MAVERICK
“Augustine Maverick Bates II, we need to talk,” said the woman in her authoritative tone, who blocked my way in her fine suit.
I didn’t have to ask what kind of work she did- it gave it away- it was a white-collar job. But what did she want with me?
“Excuse me?”
“We need to talk in private.” She looked at Cooper and then back to me.
“Look, lady, whoever you are, you can tell whatever you want in front of me because I’m not leaving by her side.”
“I don’t think so, Cooper Greene.”
“Gee. You know my name.” Cooper laughed nervously.
“I know more than your name,” said the woman flatly, no humor in her voice.
“It’s fine, Coop.” I walked away from Cooper. Once we were far enough, I stopped and looked at the woman. “Who are you? What do you want from me? If this is about that incident, I already told them everything I could remember.”
“This is not about what happened at your grandmother’s house and apartment.”
“Who are you? How do you know that?” I strolled my gaze.
She put on a good suit. She was in her forties, with styled blonde hair and hazel eyes. She looked like the woman who could put on makeup in five minutes and have it look professional.
“Where’s your brother?” Her question caught me off guard. We chose not to advertise my relationship with Terzo, yet somehow, this woman knew.
“I don’t have a brother.”
“Stop lying, Maverick. You’re a terrible liar.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I swallowed hard.
“We can talk here and let you go after, or I will take you somewhere you don’t want to go.”
“Are you threatening me? Am I in trouble? Should I call a lawyer?”
She sighed in annoyance. “You really share the same DNA. You both got the stubbornness from your father. You’re not in trouble, but maybe he is.”
“What do you mean?” My gut twisted.
“He left after the briefing. He said he would see someone before he left. We lost communication after that. If you have any knowledge of what happened after that, I need to know. Maybe we can still find him.”
“You’re one of them?”
“One of whom?”
I was entirely confused. “I don’t know. Maybe you’re one of his enemies and wanted to kill him. I don’t believe you. And don’t follow me.” I started walking away.
“Maverick, I knew he received a call from his associates during our briefing, and he was angry and left in a hurry. He went to save you and shot the assailant. You were not aware of his connection with you until at the Osmium.”
I stopped and turned around. “How do you know about that? At least tell me your name.”
“I go by many names, but you can call me Kelsey. Kelsey Adams. That’s all I can tell you.”
“I need more than that.”
“That’s all I can, or I might have to kill you.”
“What?” My eyes grew wide, but not because of her threat. I heard that line on tv. “That’s impossible. Terzo would never work with you. He would never betray his father. He values his loyalty to his family more than anything. And you don’t have jurisdiction here.”
“You’re right. That’s why we made a deal. He has the expertise I want, and I leave his family business alone in exchange. How do you think he got in and out of the country without being held by the immigration officers when his father, your father, was one of the most dangerous crime lords in history.”
I felt suddenly defensive. I scoffed. “As if everyone doesn’t know you’re in bed with bad guys to get the business running. That’s how your agency works, Kelsey, whatever your real name is.”
“We’re wasting time, Maverick. I did not come here to talk about moral codes. I’m here to save your brother’s life.”
Homer came out of nowhere. “Is everything okay, Mrs. Winston?”
“Yes.” I smiled tightly.
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. We’re just having a conversation. Wait for me at the parking.” He knew the magic word, and Lake issued me a panic button.
When he walked away, I looked at Kelsey. I could put my brother in danger or save his life. He’d dodged bullets and escaped the inescapable. I was sure if this was a trap, he could escape again. I would deal with my guilt later.
“He sent me to the penthouse two nights ago. He was carrying an LV duffel bag. He had a drink, and we talked about my safety. He said-” I stopped.
“What?”
“Oh, my God. I will kill him if he comes back.” I groaned in annoyance.
“What did he say to you?”
“He said I should tell my husband how I feel and give him a nephew. He was saying goodbye. Did he just go rogue?”
“No, but he found a way to get in.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I blinked rapidly.
“I found his phone in the grass at the private airport. He’s on undercover now.”
I couldn’t believe I was hearing this.
“You can’t tell this to anyone.”
“I can’t lie to my husband if he asks. You said it yourself. I’m a terrible liar.”
She slightly nodded. “Thank you.”
Before she walked away, I called her name, “Hey. If you hear anything, will you give me a call?”
“Sure.”
I had a feeling she wouldn’t.
***
“Well, you’re in a mood.” Lake just arrived, and I wasn’t done in the kitchen.
“You’re early.” I went to him and tiptoed to kiss him. “Hi. How’s your day?”
His smile reached his eyes. “I have a plan.”
“Okay.” I waited and wrapped my arms around his waist.
“It’s kind of a long-term plan until you finish college.” He looked down at me and pressed his lips on my forehead. I loved it when he did that. It made me feel loved.
“A honeymoon?” I grinned, giving him a puppy-eyed look.
His eyes twinkled. “That too.”
“Oh, so it’s not about a honeymoon, and it’s a long-term plan. Got it.”
“It smells good. What do we have?”
“I made a homemade pizza and the crust from scratch. I made two, one is classic, and the other is veggies.”
“It smells delicious.”
“Thanks. The last time I cooked, you didn’t get to taste it.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. Get your ass on the stool, or you can read the table for us.”
“I’ll help.”
“There’s enough for your guys.”
“We’ll call them later.” He paused from grabbing the plates, and my heart began thumping hard. “Talking about guys. Have you heard from your brother?”
“I’m glad we can talk freely about Terzo without you clenching your fists and jaw, but he hasn’t called me.”
“His number is out of reach. And baby.” He was carrying plates and silverware when he eyed me. “Who was the woman you talked with today?”
I wished he didn’t have to ask. “She’s Terzo’s business partner.”
“You’re lying, baby.” This time, he wasn’t mad. He was smiling at me.
I wrinkled my nose. “Yeah. I was hoping you wouldn’t ask me that. If this is a test, I failed miserably, am I?”
“Yeah. Homer took a picture of that woman and sent it to Osmium. It’s for your own protection. No need to worry about it.”
“She said her name is Kelsey Adams.”
“Yes. She’s also Terzo’s handler.”
I released a long sigh of relief. “Thank God I don’t have to keep it from you. So you know about their association?”
“Sadie’s brother also works for them, but let’s not talk about it for their own safety. I figured that’s how he knew about your nana’s abduction, and he seemed to know a lot for an underboss.”
“You’re studying.” I smiled.
He looked amused. “I need to learn about outside the company, criminal underworld of some sort, and Osmium is the best place to go.”
“Let’s have dinner.” I went to check the pizza oven. “It’s done.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
Instead of giving me an answer, he kissed me.