“You w-went there? And they let you talk to him?” I don’t understand any of this. Why would Kyle want to go to jail?
“Well, they let Matthew Jones, Esquire talk to him.” A weak chuckle rasps over Dax’s throat.
“You’re a lawyer?”
“No, darlin’. But any PI worth his salt has a couple of fake IDs. Just in case. Plus, keeps my name off of any official paperwork. Dax Holloway has Top Secret security clearance, and some of the shit we have to do to help clients would get that taken away damn quick.”
Oh. I’m not sure why I’m surprised. From the start, he and Ford offered to…threaten Kyle if he didn’t leave me alone. I should be upset, but instead, I’m thankful someone’s on my side.
“He didn’t say anything? Kyle?” I fiddle with the strap of my briefcase, unable to take my eyes off the papers tucked in the side pocket.
“He said one thing. And I don’t know what the fuck he was talking about. As they took him back to the holding cell, he said, ‘Tell Evianna I’m sorry for ruining her fancy sneakers.”
“My what?”
“That doesn’t mean anything to you?”
“No.”
Dax shakes his head and curses under his breath. “The kid was scared. But he sounded lucid.”
“So…can we go? To Kyle’s apartment?” I can’t help feeling like there’s something there.
Withdrawing his hand, Dax’s relaxed posture turns rigid again. “No. I can’t protect you if anything happens. We’re not going. I can send Vasquez when his shift starts in a little over an hour.”
“Can’t the three of us go? Vasquez won’t know what he’s looking for. I don’t know that I will either, but unless Vasquez has some secret tech skills you haven’t told me about… Have you eaten? We could grab dinner and wait for him.”
When he doesn’t immediately agree, I slide a little closer. “Kyle may not be a danger to me, but whoever is…what if they’re looking for the same thing we are? Something that ties all of this together. I know this notebook means something. But the few pages I looked at in my office read like nothing more than crazy, fragmented ramblings. I know Kyle. Or…I knew him. He’s neither of those things.”
“Do you expect me to just let you walk into a dangerous situation unprotected? You hired us to protect you, Evianna. You go to work, and you go back to my place. That’s it. And never alone.”
“I expect you to treat me like an adult. Vasquez will be available in an hour. And we need to eat anyway. No one’s going to try to kill me in a restaurant. That would be insanely stupid. So call Vasquez and have him meet us somewhere, and then we can check out Kyle’s apartment afterwards.” I hope the strength I’ve forced into my tone convinces him. I don’t know why I feel like there’s something at Kyle’s, but…I know there is.
“You’re not going to leave this alone. Are you?” Dax says with a sigh.
“Nope.”
He taps his Bluetooth. “VoiceAssist, text message to Vasquez. Message reads: Meet us at Nona Guiseppe’s at 8:00 p.m.” After a pause, he continues, “Send message.”
“Nona Guiseppe’s?” I ask when he tucks his phone back into his pocket.
“Italian place I know. Private and discreet. It’s only a couple of blocks from here. Let’s go so I can tell the driver I don’t need him any more tonight. If we can get the booth in the back, you can tell me more about what’s in this notebook.”
19
Dax
I don’t know why I’m doing this. Taking Evianna to a restaurant? Is this…a date? Or a business dinner? I know what I want it to be. Her scent calms me. When I offer her my elbow—not for her to guide me, but just to have her close—something stirs inside me.
“What…do you do?” Evianna asks as we turn down Washington Street. “I mean…Wren hacks into traffic cameras and runs facial recognition and stuff. Vasquez and Ronan are surveillance?”
“They’re in training. Vasquez joined us four months ago. Ronan, two. In a year, they’ll be taking on their own cases. Protective details, investigations.”
She’s going to ask me how I can contribute to a company that depends on being able to see your target. My head throbs, and I’m clenching my jaw so hard, I feel like someone’s driving a metal spike through my skull.
“What about you?” Evianna gives my arm a squeeze and presses herself a little closer to me.
“I…keep things running. Pay the bills.” I know she expects more, but I don’t feel like justifying my entire existence when all I want to do is get her back to my place and lock her in so she’ll be safe. Though, if I do, will I be safe? From her?
