3. Hartley
3
HARTLEY
Butterflies danced in my stomach. They shouldn’t. I wasn’t the one heading back to school. But I knew how it felt to return to school after losing someone important in my life.
“If you need anything at all,” I said to Ava, “just call. I can be down there fast.” Jordan and I hadn’t spoken a lot to Ava. She was closer to Vail, which was understandable.
“Me too,” Vail said. “We’re a call away.”
Ava peered over her shoulder at Julia, Kayli’s sister. She differed from Kayli in some respects. In others, like her blue eyes and blond hair, they were the same. Julia had hers cut shorter, falling to her chin in waves. She wore a pair of dark jeans, comfortable-looking sneakers, and a black shirt under a light-blue spring jacket. Her face was makeup free. She seemed less “look at me wrong and I’ll kill you” than Kayli. We’d seen her spar in the gym with Kayli. Julia was just as capable as her sister. She also readily jumped at the chance to work with Ava, even though she hated Jordan.
“I won’t be visible,” Julia said. “I’ll take you to school in the mornings and pick you up after. Then we’ll come back here. On the days you have after-school activities, I’ll take you where you need to go.” Julia smiled softly. That smile was reserved for anyone but Jordan. He got a glare.
Ava turned, peering up at Vail with pleading eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Vail said. “We talked about it. Due to who Jordan is, we have to keep precautions in place.”
“I know, but…” She was worried what the other kids would think. She’d voiced it to Vail. I also thought Ava worried Julia was going to try to be a mother figure to her, which wasn’t close to the intention. No one could replace her mother.
“Ava,” Jordan began in a gentle tone. “Like Vail and Hart have said, we’re here. It doesn’t matter the time of day or the reason. We’ll be there for you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. She was the most timid around Jordan, understandably so. He tried softening his facial features around her. He even took it a step further and bought… Wait for it… Jeans! We wouldn’t discuss how I wanted to put him in chaps and live out a cowboy fantasy now. The jeans were an effort for Ava to see him as something other than a scary mafia boss. I could see how the suits were intimidating.
“Come on,” Vail said. “I’ll walk you out.” Jordan was having Julia drive one of the sedans he had in his fleet. It was less assuming. I told Jordan Ava wouldn’t want to stand out. A big, tinted SUV would draw everyone’s attention.
Once the doors closed, Jordan’s jaw clenched. I moved to stand in front of him so I could put my hands on his waist. “She’s going to be okay. Having some normalcy will help, as well as her friends. ”
“She’s been texting them nonstop. She’s too young for a phone.”
“Her mom gave her that phone. We won’t take it away or dictate how she uses it. Unless she’s doing something awful, then the rules are out the window. If her mom saw fit for her to have it, that was her call. We’ll honor it.”
“She shouldn’t be going to public school either.”
“You can’t keep her in a bubble.”
He ground his teeth together.
I reached up to pry his lips apart with my thumb. It had the desired effect, and his jaw released. “Thank you,” I said. “Now, you’re going to work and so am I. We’re going to move on with our days like we normally do, or else we’ll spend the whole time worrying about her.” Who was I kidding? We were going to do that anyway.
The elevator returned with Vail. He had tears in his eyes. “That was heartbreaking,” he said brokenly.
“Oh, no.” I went to him to wrap him in my arms, as did Jordan. “What happened?”
“She hugged me and said how much she missed her mom. That her mom always kissed her and told her she loved her before she went to school.” His body began to shake as he sucked in a ragged breath. “I wish I could do more. Nothing will heal her pain though.”
“Time will help ease it.”
Jordan suddenly released Vail and turned away from us.
I reached for his arm before he could go far. “What’s going on?”
“Is this how my son felt when I killed his mother? How much pain was he in because of what I did?” His shoulders slumped and he dropped his chin to his chest .
“You did what you had to, so he stayed alive.”
“That doesn’t erase the years of pain he went through from missing her.”
“It was miss her or not be here at all.”
“I should have done better.” The guilt he long held on to returned and lay heavily on his shoulders.
“You can’t change the past. All you can do is recognize what you did wrong and not make the same mistake again. You’re mending things with JJ.”
“It’s not enough.” No matter what I said, it wouldn’t help him. I hated I couldn’t. “I should get to work.” He quickly kissed Vail and me, then went to his office.
Vail wiped the remaining tears from his face. “He’ll be okay.”
“He will because he has us. Are you okay? I’m sorry it wasn’t easy.”
“I’m fine. I worry about her. If she would have said she wanted to take another week or more off from school, I would have let her. But she was adamant about going back, that her mom would have wanted her to.”
I threaded my fingers with his. “Why don’t you come with me to the studio today?”
“No, I’ll be okay. I’ll work on the kitchen downstairs. The contractor is supposed to be by with updated plans.”
“Okay, but just like we’re here for Ava, we’re here for you too.”
“Thanks, Hart.” Vail pulled me in for a soul-encompassing hug. God, I wanted to stay here forever. If Jordan was heating my back, it would be perfect.
I sighed and leaned away. An idea suddenly formed. “I think I know how to help Jordan.”
“Welcome to PJS,” a man behind the long desk in the lobby greeted as I approached. Behind him was the company’s logo high on the wall in bold blue letters with Perry, Jordan, & Sons Auto beneath it. “How can I help you?”
“I’m here to see JJ Altair.”
“Is he expecting you?”
“No, but he’ll see me. My name is Hartley Weathers.” I smiled sweetly. JJ wouldn’t turn me away. If anything, he’d be curious why I was here.
“One moment while I call his office.”
I turned, taking in the building's space. There were multiple seating areas for guests. Tall windows framed the front doors and went high up. Natural light floated in, giving it an airy feel.
Altair Plaza wasn’t small. There were multiple buildings on the property in West Dremest, where the other side of Jordan’s family, as well as the Dremests, ruled the land. The building I was in was large and very corporate feeling. It was weird being here, so different from the world I lived in with Jordan. I was sure he had professional buildings like this, but we hadn’t been to see them. Hell, Jordan only went there when necessary.
“Sir?” the man behind the desk called to get my attention. “Mr. Altair’s assistant will be by in a few minutes to take you to his office.”
“Mr. Altair?” I heard a voice ask. “Which one?”
“Sorry, sir, I was referring to your cousin.”
I turned and found Jordan’s nephew. “Perry,” I greeted and offered my hand. “It’s nice to see you again.”
“Hartley.” We shook. In an impressive charcoal suit, with his light blond hair neatly styled, and hazel eyes as sharp as his uncle’s, Perry Altair Jr. was a formidable man. He wasn’t nearly as broad as Peyton, who stood behind him in an equally well-fitting navy suit.
“Hi, Peyton.” I gave a small wave to Perry’s bodyguard and partner.
“Hartley.” He nodded.
“You’re here to see JJ?” Perry asked. “Is something wrong?”
“Yes and no, but I don’t need to keep you. You’re obviously on your way to your office.”
“It’s fine.” He took his phone from his pocket and tapped on it before pressing it to his ear. “Have JJ meet me in my office now. Tell him I’m bringing Hartley with me. Thanks.” He put his phone back in his pocket, then nodded at the man behind the desk. “Please tell Patience I’m sorry for the walk over, but I’ll take it from here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Following behind Perry, we waited for the elevator to arrive. I certainly didn’t come here to involve Jordan’s nephew, but now that I saw him, it probably wasn’t a bad idea to tell him what was going on. Luckily, I’d already talked with Vail about speaking with Jordan’s family regarding Ava. What I didn’t know was if Perry and Peyton were aware of what really happened between Jordan and his deceased wife so long ago.
The elevator dinged, alerting us to its arrival. I stepped inside to find it mirrored, giving me the perfect view of the three of us inside. No one else got in. One look from Peyton, the others waiting backed up. Not that I blamed them. He wasn’t a small guy. It took much more to have me quaking, given who I went to bed with every night. Both Vail and Jordan were muscular. Plus, Jordan had that whole badass thing going for him. Okay, I still got hot for how powerful and possessive he was. And I loved every second of his eyes being on me and Vail with heat in them.
We stopped at the top floor, which was the twelfth. Perry exited first, with me behind him and Peyton at my back. We didn’t slow until we were between two executive-looking desks, one on either side. The one on the right had a woman seated behind it who stood at our approach.
Her long, dark brown hair flowed over her shoulders onto a lilac blouse. “JJ will be right over.”
“Thank you. Hartley, this is my assistant. Carissa, this is one of my uncle’s partners, Hartley.”
We shook. “It’s very nice to meet you,” I told her.
“You as well.” I could see the questions sparkling in her eyes, like she wanted to ask me about Jordan, but didn’t dare do so.
Perry continued forward. “Let’s sit in my office while we wait for JJ.”
The view immediately captivated me. Past the bookshelves lining either side of the room, beyond the large desk, were floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked this side of the city. I should be used to a view like this living with Jordan, but it was different here.
“Wow,” I said, walking to them. “You have a beautiful view.”
“Thank you. Would you like something to drink?”
“No, I’m good.”
“Have a seat at the table.”
In the corner of the room on the same wall the door was on was a four-person table and chairs. I chose a seat facing the windows so I could still look out of them. Perry joined me, unbuttoning his jacket before sitting. Peyton sat between Perry and me, most likely so he could see the door. I’d been around Jordan and his guards long enough to know their mannerisms.
“So,” Perry began, leaning his elbows on the wooden table. “What’s this about?”