Page 55 of Red

Nico shoved the business card into the back pocket of his jeans and turned to the table. He shut her laptop.

“Wait. Nico. What are you doing?” She tried to grab the computer, but he had it in the bag and slung over his shoulder before she could be of much use.

“You’re not working here today,” he said.

“Why? Because he scared you?” she goaded.

“That was a veiled threat.” He jerked a thumb behind him.

“I’m sure it was meant to sound that way. This is a public library, Nico. He can’t do anything to me, here. I’m not letting some overgrown ego get in the way of my life.” She reached for her bag. “I have enough of that with your brother.”

“Erik won’t like you staying here after that.” Nico held fast to the strap, keeping her from winning the tug-of-war.

“Erik doesn’t like anything,” she snapped. It wasn’t true. Not really. He seemed to enjoy spending the evenings with her. Mostly in silence, playing a game of chess. Once he’d found out she knew how to play, it had become the one thing- outside of the bedroom- they held in common.

“Melinda.” Nico tugged harder on the bag.

“Oh hell.” She let go and threw her hands in the air. “Fine. If you want to run scared with your tail tucked between your legs, let’s go.”

“That’s not—”

“But you’re taking me to Into the Woods first. I want coffee.” She shoved the chair beneath the table, disturbing several people sitting nearby. She mouthed an apology as she maneuvered toward the front door.

Chapter 19

Erik slammed the front door of his car and jogged up the steps into the house.

Bertucci had gotten to Melinda. Spoken to her, looked at her. He would ring Nico’s neck for allowing it, and then he’d deal with Bertucci.

“Before you get all—” Nico began.

“Why didn’t you haul her ass out of there once you saw him?” Erik pounced the moment he came into view.

“And insult him with the blatant snub?” Nico’s jaw tightened. He was right, of course. To have given Bertucci a cold shoulder would have insulted him. And to offend a man like him could be opening up an old wound they were trying to close.

“What did he say? Exactly. Every fucking word, Nico.” Erik brushed past him and brought him to his office, kicking the door closed.

Nico relayed the conversation again. He’d already gone over it twice on the phone after getting Melinda home, but Erik wanted to hear it again.

“What the fuck is his obsession with her?” Erik picked up his phone and tapped hard against the screen. “Ash might have something by now. He was looking into a few things for me.”

“You said you wanted to keep him out of this. After what Marcus and Uncle Kristoff did, why would he want to help us?”

“Yes,theydid. Not us.” Erik sent the message. “If anyone understands separating from the evil of the older generation, it’s him. He has a contact at the police department. We need that.”

“Why?” Nico asked.

“There’s something, a connection between Melinda’s family and Bertucci. She mentioned he looked familiar to her, but she couldn’t place him. It might have been a long time ago.” Erik rubbed his temples. He’d thought finishing the fucking list and getting the inheritance from his uncle’s estate would be the most difficult hurdle. But every step seemed to bring new trouble to him.

Erik’s phone dinged, and he refocused his attention. “That stuff you got from Ash the other night. Is Ian still working on it?”

“Yeah, he’s out today handling it. He won’t tell me how, though.” Nico scratched behind his ear. “He’s more secretive than ever.”

“Leave him be. He’s finding his own way.” Erik read the next set of messages. “That’s good at least.”

“What?” Nico asked. “Did you find out something?”

“Yes. Melinda’s grandmother isn’t in any danger. She didn’t take the flight Ian found, but she did get on a train headed up north.”

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