Page 75 of To Have and to Hold

A buzz started at the top of my spine. “You could be talking about Nicholas Irving and his dad, Pete Irving.”

“That’s the one!” Dave announced it like I’d won the lottery. “Nick, he and Emme chatted a while. I think because—she asked him initially who he…hang on…” His eyes narrowed. “I think your name was mentioned at some point.”

“You ever meet any Tabernathys?” I asked. I’d missed the charity event a few months ago because I’d been sick with the worst cold in all of modern history. Not much got me down, but that fucker did. And I’d had no idea Emme had a hand in planning the fundraiser.

“The who?”

“Big crime scandal a few years ago. Oak Tabernathy and his son went to jail. I think his son might be out on probation about now. But they were big swinging dicks in their time, might be getting back into the rich circles. You ever see Oak’s wife or son at these events? Melody or Stone?”

“You think Emme’s been taken by a crime family? With stupid names?”

“I’m crossing a shit-ton of avenues off my list. This is just one of them.”

“Nah. Don’t think so. Although, what’s that case all over the news right now. Torres?”

“Torro.”

“Yeah, that guy. His father was there. Rippled the gossip fountain when he walked in.”

“Max Torro’s father’s dead,” I said blandly, though my grip tightened around the crystal holding my bourbon.

“Yeah?” Dave frowned at his reflection. “Well it was someone with the Torro name, because that’s the only thing people were talking about for at least an hour.”

“Could’ve been his uncle. Juan Manuel Torro.”

“Sounds about right.” Dave nodded. “Had some balls on him, that old man. Because the fundraiser was mostly people like you.”

“Lawyers?”

He waved at my outfit. “Government suits.”

When Dave didn’t elaborate, I pushed. “Like who?”

“City types. The ones high up on the chain. Who’s your boss? That guy was there. District Attorney. Nice dude.”

“Abrams is a good man.” I finished my drink, then held the empty at my side.

Dave tipped his glass to his mouth. “The wife sucks, though.”

“You two spend some time with them?”

“Of course,” Dave said, letting out the first genuine laugh I’d heard. “The connections that guy could give me—and Emme, holy shit.”

I offered up my own amused chuckle. “You had to butter him up pretty good, then.”

Dave smiled, showcasing his bleached, straight teeth. “I remember, I dared her to go score his wife as a client. It’s what we did to have some fun at this stuff—challenge each other to win over tough sells. And whoever succeeded, the loser had to…well.” Dave’s expression glossed over as he fell into his memory. “We had a lot of fun with this, both at the event and at home. She shook my hand to solidify the bet and went right over there. Emme didn’t have to do much because she one-upped me. Figured getting to Abrams first would automatically win over the wife. Abrams warmed to Emme in a second. I think all she did was smile and introduce herself. You’d think a guy like that would be busy as fuck at a political fundraiser, but he spent a lot of time with her.”

“Did you hear what they were discussing?” I asked.

Dave shrugged again. “He was asking her about her job, how she liked it, where she wanted her career to go, how interested she was in politics. Social fluff. I think I flagged three passing waiters to refill my drink as I waited for the convo to finish. But she had him, for sure. Abrams’s attention was on her the entire time.” His forehead creased with confused lines. “Someone could’ve popped off a gun and he would probably keep staring at her.”

“Did you think he was interested in her or something?”

Dave met my eyes in the window. “I’m not a jealous guy. If someone appreciates my girl, I kind of enjoy it because in the end she comes home with me, not him. But Abrams, he did nothing but ask her simple questions.” Dave shook his head. “If I told anyone else this, they’d think I was crazy.”

As Dave instinctively shuffled away, I kept close, keeping him in the present. “It’s the smallest of details, Dave. I want to hear it all.”

“Look, I’m not trying to talk shit about your boss. He’s the guy with the political smile, seems to enjoy every party he’s at, but do you not notice his eyes?”

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