“You know damn well I mean that wannabe Abercrombie model who was stripping you naked with his eyes.” I don’t have any idea how I’m supposed to tackle this subject, and Colby’s all out of patience. “You could’ve warned me, you know? It fucking sucks that I just had to stand there while he was salivating all over you, and you did nothing but?—”
“I didn’t like how Daniel looked at me either, but you have to understand, all it ever was with him was a business transaction. It was just sex. I needed to release some tension now and then, so I came here. I don’t really know anything about him and barely said a word to him,” I defend myself.
“I don’t care what you said,” he counters. “I care about what you didn’t say.”
Discussing Colby’s jealousy is better than thinking about how fucked up our city is and that I can probably do nothing to those bastards without endangering myself and my family. Speaking of...
As I turn the car into the garage, I hold up a finger at Colby. “Pause for a second.”
Colby’s mouth drops open in outrage, but thankfully he doesn’t gather himself fast enough to bite my head off before I take out my phone and dial Bran.
“Hey, Da, I was just about to?—”
“Here with Colby,” I let him know so he doesn’t say anything we can’t discuss in front of him. “I need you to pack a bag, and prepare to be gone for some time. I’m sorry,” I say to the sudden deafening silence. “I know finals are coming up, and?—”
“You knowsomeonewill take care of that,” he says with meaning.
“Yes, someone will, but you need to be ready. I think the first blows will come tonight.” I park next to the SUV and nod at Blake. When he gets out the driver’s door, he stands there and scans the garage, making sure there’s no one around.
“Please be safe, Dad.”
“I will. You know your ma always has my back.”
“And you hers,” he mumbles.
“She doesn’t need it.” He gives it a good try by snickering, but I know my attempt at humor wasn’t my best.
“I really am sorry, and I’ll let you know the second it’s safe to come back, all right?”
“I know, don’t worry about me.”
“Not possible. Call Nan and I’ll?—”
“Callsomeone,” he finishes for me.
“Exactly.”
“Love you.”
“Love you more.”
I hang up and turn to look at Colby. His face transforms from one emotion to the next. He’s clearly having issues settling on just one.
“I hate that I can’t smack you forpausing a discussionbecause you were being all caring dad and cute.”
“Cute?” I mumble to myself. Whatever, it’s good info on how to get out of trouble in the future. I’ll just use Bran or Maggie as shields. “Get in the car.” I nod toward Blake and the SUV. “I need to make a call you can’t hear.”
“Whatever.” He scoffs and gets out. I have a great idea of how to punish him for that as well as how we’re going tofinish the Daniel discussion, but that’s going to have to wait for a bit longer.
As I take out my burner phone and dial, I watch Colby greet Blake then get into the back seat. Only when his door is closed do I focus back on the call, and it takes a few rings but finally it connects.
“This better be important because I was in the middle of a board meeting.”
“So early in the morning?” Am I stalling? Well yes, I am.
“Some of us have normal jobs,” Harry deadpans, and I have to snort.
“Controlling markets isn’t a normal job, Harry. Don’t kid yourself.”
