We walk through the front doors of the ballroom, down the manicured front lawn, and out onto the sidewalk.
“They’re still working.” He glances around, his attention on everything at once.
Roc secures my SUV, and we all pile in. I lean my head against the headrest as I wait for the meeting with my brothers.
Standing in the middle of my warehouse, with my hands tucked in my front pockets, I stare off into space. The sound of liquid hitting a metal bucket echoes through the room. Muffled groans are ignored as I wait for my brothers to arrive.
The metal grinding sound of the warehouse door opening alerts me to company. Mason Maxwell walks into the building. His black wool trench coat is open, showing off his cream cashmere turtleneck sweater and dark gray slacks. His dark brown hair is cut short and combed back off his face. He was always the polished businessman.
His bodyguard, Grant, is behind him. The six-foot, five-inch bald black man is a constant at his side. Both men look to the center of the room briefly before turning back to me.
“Didn’t you have a fundraiser tonight? You look like shit.” Mason stops beside me. Grant dips his chin at me before going over to join Ghost in the middle of the room.
“Thanks for pointing that out,” I reply dryly. Even though I was in a custom-designed tuxedo, I looked as if I hadn’t slept in days. Which I haven’t.
“Where are my nephew and sister?”
I love Mason. He is truly the definition of a protective big brother, but sometimes he made me want to kick his ass.
“I don’t know, Mase. If I knew where they were, I wouldn’t be here looking as if I hadn’t slept in days.” I run a hand down my face. My five o’clock shadow prickled my hand.
He stares back at me, unbothered by my snippy reply. Out of all of us, Mason is the calmest. I’m the hot head of the bunch, with Salv a close second. Even Kazimir, who hardly ever gets riled up, is more likely to act out than Mase. However, don’t let the coolness fool you. When Mason goes off the deep end, shit gets ugly.
“I’ll have my people step in. They’re military trained to find people.”
I’m shaking my head before he finishes his sentence. “You got your own shit going on. I can handle this.”
“I’m not making an offer, Nic. I’m telling you, my guys are stepping in.”
I sigh. It’s useless to argue when he gets this way. Mason has always been the problem solver.
“Have you checked her cellphone records and email account to see if she’s reached out to anyone?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “She didn’t take her phone, but I checked to see if she communicated with anyone before leaving. Nothing.”
The groaning from the center of the room grows louder, causing Mason and I to glance in that direction.
“And you’ve thoroughly vetted all friends and family?”
I nod. “Yes. They all cleared. But Tiffany is smart. She wouldn’t tell anyone I know or I’ve met where she is.”
Look, I’ve thought of all this. Did he think I’ve just been twiddling my thumbs for four fucking days?
“Well, who haven’t you met?”
I open my mouth to tell him I’ve met everyone, but a light bulb goes off in my head. There is one person in Tiffany’s life that I haven’t met. A person she doesn’t normally deal with, and I know she dislikes. A person who would be her very last resort.
“I might have a lead I need your guys to look into.” I scratch my chin as a new seed of hope blooms.
Mason dips his head. Just then, the creaking of the metal door draws our attention again. Salv and Kazimir walk into the warehouse.
“Yo, yo,” Salv sings in greeting.
Salv and Kaz never travel with security. Salv doesn’t because his brother is his security. And Kaz, well, nobody with good sense will fuck with Kazimir.
Although Kaz and I are the same age, he’s closer to Salvito. Even when we were young boys, he was always drawn to him.
Both guys head over to us, not even giving the scene in the middle of the room any attention.
