“Are you okay?” he asks.
I glance up at him, surprised by his question. I think it’s the first time he’s acknowledged my feelings in any way, shape, or form.
I clear my throat as I recall him telling me once that his mom isn’t doing well. Maybe this is something he could understand.
“I’m distracted. Sorry.” I sigh as I wonder how much to tell him. I’m not sure it’s real to me quite yet, so I keep it simple. “My mom broke her arm.”
“Oh,” he says softly. “I’m sorry. I hope everything’s okay.”
My eyes lift and meet his. “Thank you.”
He doesn’t say anything more on the subject, and neither do I.
“That’s all I’ve got. I’ll see you in the morning at the Complex.” We’ll meet there and take the team bus to the airport.
He nods, and he stops at the front desk while I take the elevator up by myself. I haven’t heard from Liam, and I know Dex is getting ready to travel in the morning as well, so I decide to keep the news to myself until we know more.
I throw some clothes into my small suitcase and pack up my toiletries.
And then it’s time to try to find my dad.
I drive over toward the lounge, and when I walk in, a hostess greets me. I don’t remember her being here last time, but maybe she only works when the big boss is in town.
“I’m Everleigh Bradley. Is my father in tonight?” I ask her.
“I know who you are,” she says, and she leans in a little conspiratorially. “And yes. He’s downstairs.”
“Downstairs?” I echo, and she nods toward a door in the far back of the lounge that I assume leads to some sort of break room or office. I offer her a smile. “Thanks.”
I head back in that direction, and I try the handle, but the door is locked.
“Ma’am, you can’t go in there.” A man dressed in all black who I didn’t notice was standing there stops me.
“I’m looking for my father, Thomas Bradley.”
“Of course. Mr. Bradley is here tonight. Give me a moment.” The man flashes his face at a camera I didn’t even see, and the door opens.
It’s not a break room back there as I assumed. It’s a hallway with another door. I don’t allow the door to close, instead following closely behind the man in black. He turns when he sees me. “I said you can’t come in here.”
“And this is my father’s lounge,” I repeat. “I need to see him.”
Before he can make a move to kick me out, a side pocket door opens, and two men walk in from outside. My eyes zero in on a man behind another man in a black suit, and my breath catches in my throat as my brain registers that he’s here.
Maverick Jennings.
What the hell?
He hasn’t looked up yet to see me as the man with him taps in a code on a pad and flashes his face to open another door.
That door opens just as Maverick’s eyes lift to meet mine. Before I can react, I turn toward the open door. I see a set of stairs leading down into what must be the basement. I can’t see anything beyond the stairs, but my father is walking up them, Maverick is about to start walking down them, and I’m confused as hell.
My father’s eyes meet mine, and his widen. What thefuckis happening?
“What is this?” I demand.
“You can’t go down there!” the man in the suit behind me yells, but I push pastmy father to piece together what’s going on.
When I get to the bottom of the stairs, it all becomes clear.
