Page 9 of Timeless Pages
When Isa tried to step away again, Nate let her go. “It isn’t your concern,” she replied. “I think it’s time for you to leave. He will punish me again if he finds out you were here and I talked to you.”
Nate sighed in frustration but didn’t push the issue. “Let’s go,” he ordered.
I pulled out a business card with all three of our numbers on it and handed it to Isa. “If he hurts you again or you need help, don’t hesitate to call. We want to help, Isa. Please think about letting us.”
She nodded as she took the card from my hands, but I didn’t anticipate hearing from her. “Dave, can you lock the door behind them?”
“Sure can, Miss Belle,” Dave replied.
Isa looked at the three of us one last time, then turned and disappeared among the bookshelves.
“You heard the lady. Scram!” Dave barked.
I pulled another card out as he ushered us to the door and handed it to him. “If Isa’s in trouble, please call.”
He eyed the card suspiciously for a moment before accepting it and nodding.
“Take care of her, Dave,” Dominic said.
“Protect and keep her safe, and you’ll be rewarded,” Nate added.
“I don’t need your money to look out for my friend,” Dave said, offended.
“Then thank you for being her friend,” I replied. “She’s going to need one.”
Dave’s eyes narrowed as he held the door open. I could tell he was torn between asking what I meant and pretending I didn’t exist. We left before he could decide. Isa would fill him in on what was happening, and then he’d understand what I meant.
“I’m going to kill Morris with my bare hands,” I growled once we were back in our car.
“There are better ways to handle him,” Nate replied ominously. “Dom, find out everything there is to know aboutMorris Wilcox. If he took a shit in the woods, I want to know about it.”
“You got it,” Dom replied. “What are we going to do about helping Isa?”
“Driver, take us to Icing on Top,” Nate directed. I guess we both wanted to know what Isa’s favorite cupcake was.
“I don’t know,” I replied to Dom. “She wants to do this on her own, and I understand it’s because she needs to take back control of her life, but I don’t see it going well with those lawyers she plans on calling.”
“She’ll be using our lawyers,” Nate stated.
“How?” I asked. “She can’t afford them and won’t accept us paying for them.”
“I didn’t say we would pay them. With how much money we make them every year, they’re due for a little pro bono work,” Nate replied. “Call every lawyer on her list and tell them if she calls, they are to tell her they aren’t taking on any clients right now, but they’ve heard our guys are looking for some pro bono work. That way, whoever she calls will push her in their direction.”
“And what do we tell our lawyers?” Dom asked. “We don’t have the right to tell them who their clients will be or that they will be taking the case for free.”
“Let me handle our lawyers,” Nate replied as the car stopped. I almost felt bad for the poor suckers when Nate descended on them. I knew that tone. I avoided dealing with him at all costs when he had that tone.
We went inside the cupcake shop, and I was surprised to see Nova behind the counter. She didn’t usually spend much time serving anymore—not since she got engaged. Her eyebrows rose when she turned and saw us.
“Listen, guys,” Nova said, “no matter how many times you beg, I will not convince my guys to sell you the Triple Tech property. And no, you still can’t have the cabin. I’ll never let them sell it.”
“We aren’t here for that,” I chuckled.
“Though we haven’t given up on the Triple Tech land yet,” Nate warned her with a warm smile.
“Got a question for you, darling,” Dom said, leaning on the counter and turning up the charm. “An old homeless man named Dave came here and bought a cupcake. You wouldn’t happen to remember which kind it was, would you?”
Immediately, Nova’s eyes narrowed on him. “Why do you want to know?”
