* * *
Sitting at the little table insideThe Landauer Cafe,my laptop is pulled up to the program I need, and my fingers fly over my keyboard. I’m so close to finding this motherfucker for the Bratva. I hate working for them, but they pay well so I grin and bear it. My job is pretty easy. Outside sources hire me to find the people they can’t. I find them and hand them over to whoever hired me. The catch is that Ionlytrack downpeople who hurt women and children. I do a lot of work for the criminal underworld, the one percenters, and even peoplelikeme but who aren’tas goodas me.
My attention is drawn away from my work when I feel eyes on me. Slowly closing my computer and looking around, my eyes catch on beautiful mossy green. His eyes look a little red. He must not have slept well last night. The breath is stolen from my lungs as I watch Mac move towards me. I went through all his texts last night and responded, letting him know that he had somehow been blocked. We texted back and forth a few times, but I wasn’t feeling well, so the conversation was short.
Mac pulls out a seat across from me and drops down into it. The smile pulling at his lips makes my stomach drop. “Hey, Beautiful.”
“What are you doing here?” We’re in German territory. I know he isn’t allowed to be here.
He laughs at my bluntness, “Well, it’s nice to see you too.”
“No, that’s not- I mean- you aren’t allowed to be here.”
“Worried about me, Smart Girl?”
“No, of course not.” My irritation spiking, “I don’t care. I was just asking.”
His smile is so gentle, so pure, and happy. “I’m fine. Just stopped in for the best coffee in the city.”
“It is the best coffee.” I give him a small smile.
“It is. What are you doing today? Want to hang out?” He looks so hopeful. I don’t want to shut him down, but I know I should. He knows too much, and even if that doesn’t freak me out like it should, I still shouldn’t hang out with him again.
“I know about yesterday, Mac. I know what you told my brother.”
“Then you know I have no intentions of going away. I’ll take this at your pace, like I said that day at your apartment, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to just go away.”
“You called me his adoptive sister.” Disdain and irritation drip from my voice.
“Was that incorrect?”
“It was hurtful and unnecessary. Is your nephew your step nephew?”
The look of pure fury that takes over his face would make a lesser person run. Too bad for him, I’m just as mad.
“No, Rhett is my nephew. His father is my oldest brother. Check his birth certificate.”
“So to answer your question, yes, you were incorrect. Dieter is my second oldest brother. We share parents. Check my birth certificate.” Staring him down and refusing to look away first, Mac leans back in his chair and relaxes his demeanor.
“I stand corrected. I’m sorry if I hurt yours or Dieter’s feelings.” He smirks at me.
Before I can tell him to shove his apology up his ass, the barista yells, “Mac?”
Mac pushes up to his feet and smiles down at me, “It was good to see you, Ms. Fischer. Let’s make a habit out of it.” He leans down and shocks me as he presses his lips to the top of my head. “I’ll see you soon.” Standing back to his full height, he struts away from me like the world is his runway. He grabs his drink and thanks the barista before winking at me and striding out the door. Hewinks.What the fuck? It’s such a lame move, but my blood sings with the electricity from his attention all the same. He gets into his deep navy Jeep Wrangler and a second later my phone vibrates on the table.
Mac: Have a great day, Lee. Dinner?
Shaking my head at his persistent attitude, I can’t help but smile. This is such a contrast to the laid back man I saw on my living room couch. Seeing both sides of him makes me smile. He let me see the more vulnerable side the other day, and now I get the cocky outer shell he portrays to the outside world. This is the ‘Byrne’ persona, and I don’t hate it.
Lee: We can’t.
Mac: We can’t or you don’t want to?
Lee: The former.
Mac: I can work with that.
I don’t know what he has up his sleeve, but I’m sure I’ll find out soon. Until then, I have work to do and a therapy session to get to in an hour. My life is incredibly busy. I wouldn’t even know how to add him into the fold of all that on a consistent basis. Take into account my health and everything that accompanies that. Plus my childhood trauma could rival the darkest shit you could think of. I’m a complication he doesn’t need in his life.
