Page 82 of Shattering Nash

She rushed to the back, putting as much space between them as possible. Since she was staying at her own apartment tonight, she’d make sure to come in early the next day. Charley had a feeling Elodie’s days were numbered when it came to pulling a double shift at the store.

****

Nash rested his elbow on the window in the passenger side of the SUV. Quiet moments were rare in his world. He’d opted to bring Ridge with him for obvious reasons. Mainly since Caine and Cyrus had seen Charley at his house. He couldn’t be sure if they’d mentioned it to Ridge. Besides, the less people who knew about this meeting the better. He hadn’t even told Oz yet. Nash wanted to have all the intel before he brought it to his boss.

When his phone pinged, he glanced down. The second he saw her name, he steeled his features. Within close proximity to Ridge, Nash didn’t show any emotion.

Charley: Just got home from the store. It was a success.

Nash tapped out his message and hit send.

Nash: Good to hear.

Charley: The offer still stands…you can come stay at my place.

A small smile slipped past his lips. He wouldn’t be doing any overnights at her place. It would expose too much, and he didn’t want Inez to have any ammo to use against Charley. There would come a point that their relationship would become public knowledge. But he wanted it coming out on his terms. There was so much she didn’t know about him. Considering the reason for this late-night meeting, the same could be said about her.

Nash tucked his phone in his pocket as Ridge drove up the long driveway. The headlights illuminated Sullivan’s car.

“How many are we expecting?” Ridge asked, parking on the opposite side of the house.

“Two. Sullivan and his old friend.”

“Any idea who it is?”

Nash shook his head. Sullivan had been vague on the phone, which Nash appreciated. Names were never spoken of when there was a risk of being overheard. Throughout his life in the Underground, he crossed paths with a lot of people. Without anything to go on, Nash had no idea who Sullivan was referring to.I’m about to find out.

Nash and Ridge circled the SUV, heading up the stairs. Before they reached the landing, the door opened. Sullivan lifted his chin, and they walked in. Nash looked around the room.

“Where’s your old friend?”

Sullivan snorted. “You mean,ourold friend. I got him in the back waiting. Just be prepared, against my advisement, he wants to negotiate.”

Usually, people in their realm were more than forthcoming with information to keep in their good graces. No one wanted to be on the bad side of the Underground.

“This should be interesting.” Nash said.

“And amusing. I didn’t tell him the meeting was with you.” Sullivan grinned, which had Nash even more intrigued. “Fitch.”

It was a name he hadn’t heard in years, but one Nash knew well. It had been well over a decade since Nash had seen him. While most of the people he knew from his youth had moved up with Underground, Fitch seemed to fade off out of existence. For good reasons.

“The snitch?” Nash raised his brows and heard Ridge chuckle.

“This is what happens when you give a kid a nickname at fourteen. He lives up to it and makes a career on ratting out others.” Sullivan smiled.

Nash exhaled a breath. “I’m surprised no one has killed him yet.”

“Many have tried, but you know Fitch. The asshole is like a cat with nine lives.”

“How long has he been working with the force?”

“Long time. I will say he’s pretty accurate with his information. He has firsthand intel on Cody Hudson.”

Nash furrowed his brows.

“I did what you asked, talked directly to the officers, Mitchell and Becker. As predicted, they gave me the same story that was in the file. A neighbor called it in, they show up. Cody and his sister show no signs of an altercation. They chalk it up to a pissy neighbor who’s looking to cause trouble for the kid and his sister. End of story. And it probably would’ve been, but when I was talking to the officers, there was another one there, and when I started asking questions, he piped in, complaining about never getting easy calls like that, and it should’ve been his.”

“What do you mean?”

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