Love's Cruel Redemption (The Ghost Bird #12)(111)

Nathan looked over at Marie. “You’re okay,” he said. “You can stay home if you want. We’ve already got you covered.”

Marie picked up her head. “You could do mine?”

“Yes,” he said. “The same for Sang. Danielle’s is tricky because her parents are actually active in her life.” He returned his attention to her. “Right?”

Danielle grumbled.

“So we’ve done what you’ve asked,” Nathan said. He crossed his arms over his chest, leaning on one foot where he stood. He ached all over, but he didn’t want to sit down and get comfortable with them around. He was hoping they were leaving soon. This had gone on long enough. He got them what they wanted. “So maybe you can tell us what you know about Sang. We’re pretty busy...”

“Just one more thing,” Danielle said, moving deeper into the living area, standing next to the table. She checked the walls and then put her back to the fireplace. “Come here for a second?”

Nathan inched closer as she brought out her cell phone. “What do you need?”

“You said you’d do a picture?”

Nathan rolled his eyes. “Really? Seriously?” he motioned to his face, with a fresh bruise at his jaw and looking ragged with shadows under his eyes. “You want me in a photo like this?”

Danielle spun around, her brown eyes flashing briefly and then finally settling down. “Yes. I’ll Photoshop out the bruises. Just do it, okay? It helps you. It helps me. If you don’t screw it up like with having Sang in the car with you last night, it’ll smooth things out in no time.”

It didn’t help him at all, as far as he could tell. After last night, who knew what Kota was telling his mother just now. Whether he’d bring up the relationship thing or not, he wasn’t sure. The Academy would be enough to explain.

However, it was just a picture. Luckily Victor was probably listening in the other room. He’d be able to delete any she took.

So if all he had to do was stand here and take pictures with Danielle and she’d get off his back, this was the last favor. Marie could go home, and they could get the name they needed. It’d be mission accomplished. “Okay,” he said. He held up a single finger. “One quick photo.”

“Two,” she said. “A second one for in a couple of weeks, maybe.”

He grumbled. He told himself it didn’t matter but he hated her pushing. “Danielle...”

“Trust me,” she said. She motioned to him to come closer.

Just a picture. He relinquished, coming over to her. “Fine.”

“Marie,” Danielle said, passing her phone to her, the camera already on. “Take the picture?”

Marie fiddled with the phone, looking at the button. She snapped it once, taking a picture of the floor before aiming it at them.

Danielle put her back to the fireplace. “Come stand behind me,” she said.

Nathan grunted and stepped up behind her, looking over her shoulder at the camera.

Danielle reached around, wrapping an arm backward over her head to hang off of his neck.

Nathan’s skin crawled as she leaned into him. Flashes of memories of when she used to hang out with him, about what happened years ago erupted. He suppressed it all for this photo, trying not to grit his teeth as he barely smiled.

Marie took a couple of pictures to try to get a good one. Danielle turned her face at different angles, some duck kissing faces at the camera, some toward him but not touching. Nathan was pretty much the same for each one.

“Okay,” Danielle said. “So the one for in a few weeks.”

“You already took a few,” Nathan said.

“That’s just to make sure we get a good one,” she said. “I want a second one.”

Nathan groaned. He imagined the guys in the bedroom were laughing about this. “Fine. What’s next?”

“Well,” she said, “we can’t wear the same clothes. Just...take your shirt off.”

Nathan cocked an eyebrow. “For real?”

She motioned to the wide window that looked out into the back porch and the pool. She moved the blinds, changing the light in the room, giving it more sunlight. She reached for her shirt, shoving it up over her head until she was standing in her bra. “You big baby, just take it off. What’s the big deal?”

Nathan’s jaw unhinged and he shook his head. “No fucking way.”

She motioned to the window. “I can’t wear the same clothing for the pic. We’re just making it look like it’s a different day.” She reached up, parting her hair in a different direction and letting it fall back away from her face. “Come on. Take your shirt off.”

“I’m not taking my shirt off so you can say we’re sexing it up,” he said.

She lowered her arms and her hands moved into fists. “Nathan! God. Just take your shirt off and get over here.”

“Why are you pushing this?” he asked. “What’s in it for you?”

She sighed, groaned. “Well, thanks to you and whatever happened last night, you scared off the guy I’d been trying to make jealous and date me. He turned around after the cops showed up. And for your information, he was totally into me. He’s off with someone else now. I’m going to make him see he missed out.”