Nate(74)

“Who picked the back alley of an abandoned warehouse, fifteen miles outside of the city for this meeting?”

Logan went back to his game. “He didn’t pick the location.”

“Who did?”

“Me.” He was punching at virtual buttons on his phone, and he cursed. “Damn. Fuck. They got me.”

“Logan.” I took the phone from him. “Why did you pick this location?”

“Truth?”

That got a scowl from me.

“I thought it was funny, and I was hoping to talk Channing into sending some of the guys from that motorcycle club he knows.”

Well.

Okay.

I was calm. I already wanted to do murder, but Logan didn’t know.

He couldn’t have known.

Except this stupid fucking game.

Except he kept wanting to call in that motorcycle club.

Nope. I wasn’t mad.

It wasn’t like we needed more gas thrown on the fire.

Not at all. Meeting here, calling in the MC—that wouldn’t turn a campfire into an inferno. Not one bit.

I rolled my window down.

So calm.

I tossed his phone out the window.

“Hey! What the fuck?” He shoved open his door and scrambled around the SUV. “What the hell, Nate?!”

“This is a guy who could try to take Nova from me, and you thought this place would be funny? You better be kidding about the MC because if this was Taylor’s dad or you were dealing with Mason’s kids, you’d never want to get an MC involved, and you know it. And let go of the fucking MC. Channing’s made it very clear he wants nothing to do with them.”

He shot me a dirty look before picking up his phone. Studying it, he growled before stuffing it back in his pocket. “If that had been broken, you and I would’ve had problems.”

“You and I do have problems.”

He came back, and I was tempted to lock him out. So tempted.

That would’ve been immature, right? As immature as tossing the asswipe’s phone out the window, for sure.

Mason would’ve done it.

He got inside and shut the door. “Listen. I’m sorry. You’re right about all of that. And I’m mostly joking about the MC, but I did call Channing.”

“Did he actually take that call?”

“He hung up on me after he threatened to send one of his guys after me. But look, the court case against Dick Duke got tossed out, and he didn’t fight it. I don’t trust this guy. I don’t think it’s above him to try something shady.”

That was a fucking understatement.

I shifted back and resumed glaring out the dashboard window. “He better not do a goddamn thing. I’m the one blocking him from Nova now.”

Logan frowned at me. “How’s that all going?”

“All what going?”

“With the missus. And her family. You said Graham looked like he had connected with Quincey. Any movement forward?”

I shook my head. “No. She called her mom one night because she was worried about Nova, but that’s it. Quincey’s been busy. I don’t think she’d even have time to see her family.”

“Right. You said she’s in a dance production.”

“I have tickets to the premiere night. Aspen’s flying in for it. She wants to see Nova, too.”

“Right.” He was glowering at me.

I sighed. “Why are you glowering at me?”

He cocked his head to the side with an extra bit of sass than was needed. “Why wasn’t I asked to go with you?”

“You kidding?”

“No. Why would I be?”

“You’re annoying me. Why are you annoying me?”

Logan sighed this time. “I don’t know, and I’m annoying myself.” A low rumble emanated from his throat. “I’m bored, and I’m antsy. And I miss having you in Boston. It’s not the same.”

“Well.” I moved the mirror. Dust was spitting up on the road behind us. “We are all older. We had to grow up at some point. Spread our wings and fly and all.”

“I know. It’s just not the same.”

The vehicle kicking up the dust was closer, close enough that I could see it was an SUV.

I nodded to the mirror. “Heads-up. They’re here.”

Logan looked back. “Fuck. I suddenly realize how shady this looks. I feel like we should have guns.”

I shot him a frustrated look. It was too late to change locations. “Think better next time.”

He grunted and smirked. “Will do.” He followed me, getting out of my vehicle.

The SUV went past and did a circle, coming up and parking a few feet away. A big security-like guy was the driver, but he remained inside. The back door opened. Duke got out, followed by who Logan had informed me earlier was his lawyer. He matched the description, and Logan went forward.

“Mathias.”

Yep. The lawyer.

He nodded to Logan. “Kade. This is, uh, an unusual place for a location.”

Logan grinned. “Really? I looked into your other clients. This seemed perfect for you.”

Duke came forward, stopping around six feet from me. He regarded me, his eyes frosty. “I received a phone call the other night. You spent the night with my daughter at the Blaque Hotel.”