Page 40 of Hidden But Not Safe

Summer’s gaze slid past Naz, and she beamed at Meg. “You brought someone.” She rose from behind the desk, moving around it to hold out her hand. “I’m Summer.”

Naz shifted. Summer was a short thing and reminded him of what it was like to be breakable.

Meg stepped up beside him, helping to ease his tension just by being there. She smiled, taking the secretary’s hand. “Meg.” Her eyes flitted around the clean and organized office space. “This is not what I expected at all.”

Summer beamed. “It’s nice, isn’t it? Mr. Rodriguez has let me add some of my own touches.” Her expression looked even softer, and she reached out to tap a leaf on a nearby plant.

Naz had always assumed the plants were fake.

“Mr. Rodriguez is expecting you, but not…” Summer smiled at Meg again. “Not with company. Let me go tell him you’re here.”

Her skirt swished as she moved to one of the office doors, knocking on it before pushing inside.

“She’s nice,” Meg murmured to Naz, her arm brushing against his from standing so close.

“He what?” came the startled, loud voice from the office.

Ramiro was a big guy, even bigger than Naz. He wore fancy suits that didn’t really match his beard and wavy hair, but that looked good on his tall frame. The jackets hid the muscle he was packing; not that Ramiro ever looked anything other than dangerous.

Meg shifted slightly behind Naz.

When Ramiro came out of his office, he blinked at her as if he’d never seen a woman before.

Summer stepped up beside him. “I can’t believe you called me a liar,” she muttered under her breath, though her lips still smiled.

“I had to see it to believe it.” Ramiro squeezed his secretary’s shoulder, and she relaxed, her smile becoming more natural.

Meg laughed. “I’m Meg. Don’t make too much of me being here. Diego’s just keeping an eye on me. He’s been on babysitting duty.”

Naz looked at her with a shake of his head. Meg patted his arm.

“It’s fine,” she whispered.

“It seems like we’ve got a few things to catch up on,” Ramiro said, giving Naz a pointed look. “Summer, can you keep Meg company while we talk?”

Summer waved toward a nook in the corner. “Would you like some tea?”

“Sure,” Meg murmured, following her.

“Inside.” Ramiro didn’t sound too happy as he turned back to his office. He didn’t sit behind his desk but leaned against it, glaring at Naz even before he closed the door.

“Explain,” Ramiro snapped.

Naz held out the papers he’d been sent to retrieve. Ramiro snatched them, dropping the packet on his desk with barely a glance.

“I swear to God, Naz, I’ve got enough to deal with from Diego right now.”

Naz pulled out his phone, typing.

‘He doesn’t look good.’

Ramiro sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “I know. I’m working on it.” His eyes lasered in on Naz. “Do I have to work on you as well? Who is this girl?”

Naz hesitated, not sure what to type. He ended up shrugging.

Ramiro glared. “Not good enough. What the fuck is going on?”

Memories of Meg flitted through his mind, each one feeling impossible to describe. There was only one thing that was easy, and it was the thing he should remember most.

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