“Then I’m going to Travis’s,” Sid declared without delay.
I swallowed hard. “No, Sid, you’re not.”
“I’ve got her, man—you know I do,” Travis cut in. “I’d let you bunk with me, but things seem… well, they seem fucked-up,” he continued.
I would have laughed had it not been so goddamned sad.
“Stay at headquarters, yeah? Both of you.”
Sid nodded, his eyes cutting to me as Travis took my arm gently and led me out to his truck.
CHAPTER 5
It took thirty minutes to get to Travis’s condo in Santa Monica.
I looked around at the modern-styled condo that was largely under construction.
“Sorry, still working through the downstairs remodel. Shit timing,” he grumbled as he walked with me upstairs.
“It’s okay. I’m sorry to intrude,” I rasped as he showed me to his guest room. I looked around the simple bedroom, outfitted with a bed and not much else.
I’d been to his place a few times. The location was amazing, walking distance to the beach, but I’d always been on him to decorate. He’d bought it as a fixer-upper and had been gradually doing work on it himself. In my opinion, his place felt barren and cold, in need of a woman’s touch—if he ever got around to letting a woman into his life.
“You’re not intruding, you know that,” he replied firmly as he watched me with concern.
I sat heavily on the bed, looking down at my hands twisted in my lap before staring up into the eyes of my very worried big brother.
“I’m okay,” I lied, wanting to reassure him.
“You aren’t okay,” he gritted out, his eyes blazing with murder. After a few deep breaths, he composed himself, outwardly at least. “You got the shit beat out of you. And what the hell was that with Sid?” The question weighed heavily in the air.
“That was a culmination of years in the making.” I sighed.
His brow pinched in confusion. “Is that Greek? Speak English here, Sam.”
“It’s Greek for something happened between us before he left and it’s clear he doesn’t see me like that,” I retorted. “And that’s all you need to know and all you want to know,” I clarified.
“You need me to kick his ass?” he asked, and I knew he wasn’t entirely kidding. They were both powerfully built men with combat experience; truth be told, I wasn’t sure who would come out on top if they were to ever come to blows.
I snorted through tears. “Not at the moment.” I looked up at him imploringly. “What was he doing there tonight anyway?”
He looked apologetic. “I called him when I was en route. I knew things were tense between you, but I didn’t know they were that bad. I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have called him had I known.”
“That’s okay.” I sighed. “Who the hell were those guys, Trav?”
His eyes darkened. “It sounds like Osip Ivanov. He’s a Russian mob boss. I can’t confirm yet, not without more intel. But I’ll find out, Sam. I’ve got my entire team on this. Nothing’s gonna happen to you.”
I nodded, my fingers twisted in my lap.
“I think you need some sleep,” he assessed. “Do you want to call Piper?”
I shook my head, lying down on the bed on top of the covers. “Too tired,” I mumbled.
“I’ll let you be. Get some rest, okay?”
I nodded, tears burning my eyes.
I fell into a deep sleep, my body shutting down, forcing itself to escape from reality.
