“Shock of all shocks you admitted it.” Willow folded her arms over her bosom, scowling. “And you’re in an uproar that she dared become independent. Independent of you, her sister and even that dipshit ex-boyfriend. She has money now, have you forgotten that? She doesn’t need you, me, this job.”
Wilting inside, I hung my head. “I can’t tell her how I feel.”
“And how do you feel? Like a dominant ass determined that she jump through all your hoops in a specific order? Youtaughther how to be herself, for Pete’s sake. And now you’re pissed that she’s shaken free of your harness.”
“No.” I sighed deeply. “Not pissed. Well, okay, I was. Now I’m just scared. She’s out there, alone, with Fiona, Damon on the loose, and her ex on the warpath. Hayley is so little and timid and –”
“Married to a dragon,” Willow snapped. “She’s not stupid, and she’s tougher than you’ll ever be.”
I slapped my hands flat on my desk. “I’ll not tolerate these insults from you. You have no right to speak to me like this.”
Willow leaned toward me, her eyes flat, her mouth a tight, pale slash. “I haveeveryright, nephew,” she growled, her face inches from mine. “I owe you my allegiance, you will always have that. But I will speak my mind when and where I wish.”
Standing, my fury roaring through me, I stalked past her and out of my office. Both Richard and Bertie eyed me with alarm, yet neither spoke as I stormed through the main door. Grumbling bitterly under my breath, I unlocked my truck before I’d crossed the parking lot to it.
Once inside, I dug my cell phone from my pocket and clicked Henry’s number. He answered on the second ring.
“Mr. Desjardin.”
“Meet me at the Rio Lounge at Sixth and Guadalupe,” I barked. “You know where that is?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Right now.”
***
Sitting in a booth in a quiet corner, I’d just ordered a beer when Henry strode in. He glanced around until he found me, then crossed the bar amid the few afternoon drinkers at tables. As my fury had abated during my drive, I greeted him with a smile and a handshake.
“Thanks for coming,” I said, motioning him to sit across from me. “We need to find McMillan and St. Claire as soon as possible.”
“Did something happen?”
I took a deep pull from my beer as the waitress took Henry’s order, waiting for her to leave.
“They’re here in town,” I went on. “They set a false trail for you leading to Mexico.”
Henry nodded. “I discovered that a few days ago and flew back. I’d just started searching again when you called.”
“As we know they’re here, it may be easier for you to discover where they’re staying. Fiona demands high end residences, and she’s currently driving a silver Rolls Royce Wraith.”
Henry’s brows rose. “Where would she get that? There aren’t Rolls dealers in this city.”
“A rental? As she’s driving a very distinctive car, any dealer or rental agency will have her address on file. With those cars so rare around here, you shouldn’t have much trouble in finding her. There’s a chance McMillan is no longer with her, however.”
“Even so, once we have her, we can squeeze his location from her mouth.”
I drank my beer, thinking that squeezing Fiona for information wasn’t as easy as Henry thought. “She’ll want to reside in a five star hotel, probably a suite. Or a large house in an upscale neighborhood. Follow the Rolls lead. She’s egotistical. She showed up at my house with it last evening.”
“Holy wow.” Henry glanced up to accept his beer from the waitress, then took a long drink. “You couldn’t have grabbed her?”
I set my bottle down. “There were complications. I had to let her go.”
“Got it.”
“Don’t approach her, Henry,” I said. “Just locate her address, then tell me. I’ll manage from there.”
“You’re the boss.” Henry hesitated, then asked, “Does this complication have a name?”
