Page 54 of Heartfelt Pain
That barely gives me time to finish getting ready and I huff to let him know I’m displeased.
“The apartment next to yours is empty,” he tells me later when we’re in the car. I’m no longer using the same car service. Trevino prefers to use his own employees because it turns out he has a few guys already working for him. Every doorman working at my building is now one of his guys.
“Really?” I never noticed anyone moving in or out.
“It’s ours for right now,” he says. “So I’ll be next door, but you’ll have your space.”
“Is this because of last night?” I mutter, my cheeks hot.
“The point is, you’ll have your space,” he repeats, emphasizing that last point.
“Right. Will I still be safe?” I know I fought Isolde on this, but having a bodyguard has made me rethink a few things.
“Yes.” He’s confident.
“Do you think you’ll be able to figure out who’s doing this?” It’s technically not his job to investigate, but I like Trevino. He’s smart and nice and seems to know what he’s doing.
“I think your friend is nosy,” he replies, looking out the window. “And knowing her, she won’t stop until she figures it out.”
He never says Isolde’s name. But his tone is lighter as he mentions her, probably still thinking about how I warned him off this morning.
“What was Canada like?” I ask after a minute of quiet contemplation.
It takes him by surprise. “Truthfully, I wasn’t there that long, so I have no complaints. But nothing beats this city.”
“Oh.” We’re creeping in traffic. “I always wanted to go on an Alaskan cruise. A lot of them leave out of Vancouver. All the photos I see are pretty. Of both, Alaska and Vancouver. Have you ever been?”
He shakes his head. “Why don’t you take a vacation?”
“I don’t have time.” Since we’re going to be stuck for a while, I open up my emails and start sifting.
“You should go,” he says after a minute.
I bite back a smile at his friendliness, but I’m silent the rest of the way to Fujimori’s.
Twelve hours later, my back is sore and I’m annoyed at twobickering Japanese businessmen and I’ve had to listen to triggerman after triggerman bitch about shit.
“Has everyone lost their fucking minds?” I ask Ben at one point. Tensions flare all the time, but not like this. It’s not one certain thing or person causing issues. Little things are starting to grate, kinks not getting worked out.
“Something’s got to give.” Ben shrugs, but he looks beat too.
“Are you waiting for Abe?” I ask. Isolde didn’t come by today and for once I don’t think anyone is feeling like sticking around and having a drink.
He nods. “Yeah. Go ahead and head home, but text me when you’re in.”
“Why not just text my bodyguard?” I tease. Trevino’s patiently sat around. Being a bodyguard is a lot more boring than people think.
“That good looking man?” Ben laughs.
“He’s not texting nobody!” Abe yells from the kitchen.
“Good night, love you both!” I chirp in response. My bag is stuffed full of all kinds of things and I throw in my planner and a box of cigarettes. I have a feeling that by the time this is all said and done, Jane and Trevino will be working together to get me to stop my little habit.
But after a long day, as I exit onto the sidewalk, I can’t help but light one last cigarette. My phone lights up and I’d like to ignore it, but the name snares me in.
Roma: I didn’t get killed by any serial killers today. Just thought you might want to know.
Ren: The serial killer probably broke into your house, saw you laughing at stupid memes, and decided you were too innocent to kill.
