of the chairs by our kitchen table, and as soon as she felt the chair, she bowled over. More sobs erupted from her. Her forehead went completely to the table.

I shut the door, locked it, and went over. “Hey. Hey.” I scooted into the chair next to her. She’d not been like this at Katya. I’d caught some yearning when she’d looked around, but I’d thought she missed working with me. That was it. “What is this? What happened?”

She lifted her head on another choking sob, her face completely wrecked. She grabbed for my wrist. “Can I stay here tonight? Please?”

“Of course. But, tell me what’s wrong. Please. You’re my best friend, Kelly. I need to know.”

She started shaking her head. “I can’t tell you. I—I just can’t. I want to stay here. One night and then I’ll figure it out. Yeah. I’ll figure it out then.”

“Wait.” I knelt at her feet, one of my knees on the floor. “Kelly, what’s going on? I’m worried. Please tell me what’s going on.”

“I can’t. I really can’t. I, just, want to sleep here for the night. Is that okay?”

“Uh—” I was about to try and push her again, but my phone buzzed then.

Unknown: I’m downstairs. Can I come up?

I stood up, texting back. Kelly was watching me, her sobs quieting a little bit.

Me: Who is this?

Unknown: Trace. New phone. Explain later. Can I come up?

Me: Kelly is here.

“Um.” Two crises were happening at once. “Kelly, can I—I need to run down to the door for this. I’ll be right back—”

“No, it’s totally fine.” She stood up, her chair scraping over the floor. She was hugging herself and looking around. “I need to go to the bathroom anyway and get ready for bed. Can I, uh—my bed isn’t here. I can sleep on the couch. I know where everything is.”

“No. Wait. I’ll be right back.”

“Take your time, okay?” She’d started down the hallway to her old bathroom. I hadn’t touched hers since she left. Her voice was suddenly better, calmer. “I mean it. I’m going to shower and clean up. I’m a mess.” She motioned for the door. “Whatever or whoever that is, don’t rush back on my account.”

I opened my mouth, but I wasn’t sure what I was going to say.

She was gone, the door closing behind her, and I could hear the fan turn on. The shower was next.

Unknown: You want me to go?

Me: No. I’m coming down.



When I got downstairs, Trace was there, and he nodded toward his SUV.

I stepped out through the door, leading the way, and as I got inside, he came with me.

“Demetri, can you give us some privacy?”

“Will do.” He stepped outside right away, then went over and took point by the door. He lit a cigarette, and Trace’s hand went to the small of my back as he hit the divider so no one could see in from the front of the vehicle either.

I touched his arm, my hand rounding. I was half holding on to him for him and half for me. “Hey.”