I hesitate in the doorway.“Listen, I know we don’t know each other that well, but if you need a place to crash tonight...”I trail off, feeling awkward.“I mean, if you don’t want to go home or whatever.”
Her eyes warm, and for the first time today, she gives me a genuine smile.“That’s a sweet offer, but I got a hotel room for tonight.I just need some space to think.”
Relief floods through me.At least she’s not going home to deal with more of Richard’s bullshit.“Good.That’s good.”
I’m about to leave when I spot Jake lounging against my desk like he owns the place, scrolling through his phone with casual interest.
“Why are you lurking by my desk?”I ask as I approach him, slinging my bag over my shoulder.“What is this sudden obsession with me?”
He looks up with that lazy grin of his.“Can’t a brother check in on his favorite sibling?”
“I’m not your favorite sibling, and you usually stick to your own floor.What do you want?”
“To talk.”He straightens.“Come on, I’ll buy you dinner.”
“Must be serious for you to be buying me food.”I raise my eyebrows.“You wouldn’t get me a bottle of water if my life depended on it.”
Jake strolls towards the elevator.“Now you’re just being dramatic.I’d get you water if you were dying.Maybe a cheap bottle, but I’d get it for you.”
I roll my eyes.“Gee, thanks.”
I press the button for the garage and ask, “So, is Iris pursuing the harassment complaint?”
Jake’s amusement fades, his expression darkening.“She said she needs time to think about it.Claims Richard’s not usually like this.Though since he was drinking during office hours, HR’s going to deal with that separately.Company policy and all.”
The elevator doors close, and Jake leans against the wall, studying me.“Speaking of family drama, when’s the last time you talked to Megan?”
“Sunday.Why?”
“She mention her boyfriend lately?”
I think about my last conversation with our baby sister.“She mentioned some issues with him.Why?”
Jake’s expression grows serious.“Because I saw him with another woman yesterday.They looked pretty cozy at that coffee shop on Fifth.”
“She already knows,” I say grimly.“Has for a while apparently.She’s just...handling it her own way.”
“What do you mean ‘her own way’?”Jake’s voice sharpens with concern.“And if you knew, why didn’t you tell me?”
I remember Megan’s terrifying smile when she talked about breaking Tom’s spirit.“Megan doesn’t want us interfering.”
“And you’re just going to let her do what she wants when this bastard is running around the city, cheating on her?”
My lips curve as we exit into the underground parking garage.“Now, is that something I would do?”
Jake rocks on his heels, watching me.“What’re you planning?”
I open the driver’s side door and slip in, looking up at him.“Thought I’d have a chat with him.You want to tag along?”
Jake’s eyebrows rise with interest, and a slow smile forms on his lips.“Sounds fun.”
I gesture with my head towards the passenger seat, adrenaline already starting to pump through my veins.“There’s this dive bar on the Lower East Side where he goes every Thursday night with his little garage band.Plays terrible music and apparently picks up women while Megan thinks he’s at home.”
“And you were planning to do what, exactly?”Jake asks as he settles into the passenger seat, but there’s approval in his voice.“Aside from yourchat?”
I start the engine, feeling that familiar rush of anticipation that comes before I do something I probably shouldn’t.“Have a conversation.The kind that involves making it very clear what happens to men who hurt our sister.”
Jake’s grin turns predatory.“Now that sounds like a plan I can get behind.”
