“Is that what you’re tellin’ yourself?”
“Fuck off.”
“You sound like a fuckin’ chump,” he sighs.
“Better than lookin’ like one.”
“Hilarious.” Brew scratches either side of his beard. “You’re fucked.”
I don’t need him to tell me that, I already know.
“What do you mean, she’s not allowing visitors?” I say to the concierge.
Of course, my girl’s apartment block is like Fort Knox, which I’m not unhappy about, with a serial nut on the loose, this is good. I’ll tip the doorman later, but right now, I’m pissed.
“She left specific instructions,” Jacob shrugs. Somehow, life has hardened him to such a degree that my patch doesn’t seem to evoke the fear it should have.
“Which are?” I prompt.
“Do not let anybody up.”
I try her number again, then leave a message. “Honey, it’s me.Your husband.If you don’t call down to the desk in the nextthree seconds, they’ll be re-writing the First Amendment here when I cut out Jacob’s tongue.” I glance at Jacob, whose eyes go a little round. I make a ‘just kiddin’ gesture as I shake my head. “And he’s about to call the cops, so hurry the fuck up.”
A few moments later, the desk phone rings and Jacob picks it up. I drum my fingers on the counter, glancing up at the security camera. “Hello? Yes, Ms. Sinclair.”
“It’s Mrs. Dawson,” I mutter. I doubt she changed her last name back to her maiden name, but now I need to check. I know she always went by Sinclair in the force, but her legal name was Dawson.
“I see. Yes, ma’am, of course.” He hangs up.
“We good?”
Jacob doesn’t like me, that much is certain. “Captain Sinclair just informed me that the list of do not disturb visitors doesn’t apply to you, Austin Dawson, right?”
Of course she’d use my real name. “Perfect.” I smile. “Hey, and no offense with the tongue comment.CaptainSinclair tends to bring out the worst in my patience.”
He swallows hard. “I see.” Oh, yeah, he just wants me gone.
“I’ll need to get upstairs,” I remind him.
“Of course.” He comes out from behind the desk as we head to the elevator. I’m glad I need a fob to even get in the building as well as the elevator, but the fact I don’t have one is becoming increasingly annoying. So is Willow’s disappearing act this weekend. “There we are.”
“That wasn’t so hard, was it?” I pull out a fifty-dollar bill and tuck it into his top pocket. “For keepin’ her safe. We’ll talk after. My wife’s protection is of the utmost importance, and I’m gonna need to know who’s comin’ or goin’ around here, got me?”
His eyes grow wider as the doors close before he gets time to answer and I begin my ascend to her floor.
Nope, this won’t do. I need my own fob and a key. How am I supposed to keep my woman safe when I can’t even get in the building?
I crack my neck from side to side, then pull my phone up when I hear a text ping.
Wife
I’m in the gym. For the record, Jacob is a good guy, I know you threatened him
I smile to myself, ignoring that last comment.
Me
Perfect. We can work out together
