Page 3 of Blackstone's Heart
"I'll be there in twenty. Take him to the conference room. And Gage?"
"Yeah?"
"Try to get him to talk. Get a read on him."
"Copy that."
The line went dead. Ethan frowned as he slipped into the shoulder harness he held, all thoughts of coffee now gone. He threw on his worn motorcycle jacket, snatched up the helmet, and headed for his bike. He had known D.A Nicholas Jameson his whole life, and never once had he seen the man show anything even remotely resembling fear. The man was fierce in a courtroom and had a reputation for being harsh, yet fair. It was that reputation that led to whispers of him possibly throwing his name in the hat for Governor in the upcoming election. If he was at Blackout Security and was scared, something was wrong-VERY WRONG.
***
Nicholas Jameson studied the man that sat next to him at the round conference table. The man, Gage Carson, he had said his name was, was a big man. Hair shaved close to his scalp, light brown eyes that seemed to look right through a person and miss nothing about his surroundings.
"How long have you known Ethan, Mr. Carson?" Nicholas asked.
"I met him right after I graduated boot camp. I joined the Marines about a year after he got into the fleet. We were in the same unit." Gage answered.
Nicholas heard the hint of a southern drawl. He nodded as his sipped the coffee Gage had brought him. "His parents were so proud of him when he told them he wanted to be a Marine. His mother went with him and signed the papers so he could enlist at seventeen."
"You know Ethan, sir?"
Nicholas chuckled at that. "Son, I've known Ethan since he was a newborn. His family and mine are old friends. He graduated with my second son, Hayden. Hell, he went to school with all of my children at some point."
Gage smiled a little. "Sir, is there anything you can tell me about why you're here? Anything that can help me and Ethan help you."
Nicholas felt his body tense once more. Sitting a little straighter in the chair, he blanked his face as he looked at the man next to him. Yes, he knew he should tell him something, but his gut said to say nothing until he had spoken to Ethan alone first.
"Mr. Carson, Ethan may trust you, but I don't know you. I DO know Ethan. I will discuss nothing further until I have spoken to Ethan and Ethan alone." Nicholas stated, his voice taking on his courtroom voice as his kids called it.
Before either man could say anything further, the door opened and there stood Ethan. Nicholas studied the man, remembering the boy he had been. The man before him now was no longer an innocent boy, he was a hardened warrior. He felt his heart swell in pride. Ethan strode into the room as Nicholas stood. He pulled Ethan to him as if he were one of his own. Hell, he thought of Ethan as one of his anyway and always would.
"It's good to see you, son." Nicholas said quietly.
"You too, sir." Ethan smiled a little. "How's the family doing?"
"They're good. Debbie will be happy to see you when she gets home next month. She went to visit her sister in Denver." Nicholas answered as he retook his seat.
"I'll have to go see Mama Debbie when she gets back." Ethan chuckled as he too sat. "Now, what brings you to Blackout, sir?"
Nicholas took a deep breath to center himself. "Ethan, no offense to Mr. Carson, or any of your guys, but can we discuss this privately first? After I tell you everything, then you can bring in your people."
He watched as Ethan frowned a little at the request. He knew he could be taking a huge risk by coming to Ethan, but he had to. His only daughter was in danger. He would never forgive himself if anything happened to her. Ethan was his only chance. Relief flooded him when Ethan signaled for Gage to leave them alone. Once alone with Ethan, Nicholas felt his shoulders sag under the weight he had been bearing silently for the last month.
"Nick, what is it? It's just you and me now. Tell me what's wrong." Ethan pleaded.
"Ethan, you're myonlyhope right now." Nicholas said, his voice nearly cracking.
"What the hell is going on, Nick?" Ethan demanded, the man's worry showing through.
"It's Krista. Ethan, Krista's in danger and I need your help to protect her."
***
Ethan felt like ice had pierced his chest.Krista's in danger.Those words made his blood freeze in his veins. Krista Jameson was Nick and Debbie's only daughter. She had also been his girlfriend his senior year of high school. He had been her first lover and she him. Of course, he imagined Debbie and Nick, along with Krista's three brothers would string him up by his balls if any of them knew that little tidbit.
"What kind of danger?" He asked, trying to contain the rage he felt building up inside him.
He watched Nick run a hand over his face. "Let me give you a bit of backstory. After you and Krista broke up and you shipped out, she took up writing. I think she was lonely. Oh I know you and she agreed it was better, but she missed you I think. You two were always close. Her senior year she submitted a short story and it lead to a full scholarship to Hamilton College up in New York.
