Page 106 of Touch in the Dark

Sandy invited Stone and DiMarco to the party too. They might work for us, but they’re part of the BreakNeck family, not just employees. I say goodbye and get out of the truck.

“Hey gorgeous,” I greet Elsa.

“Hi yourself. What are you doing?”

“Just got home after the meeting with Warwick and helping Alessa.”

“Did you get something for her?”

“A sweet five string. She’s gonna love it.”

“Great. Do you want to grab dinner later?” she asks.

“Sure, where and when?”

We agree on a restaurant in Greenwich, and I tell her I’ll see her there in a couple of hours. I like that we talk like this. Short and sweet but always worthwhile. Elsa never was a big texter, preferring to talk instead. She’s a social creature by nature. I love that about her.

I make my way to the building and go inside while we are talking. As I hang up and pocket my phone, I glance at the doorman. Odd he wasn’t outside to let me in. Not that I need someone to open doors for me, but Christopher takes his job seriously and usually he’s five paces ahead of you at the door. He is standing talking to someone and turns when he hears me enter.

“Sorry, Mr Chambers,” he holds up his hand. “I didn’t hear you.”

“Relax, man, it’s no biggie.”

He doesn’t look happy despite me telling him I’m fine. That’s when I notice two men standing in the lobby by the concierge’s desk. I tell Christopher to have a good one and head towards the elevator. I’m almost there when I glance over at the two men. One is tall, fit and built. He looks like a bodyguard and from the bulge in his jacket, I realise he may actually be armed.

My heart jolts. What the fuck? Why the hell is there a guy with a gun in my building. And is this why Christopher seems so off?

“Nick?”

My eyes move from the guy with the gun and lower to the shorter, older man beside him. Everything freezes. My movements, my mind, my heart. Sounds fade out around me as I stare at him.

Derrick Atwater.

It’s like a slow-motion button flips and everything speeds up, sounds fill my ears, my heart whooshes back to life making my stomach flip. My eyes narrow as I stare at him. And I get pissed.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” I snarl.

“Easy,” his guard says.

“Back the fuck off,” I turn my glare on him. He isn’t backing off. Until Atwater says a word, I can only assume is his name. It sounds foreign. Virtanen? The guy stares back at me for a moment before stepping away as he’s told.

“Do you need me to call the police Mr Chambers?” Christopher asks from behind me.

“No, these people are just leaving.”

“I’d like to speak to you,” Atwater says.

“And I’d like you to fuck off, guess who is getting their wish this Christmas? You have ten seconds to walk away, or I will let him call the police.”

“You have no reason to call law enforcement,” Virtanen says.

“Try me,” I take a step towards him. He doesn’t scare me. We’re the same height, I’m a bit more built than him to be honest. So, what if he has a gun. He isn’t going to shoot me. I hope.

Fuck, why am I squaring up to a guy with a gun?

“Please, I don’t want any fights. That isn’t what I came here for.”

“Yeah, what did you come here for then?” I tilt my head in Atwater’s direction. Virtanen doesn’t back off, so I keep one eye on him too.

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