Page 64 of Catalyst

My face relaxes from the pinched look I had. “Fine. Someone texted me something weird. Probably a wrong number or a prank text.” I shrug.

“Let me see it.”

I tilt my phone so he can see the text messages, and his face turns thunderous. I yank my phone back immediately at seeing his anger.Shit.

“Send me that. I’m going to have my guy trace the number,”Adam says. His tone leaves no room for argument, so I do as he demands.

He pulls his own phone out and begins to tap at the screen. I have no idea who his guy is or how he’ll be able to trace a random phone number. I’m pretty sure that’s illegal. Ugh, why does my face have to be so damn expressive? He’d never have known if I’d just kept my feelings to myself.

“Adam, I genuinely don’t think this is a big deal,” I try to reason.

“You were threatened, Ellie. It is a big deal.”

Matthew steps up next to me, his eyes bouncing between me and Adam. “What’s going on?”

“Ellie received a threatening text from an unknown number. I’m having Jeff trace it,” Adam responds.

“Guys, it’s not that big of a deal. I guarantee it’s some teenage kid playing a prank.”

“We’d rather be safe than sorry,” Matthew says.

Adam taps on his phone for a few more minutes before tucking it back into his pocket. “Jeff is on it.” He gives me a look I can’t comprehend and then turns toward Desmond’s family. “Will we see you later?”

“No, Jerry and I are heading home. We can’t hang with you kids anymore. We’re not as young as we once were.” Janice grins.

“You going, Tilly?” Matthew asks.

“Yeah, I’ll be there.” Tilly’s cheeks pink up at Matthew’s question.

“What are we doing?” I have no idea what they’re talking about.

“You’ll see.” Adam winks. His entire demeanor has changed since the text message conversation. It amazes me how quickly this man’s mood can change.

“Have fun, and make good choices, kids.” Jerry grins at us as he leads Janice out of the suite.

A few minutes later, we leave the suite, and I have a moment of disappointment. Am I ever going to get another experience like this again?

“We’ll come back. I promise,” Adam says into my ear. It shouldn’t be surprising that he can practically read my mind, but I still look up at him in awe.

I nod, giving the suite one more glance before I walk out the door behind Matthew. With Adam’s hand on my lower back, we leave Madison Square Garden, the cold breeze making my cheeks sting when we get outside.

The car pulls up right as we get to the street, and we pile inside—Tilly in the middle of me and Matthew, with Adam sitting up front. The driver is the same man who drove us to the game, and he merges into the heavy evening traffic with ease.

I’ve only been to New York City a hand full of times, so I have no idea where we’re going as we drive. The lights and activity are intense, and while I can objectively view the city as beautiful, it’s more overwhelming than anything else. I wasn’t particularly fond of living in Greensboro, and I grew up there. This city is on a whole other level than anything I’d ever be comfortable with.

A little while later, the car pulls off the street, and Adam and Matthew get out. Matthew holds his hand out for Tilly, then offers me a hand, as well, when she’s out. The brick building in front of us looks a little run-down, but in a way that tells you it’s got a history, not because of neglect. The sign above the door saysDeclan’s Barand has a shamrock in the corner.

I still have no idea what we’re doing here, but I’m always up for trying a new bar. And this place looks like somewhere I’d pick on my own.

We walk through the squeaky wooden door to an almost-empty room. There are a few people sitting at the bar where a blond guy is leaning behind the counter. His green shirt says,Will you kiss me, even though I’m not Irish?I wonder if that’s a company T-shirt or if it’s his own. They could make a killing on those if they put them up for sale.

“Let’s grab seats to wait.” Adam directs me over to one of the tables, and we all sit down.

The bartender comes around the corner with a grin on his face. “It’s about to get rowdy in here. Are you up for it?”

“Always.” Matthew grins. He stands up and bro-hugs the bartender. Their back slaps are almost violent.

“How are you, man?” the bartender asks.

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