12. Nash
12
NASH
A ll rational thought leaves my mind as my eyes narrow in on the hottest scene laid out before me. My dick twitches in my shorts and I adjust it. The temptress is laid out in the tiniest bikini, sunbathing on the edge of my infinity pool. One arm is slung over her eyes, while the other is dragging through the water. One of her long legs is bent, the other is lying flat. There is nothing but curves and tanned skin laid out before me. I stand there, for I don’t know how long, staring at her.
Fuck.
I mentally take a snapshot. I’ll think about that image later. I need to find out who the fuck she really is because I’m not sure if I believe Sophie’s story.
I urge my feet to walk toward her and open the door.
“Did you enjoy the view?” she asks, not moving a muscle.
My eyes narrow on her. How did she know?
“I was on a phone call,” I say, bluffing.
“No, you weren’t. You stood in the hallway for a long while,” she states, turning her head and giving me a smirk.
This woman is infuriating. “Was speaking to Brooks and Sophie,” I tell her.
She slides her hand off her face and sits up propped on her elbows before turning her attention to me.
“And how are they?” she asks cooly.
“In Dubai, it seems.”
“Sophie has a story she’s working on,” Ellie tells me.
I walk closer to the pool’s edges. “So she says.”
“You don’t believe her?”
“I believe Sophie. It’s your story that I’m not sure about,” I explain to her.
This has Ellie sitting up completely before she slides into the pool, disappears under the water, and then pops up right in front of me, looking like a wet dream.
“What do you want to know? Ask me anything,” she purrs, placing her chin on her folded arms on the edge of the pool. Those blue eyes looking up at me are all innocent and yet calculating.
My eyes narrow on her. “Who are you?”
“I’m Ellie Clark, adopted sister of Mackenzie, Sophie, Zoe, and Grace Clark.”
I call bullshit. “When were you adopted?”
Without hesitation, she tells me it was seven years ago. She was kidnapped from Russia and sold into human trafficking and Sophie’s parents found her and tried to reunite her with her family, but unfortunately, they were killed in a Bratva turf war. The Clarks then decided that they would adopt her and, here she is. Her story sounds convincing, there were no tells to indicate she is lying, and if she is, then she’s good. If it is the truth then what a traumatic life she’s had, and maybe I should be kinder to her, it might explain why she seems skittish around me or has a wall up, but if it’s a lie, I’ll kill her.
“What do you do for a living, then?” I continue to press on.
“I’m a freelance journalist. Right now, I’m not working for anyone as I’ve been traveling. I like my freedom.” She grins.
Brooks and Sophie both vouching for this woman should be enough, yet it feels like there’s more. Call it a gut instinct that has never steered me wrong. I knew it the day I got a bullet in my chest, I have the same unease that something isn’t what it seems right now.
“Is that why you’re here? You’re working on a story?” I ask, wondering if she will tell me the truth.
Her face falls, and her body stiffens as she pushes off from the side of the pool and starts to swim backward, putting distance between us. A frown forms on my face as I take a seat where she just was, sliding my legs into the cool water.
“Fine. You’re right, I’m not here for a holiday, I’m here for work.”
My brows rise in surprise that she told me the truth. “Work?” I question her.
She runs her hands over her blonde hair, flicking droplets of water off. Why does she look like she should be on the cover of Sports Illustrated? “Yes. I’m doing a story on the Yucatan Cartel.”
“Seems dangerous,” I add.
“It is,” Ellie says, glaring at me, daring me to say more, but I don’t.
“Brooks and Sophie also confirmed your story about searching for your friend.” She raises her brows at me. “I told them that it wouldn’t be any use searching for your friend.”
“Why?” she asks defensively.
“There’s no way she’s survived being there,” I tell her honestly. I think she needs to brace herself. I’m not sugarcoating anything for her, unlike Brooks and Sophie. She needs to know what she’s up against so she can turn around and head back to where she came from.
“You have a great bedside manner.” She smirks.
“This isn’t a fucking game, kitty. These people will not hesitate to kill you.”
“So, you’re not going to help me because it’s too dangerous?” she says in a mocking tone as she rolls her eyes.
I rub the back of my neck as anger bubbles through me, this girl is going to get herself killed with that kind of attitude. “I’ll help you because I owe Brooks a favor.” Her left brow arches high. “But the Dominguez family isn’t a family you mess with. You can’t Nancy Drew your way around here,” I explain to her.
“I’ve done tough assignments before,” she snips.
I look her up and down. “They will eat you alive, kitty.” I grin, watching her eye twitch as I use her nickname.
“I can handle myself,” she argues.
“Highly doubt that.” This woman looks like she should be walking a runway not chasing bad guys.
“You have no idea what I can do.” Those blue eyes narrow on me, chilling me to the bone, and for a split second, I believe her.
“I’m not going to treat you with kid gloves, but I’m also going to make sure you don’t get yourself killed,” I tell her.
She huffs again, annoyed by the assumption. “All I need is an in and then I can do the rest.”
I shake my head. “No can do, kitty. It doesn’t work like that here.”
“Or it doesn’t work like that for you. Have Brooks and Sophie overestimated your reach here? They assured me you knew what you were doing.”
This woman.
“You do know your mouth is going to get you into trouble,” I warn her.
“You’re not the first to tell me that.” She smirks.
My fingers grip the edge of the pool. “These people are ruthless psychopaths. Do not think for one moment they wouldn’t hesitate to rape and torture you.” She doesn’t even flinch at my words.
“That doesn’t scare me. I need to find my friend, and no one is going to stop me.” Her words are full of steel and delusion.
“Come on, now is not the time to be stubborn. I promised Sophie that you’d be home in one piece. If I send you inside, they will sniff you out, and I won’t be able to protect you,” I try to explain to her.
She looks like she’s about to fight me again but holds her tongue. “Fine. I’ll follow your lead then.” She groans, rolling her eyes at me.
I hesitate, she gave up easily and it feels like a win, but I’m not so sure.
“Thank you,” I say, and I genuinely mean it.
“What is your plan?” she questions me.
“Tonight, I’ll talk to some people at the bar, and I’ll let you know.”
“You’re going to talk to some people. That’s your plan?”
My fingers tighten around the edge of the pool again, this woman is insufferable. “Yes.”
She shakes her head. “Not good enough. I’ll have to go with my own plan then.”
“Excuse me?”
“I have a date organized for tomorrow night.” She grins.
I shake my head. “You have a date?”
“Yeah.” She shrugs.
“Who with?”
“Someone on the inside.” She grins.
“Who?” I question her.
“Where do you think would be a great place to meet for a first date? He said I could choose.”
“Are you fucking serious? This isn’t a game, Ellie,” I state, raising my voice. Then a wall of water hits me square in the face. “What the fuck?” I splutter.
“Thought your tone needed some cooling down,” she sneers.
Is this woman for real? How has no one killed her? She is utterly infuriating. I wipe my face and shake off the drops. “You are insufferable.”
“Keep talking dirty to me, Nash.” She giggles.
I suck in a deep breath and count to five before I explode. “If you are insistent on this date, then arrange it at my bar, that way I can at least keep an eye on you.”
“Fine. But do not fuck this up for me,” she warns.
I roll my eyes at her as I jump up from the edge of the pool. “Enjoy your swim.” I turn and head inside fuming as I pull out my phone and madly start texting.
Nash: Brother, what the fuck is going on?
Nash: Who the hell have you brought to my door?
Nash: She’s arranged for a date with a cartel person already.
Nash: She is going to get me killed.
Brooks: If things go south and you and Ellie bail then get your ass to Ibiza.
Nash: That’s not comforting.
Nash: Wait. Is this a mission?
Brooks: Need to know basis, brother.
Nash: My life is on the line I’d call that need-to-know.
Brooks: You can trust Ellie.
Nash: Nope. Don’t think I can. The girl is going to get herself kidnapped or killed, probably in the next twenty-four hours.
Brooks: Trust me, she can look after herself.
Nash: Her? We’re talking about the blonde you sent my way. Doubtful.
Brooks: I wouldn’t want to go up against her.
Nash: What does that mean?
Brooks: She will have your back. I promise. But you will also have to trust her. She may not look it, but she has good instincts.
Nash: I’m not filled with confidence.
Brooks: You’ve got this.
Nash: Have you blown up my life, brother?
Brooks: Not intentionally.
Motherfucking asshole.
Nash: When I see you again expect my fist in your face. Asshole.
Brooks: Gladly.
Ellie Clark, who the fuck are you?