Page 38 of Tryst

Lifting a shoulder, I closed the office door. “I have no fucking clue. She was fine at breakfast.” I gestured toward the sitting area.

He took a seat on one couch. I sat in the center of the other across from him. He put a briefcase on the coffee table between us. This wasn’t good. It was business.

“I hope you’ve had enough coffee.” He snapped the case open, lowering his gaze.

“What’s going on? I’ve had no coffee, actually.”

He froze, lifting his eyes. He tilted his head ever so slightly as he silently studied me for a moment. “You always have coffee at breakfast.” He lifted his chin. “Go make some and get comfortable.”

Gnawing the inside of my cheek, I stood, sliding my hands in my pockets. “I don’t like your tone.”

“Giving a shit what you think is the least of my worries right now.”

“What the fuck did you just say?” I growled.

“Just go.”

Shit. I didn’t allow anyone to speak to me that way. Not even him. But whenever he spoke to me this way, something bad was happening. It couldn’t have been about Elizabeth and me. He wouldn’t have waited until we were inside to punch me. Now, I didn’t even want coffee, though it was part of my morning routine. Two guards in prison always spoiled me with a hot cup of black Italian roast any time I asked, though that was the extent of the luxurious prison life. I strode out of the room, down the hall to the kitchen.

Elizabeth was sitting on a barstool at the island, scrolling through her phone, twisting her body back and forth. She lifted her gaze, following me with her eyes as I marched to the coffee maker. Not a word was uttered from either of us.

Resting my palms on the counter, I inhaled a deep breath before getting a mug from the cabinet and setting it under the drip. I slid the drawer open, taking out a single pod and placed it in the top, closing the lid, pressingBrew. I spun around, crossing my arms over my chest, watching her.

She was focused on her phone once again, pretending as if I didn’t exist. With her other hand, she rolled her bottom lip between her fingertips. I wanted to talk to her more, but with James in the house it was risky. She gave her attention to me for a moment again. When I offered a subtle smile, she averted her gaze.

The coffee maker beeped. I took my cup and sauntered back through the house to the office, leaving her to simmer over whatever was upsetting her. The décor in the middle of the coffee table had been moved to the side, making room for the heap of papers James had displayed in the center. I sat, eying a second stack of documents containing maps.

“What the hell is going on?”

He propped his elbows on his knees, rubbing his hands together. “Alright.” I’d never seen him this way. He was always so calm and collected even when angry. Between him and Elizabeth, I was about to snap.

“You’re nervous, J. What the fuck is happening?”

He shook his hands. “No, not nervous, just a dad.” He leaned closer, taking one sheet of paper in his hand.

Fuck.

“The professor,” he mumbled, darting his eyes toward the door, then back to me.

“What about him?” I placed the cup to my lips, taking a sip of coffee before resting it on a coaster.

“I need you to find him.”

An evil grin emerged on my face, and I was now fully invested. Finding him was something I had no problem doing. The man who touched Elizabeth was dead now. “And why is that?”

“One administrator from the college called me and said someone has accessed Eliza’s file from her office. Apparently, they forgot to close it before they left. It caused alarm, and she wanted to let me know.”

Rookie mistake. “And you’re sure it’s him?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know who else it could be. He never turned in his ID, which was scannable to enter all buildings. They didn’t cancel his card. Idiots.”

“Okay.” I nodded, picking up my coffee. “I’ll see what I can do.” That was my subtle way of assuring him I was about to commit a crime. It was an offense I was very much looking forward to.

He leaned even closer. “Vinny, I know you’re…you. I’ll always have your back as your lawyer and defend your actions until I die.” He rolled his eyes. “Even if we lose the damn case again.” He gritted his teeth. “But, if anything happens to my daughter at the hands of that pervert, I will be the next one to go to prison and it will be worth every—”

“I got it.” I set my coffee down again, flashing my palm. “I’ve been dying to meet this guy. Trust me when I tell you, it will be handled.”

“I don’t care what you do to him, just erase all evidence to make my job easier if it comes down to—” Suddenly, he was peering over my shoulder, grinning. “Hi, sweetheart!”

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