Page 23 of Play With Me

She appeared almost broken. Whatever haunted her seemed to weigh heavily on her heart.

“I’ve killed people too. I know what it’s like in our line of work.”

She sighed and shook her head, indicating that I had no clue what she was talking about, and then asked, “Is everything okay with you? Who are you meeting at Cross?”

“Yeah, everything’s fine. Now that we know where Cortez is, he’ll be neutralized soon.”

“You didn’t answer my question.”

“James. I’m meeting James.”

“And I’m assuming your meeting has nothing to do with Cortez.”

“No, but I promise it’s nothing to be concerned about.”

Except it was the biggest deal of my life. It was the biggest deal of Sophie’s life as well. Today, I’d find out whether James could help us or not.

“For what it’s worth, James is one of the best.” For the first time since she landed, Lola smiled, and it was enough to calm my nerves. I’d been waiting for some good news from James for almost six years.

Moments later, we were standing in an elevator as it ascended to the top floor of Cross Enterprises. Despite her fatigue, Lola stood tall with a straight back. When the last man left the elevator, I pulled on Lola’s wrist and brought her to my body. “I’m worried about you.”

“I’m sorry. The past twenty-four hours have been a little stressful. Cortez wasn’t exactly supposed to get this close to Kate. I almost screwed up.”

“But you didn’t.”

“We’ll see.”

As I held her in my arms, her tense muscles let go of the stress, and for those few seconds while we ascended, she was that same Lola I’d been obsessing about for months. Long distance relationships were definitely not my thing, and I was glad she was back in New York. I finally had my own place, and it was time to figure out how to introduce her to Sophie. I was afraid I’d need to make an emergency plan as well — in case Sophie managed to aggravate Lola to the point Lola would want to kill her.

“I missed you as well, but Brook… Listen, the next few days may be difficult.”

“Why?”

“I can’t tell you, but I’m sure once Kate confides in Cameron, it won’t be long before you figure things out. What I’m trying to say is that I hope you don’t hold my job against me.”

Figure what out?

The elevator chimed, and I let her go. She lifted her head and straightened her shirt, then glanced back at me as we stepped off the elevator. “I shouldn’t be long.”

“I’ll wait for you out here.”

She headed past reception, turning right in the hallway, and I wondered why she’d think I’d hold her job against her.

“Brook Madden to see James.” I showed the receptionist my identification. After a few clicks, she gave me a scan card.

“Welcome, Mr. Madden. He’s expecting you.”

“Thank you.” I scanned in past the same glass door Lola had left a minute ago. James’s door was at the end of the hall. He was one of the first investigators hired by Cross Enterprises, and one of the best. I’d relied on him for information before, when hunting my bounties, and he’d never disappointed me.

I entered his office door and closed the door behind me. “Hey, what’s the news?”

“No news I can share with you, Brook. You have to wait.”

“Seriously?”

“Come on, you’ve waited almost seven years. We knew this was the likely outcome. It’s just one more year.”

“Do you know how long fourteen months can feel when all you want is to know where the other part of your heart lives on? I was hoping we’d have news before Thanksgiving.”

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