“I bet you’re really going to miss them.”She closed out a customer’s bar tab at the register and handed him the receipt.
“I will.But I’m sure we’ll be seeing a lot more of my parents once Lyric and Mason have their baby.I wouldn’t be surprised if they got a place nearby out there so they can see their grandchild as often as they like.”
“That would be amazing.I love your mom and dad.”
“Well, it’s mutual.”A smile filled those words.“I talked to my mom yesterday and she told me that after the shooting I should really prioritize my life better and put you and our family first.”
She poured a glass of wine, then mixed a margarita.“Nick, I understand that your job is important to you.Things are going to change when you move and work here.”
“I’ll still need to travel sometimes.”He didn’t sound thrilled about that, but it was part of the job, given they were out in the sticks.
She tried to cheer him up.“But you’ll be coming home to me, right?That’s the plan?”
“Yes.That’s exactly what I want.But I can’t come back yet.”
At least they were on the same page now.She’d just need to be patient a little longer.“I feel your frustration.”
“It’s because I want to be with you so much.”His eagerness filled every word and made her smile.
“I feel the same way.And we’re getting there.”She sent the waitress off with the two drinks.The other end of the bar was getting restless and her brother was about to go off shift.“I wish I could talk longer, but I have to get back to work.”
“I love you.I’ll be there soon.And please, pretend there aren’t agents watching you.They’re just doing their job.”
“What agents?”She grinned, even if he couldn’t see it.
“Smart-ass.”
She smirked.“You love my ass.”
“I’d like to be biting it right now.”
“Sounds dirty.I’m in.”
The lady sitting in front of her lifted her glass in salute.
Nick groaned.“You’re killing me.”
Yeah, she didn’t want to get both of them all hot and bothered and restless for the other.“I have drinks to pour.”
“I have a cold shower to take,” he teased back.
“Not for long, Nick.I’ll see you soon.”They both needed the reminder that this wasn’t forever and the day when they were together all the time was coming.
If only they didn’t have Javier Lopez and his threat hanging over their heads.
Chapter twenty-eight
Javiersatoutsidethesprawling, white, single-story, four-bedroom, three-bath ranch house, sitting on three acres of land, according to the online real estate ad he’d looked up after seeing the For Sale sign out front.He watched Nick and his brother, Mason, along with the two guys who’d driven the moving truck, unload from the spot where he’d hidden his truck amongst the trees.
He’d had a couple of his men on Nick since the bastard killed his sister.His mother was still behind bars for assaulting a federal agent and being an accessory to kidnapping and child trafficking.Those bullshit charges should have been dropped.She was an old lady with crippling arthritis.She was no threat.But he knew they kept her, hoping she’d rat him out.
She was too smart and too helpless to go against him.Sure, she gave up his legit businesses.He expected that.But the feds wouldn’t find anything there.He’d made sure of it.
And he’d take care of his mother in time.A couple of bribes to the right people and the charges would go away.She just had to be patient.She didn’t know anything that would lead them to him.He had people and places she knew nothing about.Oh, the feds raided a couple of places he’d used in the past.They’d even come close to finding one of his locations in Idaho, but he’d had everyone move after that shit went down at his mother’s house.
Seemed Agent Gunn and his brother were relocating, too.
All he had to do was follow the brother and take him out.Let that fucker feel the way he felt seeing his sister gunned down.She didn’t deserve that.She was only following his orders.She knew what would happen if she didn’t.And she made him good money.