Page 13 of Life

“None of your business.” I firm my chin and upper lip and have a stare-off with him.

“Spicy, I’m making it my business.”

Chapter Four

“Okay, this is what I’ve been able to ascertain from the police chief,” Chase says as he exits his study, notebook in hand.

“You have a personal line to the San Francisco police chief?” Eli asks, breaking into our conversation. He’d been holding up the wall in the corner until Chase got off the phone, much to my chagrin. He’s like a flu bug I can’t shake. A sexy, six-foot-two, ruggedly handsome flu bug.

Chase grimaces. “Mr. Redding. I understand that you were there when the bat arrived, but this is a family matter, and my associates and I can handle the situation. Your services, frankly, are not needed.” Chase’s voice is hard and direct.

Score one for Chase. Maybe now Tommy’s brother will leave and get out of my business.

Eli walks over to Chase, his back to where Gigi and I are now sitting on the couch in their sitting room. Without even attempting to lower his voice, he addresses Chase. “Mr. Davis, Chase. Ms. De La Torre was in my company when the object arrived. I was there to witness how frightened she became. In fact, she passed out.”

The muscles in Chase’s jaw harden and a steady tic flickers at his cheek.

“Were you there to take care of her? Carry her to bed, ensure she was safe? Interrogate the doorman who received the package? No. All me. And when a woman is threatened in my presence, I make it a point to involve myself.”

Chase purses his lips and puts a hand in one pocket. “I see. Am I to assume you’ve taken a personal liking to our Maria?”

“There a problem with that?” Eli clenches his jaw and tightens his hands into fists. Chase glances down at Eli’s hands and smirks.

“Do you have any idea how fast my bodyguards are?” Chase’s eyes shift to the right, where Jack is standing, hand on his gun in his breast pocket, and then he looks to the left where Austin, Gillian’s assigned guard, is mimicking Jack’s stance.

“Does it look like I’m afraid? I clocked your men when I came in. Military men, one high up in the ranks. I can tell by the subtlety in the way he stands and scopes a room. He’s used to protecting you. Would take a bullet for you.”

I’m certain he’s referring to Jack Porter, Chase’s long-time bodyguard, driver, and whatever else he does.

“The other is far newer, but has a gleam in his eye, something to prove. So yeah, I can imagine they’d take me down, but not without a fight. A bloody one. Instead of us pissing a circle around ol’ Spicy over there”—he jerks his head in my direction—“how’s about we work together to catch this scumbag, yeah?” Eli finishes.

Chase’s lips twitch, and I know from that simple movement, he is going to cave. He loves a man who’s protective of a female. Damnit. Why me?

“Eli, really. We’re fine. Chase and Jack can handle this quietly and between us. You don’t have to assist,” I attempt for the umpteenth time.

He turns around and puts both hands on his denim-clad hips. The jeans fit snug, outlining a serious bulge and a pair of tree-trunk-sized thighs. “Let me ask you this. Either of you tried to catch a criminal?”

Everyone in the room nods.

“And how long did that take? Months, if the police reports I read were accurate, and only after several lives were taken and others equally destroyed, one of them being my brother. I guess you’d say I have an interest in seeing his woman taken care of in his absence.”

Again, he hits the nail right on the head.

Chase crosses an arm over his chest and rubs at his chin thoughtfully.

“My capture rate is one hundred percent. Go ahead, have your people check it out. I’m surprised they didn’t call me to catch McBride.” He turns his head toward me, and his green eyes brighten as he assesses me. “Makes sense now that I know my brother was on the case. He’d call the devil himself before asking me for help.”

Now that was an interesting bit of information I’d be bringing up to him at a later date. Not knowing Tommy had a brother the whole time we dated feels as if he were betraying my trust. Makes me think all the time I thought we were getting closer to something everlasting was a total and complete joke. Guess the joke was on me.

Chase sighs. “Be that as it may, I’d rather have this dealt with swiftly. I’ll allow your assistance, mostly because I want this dealt with quietly and without incident. We’ve been through enough. All of us. Maria, do you agree?”

I bite my tongue and tip my chin in acceptance. Something about agreeing to this feels like I’m going to regret it, but he’s right, and I’m woman enough to admit it and wise enough to back down when a good man is trying to help. Even a misguided one. “Fine.”

“Okay then. Now back to what I’ve found out. Turns out one Antonio Ramirez was released from San Quentin after serving only five years of his ten-year term. Originally, he pled guilty to second-degree attempted murder. He was a model prisoner for the past five years with gold stars for rehabilitation. The parole hearing was held two weeks ago where there was a unanimous vote for early release. According to the chief, he hasn’t missed his weekly meeting with his parole officer and has already gotten a job at a local big-box furniture store where he works in the warehouse.”

“Which one? I’ll check it out and pay the scumbag a visit,” Eli offers.

Chase nods. “Austin will assist while Jack runs down some additional angles from here. Jack, you’re on my wife at all times. Maria, you should stay with us until this is settled.”

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