Page 89 of Enticing the Fixer

“Call Kinsley.” My voice cracks as anxiety rocks through me. What if someone’s already gotten to her?

“Okay.”

Moments later, she steps into the office. “I’ve tried her five times with no answer. It’s going to voicemail.”

“Shit.” Every muscle in my body tightens. Ghosting me is to be expected but ignoring her assistant is not. Especially with the behind-her-back board meeting today. “Do you know where she went?”

“No.” Fear covers Valeria’s face. “No. I don’t. After the meeting, she never came back to the office.” She tilts her head toward the coat rack. “Her purse is still here.”

Panic swells in my chest. Where would she go without her purse? Fuck. Anywhere to get away from me. If anything happens to her, it’s my fault. If I wouldn’t have lied, she wouldn’t have run off on her own. “I’ve got to make a call.”

“Sure, thing.” She nods and rushes out of the room.

My hands shake as I dial my brother’s number. When he doesn’t answer, I move up the chain. One of them will get what I need. I dial Truman’s number.

“Yes?”

“I need a favor. I need the GPS location on Kinsley’s phone.”

“You know I can’t do that.”

“Yes. You can!” I bark as fear rushes through me like a tidal wave. “Kinsley’s father was murdered, and I can’t find her. You will find out where she is.”

“Gotcha. Give me a few minutes. It takes some talking to get illegal information without a search warrant.”

“Don’t care. Get it however you can.” I stab my finger onto the screen, half expecting it to crack under pressure. It doesn’t.

Two seconds later, I have Hunter on the phone. “Get the guys rounded up and at my place ASAP.”

“On it.” He snaps off without saying another word. Not questioning whether my best friends have my back is a godsend. It doesn’t matter what it is. Whether it’s flying halfway across the United States to hide out from paparazzi, warehousing sex toys, or rescuing someone we care about, we’re there.”

****

Fifteen Minutes Later

I’ve picked up Mac, whose nervous energy radiates off him in the seat next to me, and an oversized T-shirt she left at my place. We’re on our way to Ann’s flower shop with a trail of oversized pickup trucks behind me. Truman’s text with her last location ping came in moments after I picked up Mac, who’s trained in search and rescue.

My next command to Truman was to locate Marge. I need to know her every move. Because if she’s behind everything and we’re taking away her golden egg, she will lash out.

I’m hoping that Kinsley is wallowing with her friends and talking shit about what a lying dick I am. I can deal with that. Hell, I might even be able to fix that. But her dead. I can’t fix that.

Kinsley’s vehicle is parked a few feet from the flower shop door. Thank God. As if Mac senses the change in tension, he turns in a circle and lays down on the passenger seat with his head on his front paws.

I exhale, and my death grip on the steering wheel releases a fraction of an inch. Okay, so bringing Mac and my friends was excessive, but the potential for something to go down still crawls along my spine. Someone killed her father. It’s difficult to see Marge being the responsible party. Although photographs can be deceiving, her arms look like spindles, and her shoulders arch slightly inward, making her appear thinner than she probably is.

After I slide into the space in front of hers, I hop out of my car, and trudge to the front door. The lights on the shopfront are still on, but the sign is flipped toClosed.

“Do you want us to wait?” Jax asks from the open window of his lifted pickup truck. Maverick is in the front seat beside him. August and Hunter are in August’s pickup in the spot behind Jax’s parked vehicle.

“Yeah.” I wrinkle my nose. “I think I overdid it by calling you in. She’s safe for now but may slam the door in my face. If she does, that makes the next 24 hours dangerous. I need her to listen to me before shit goes downhill. Keep an eye on Mac for me.” I’ve filled them in on the board meeting and my belief that Kinsley’s father was murdered. With the anticipated hostile takeover slated for tomorrow and no word on Marge’s location, I can’t take any chances.

“We’re here for you. No worries about that. When you have things straightened out, let us know. We’ll meet at Callahan’s later to strategize.” Jax rolls up the window.

I grasp the door handle and twist. It doesn’t move. Figured as much but wanted the element of surprise if I could get it. I peer inside as Ann and another woman chat at the counter. Ann rests her hip on the glass case and gestures with her hands. Kinsley is nowhere in sight. Did she see me? She must have seen me and disappeared to the back.

After I knock on the window, I step under the light. Ann’s eyes narrow into slits, and if looks could kill, I’d be a splat of grease on the pavement. She throws her head back, while tossing her long red hair over her shoulder.

Peachy.I swallow.This is not going to end well.

---