Page 35 of Breakdown
Jordan didn’t know who this source was, but he didn’t like the sound of some of this. He had to admit, he liked being shot at even less. It sounded like whatever was going to happen at Volkov’s place was a lot more dangerous than Liv had been letting on.
His mind wandered to Peter and his outstretched hand lifting him off the bloodied pavement two years ago. Someone needed to be there to protect him.
“If it’s that important, I should be there tomorrow. They’re going to need someone who can handle a crisis.”
Liv looked like she was going to object, but she hesitated. Her face was unreadable.
“Let me think about it.” She opened the car door and made for the house. Something existentially exhausted in her gait made Jordan wonder if he should have stuck with saying nothing.
—-
JORDAN NEARLY SLAMMEDinto Liv’s back as she stopped in the doorway. He was only half a head taller than her, and he craned over her shoulder to peer into the garage, immediately spotting the source of her hesitation. Huddled at the service desk with Peter and Nik, pouring over the Volkov file, was her mother.
Jordan winced. He could tell by the set of her spine that Liv was pissed, and Jordan was certain that they were all about to reap the consequences of that. Instead, she pushed it all down into a deep well of compartmentalization that Jordan wasn’t sure he’d ever quite understand. Liv glided calmly and deliberately across the concrete floor, all business. “Ready to get this show on the road?”
“As ready as I’m going to be,” Peter replied with bleak resolve as he shuffled the papers back into the file.
Liv nodded, clipped and efficient. “Glad to hear it.” Neither of them were acknowledging last night.
“I looked it over though and, I gotta tell you, I don’t think solo is the best option at Volkov’s. Too many moving parts for one person.”
She frowned. “Well, you’re not taking Nik. He’s inexperienced and, besides, I need him here to prep for the chop.”
“I am already prepared for what needs to be done,” Nik said, the even tenor of his voice belying the grim resignation Jordan sensed in his words.
Automatically, Peter slipped his arm around Nik, protective and reassuring. Jordan couldn’t help the twinge of long dormant envy it stirred up within in. Not that he wanted Peter, at least not in that way, not anymore. What he longed for was the kind of shelter the two of them had found in each other. It seemed rare in this world, even rarer in the business they were tangled up in.
“No, you’re right, Liv. He’ll be safer at the garage anyways.” Peter’s jaw was firmly set, like he was bracing himself for a fight. “I’m bringing Mom along.”
Shockingly, Liv put up no resistance. “Fine. The job’s in your hands now. It’s your call.”
Jordan didn’t miss the fact that she wasn’t meeting her mother’s eye; in fact, Liv was doing her best to ignore her presence entirely. For her part, Cynthia Bauer remained quiet. Like Jordan, she seemed to understand the value of silence.
“But if she’s going, then I’m sending Jordan to keep an eye on things. I want to make sure my interests are protected.”
Jordan wasn’t sure if this was because he had asked, or if it was because she was genuinely worried about Cynthia, but he was grateful either way.
Obvious frustration darkened Peter’s features, but he didn’t argue. Shame burned in Jordan’s chest. Peter clearly still thought he was a burden when it came to this kind of thing. What Peter didn’t know was that Jordan had pulled together most of the background information included in that file sitting there on the service desk.
“Look, I might not be your first choice, but I know this job inside out. I’ll be an asset,” Jordan said, his confidence in that fact buoyed slightly by his success driving yesterday. “I’m not some amateur kid anymore, Chief. You won’t have to look out for me.”
Peter’s face softened. “It’s not that, ki—Jordan,” he corrected. “This could be dangerous and I’m rusty. I want to make sure you know that.”
“You’ve got a lot to come home to. It never hurts to have an extra set of eyes watching your back, right? That’s what gets us all home safe.” It was Peter who first taught him that. Jordan aimed a cautious smile at him. “Who knows, maybe I’ll even save your ass this time.”
“Thanks,” Peter said quietly. “I mean it. Really.”
Jordan straightened his shoulders at the praise, risking a quick glance at Nik as he did. He was surprised at the gratefulness he found in the man’s face.
“That settles it then,” Liv said brusquely. “The meeting with the Armenians starts in an hour and Volkov won’t be late for something like that. You better all get going. We can all give each other hugs or whatever the fuck when you get back.”
Peter locked Nik into a final embrace, the kind of desperate, clinging hug you gave someone when you weren’t sure you were going to make it back to them. The whole thing felt much too private for an audience, and Jordan looked away. After a long moment, Peter clapped him on the shoulder. “Ready?”
Cynthia Bauer was close behind him, looking as eager as Liv to end this conversation and get on with it.
Jordan couldn’t forget how close his brush with the Russians came last night, but he swallowed down his trepidation, nodding. The sight of the assassin slumping back in the dark car flashed behind his eyes. This life could have consequences. “Sure, Chief.”
Peter must have sensed it. “Come on, it’ll be just like old times.” His smile was half-hearted as he led the way to the parking lot.
