Chapter 81
CHAPTER
RHETT DROVE THEM TO THE estate in the hills and not back to the penthouse. Nash walked to his room two doors down from Rhett’s bedroom and across the hall from Mindy’s. He had passed her in the corridor, where she gave him a half-hearted smile.
He opened the closet and saw three suits in different colors hanging there, along with shirts.
There were shoes underneath that fit his feet perfectly.
Rhett had taken care of all of this, and had tailored clothing for him both here and at the penthouse.
The drawers were filled with underwear and socks, other accessories, and more casual clothing.
Nash had no idea how much it had all cost, but with Rhett what did it really matter? He was in the rarefied position of never being able to spend even the interest on, much less the principal of, his wealth.
Nash took a few minutes to send off a long communication to Shock bringing him up to date on how they knew about him, and also that Nash was now Rhett’s bodyguard.
Just lay low until you hear from me. And I’m sorry to have brought this on you.
Shock’s almost immediate response was telling: Don’t worry about us. How are you doing? You ever need us, we are here for you.
I’m fine. Thanks for everything, Shock. I would not be here without your help.
Nash got up the following morning, put on his workout clothes, and headed to the gym complex. He did weights, cardio, stretching, and yoga. Then, using an imaginary knife, he practiced disabling and/or killing a boxing dummy that was a twin of the one at Shock’s facility.
After two hours the sweat was pouring off his shirtless torso.
He sat down on a bench, toweled off, and looked up when she said, “Impressive.”
Mindy was standing in the gym doorway dressed in a silver leotard and black leggings. She was barefoot. Her hair was tied back and she was holding a rolled-up yoga mat. “I think you killed that poor dummy like a hundred times.”
He finished toweling off and stood. “Yeah, well, just part of the business.”
“Turn around.”
“Excuse me?”
“Your body art. Just want to see if it’s on both sides.”
He turned around and she said, “Wow, the lion’s muscles ripple when yours do. And the dice are cool.”
He turned back and eyed the yoga mat. “You finished or just starting?”
“I did my yoga in the studio next to this room. Barton built out this wing for me.”
“I’m lucky to have access to it.” He paused. “Mr. Temple said it was okay, but if—”
She waved this off and said, “This house belongs to Rhett. I’m just here because he lets me.” Mindy ran her gaze over him again. “Rhett told me about how you saved him. What were you doing there at that time of night? Not many people come up this far into the hills.”
This was actually an excellent, probing question. He wondered if Rhett had tasked her with asking it. And it did not appear that she had seen him in his truck when he had previously observed her and Amanda driving out of the gates in the Mercedes.
“I was just passing through the area, taking in the views, but then I noticed this van clearly tailing a Porsche. I’ve been involved in those scenarios before, and my professional antennae started buzzing.”
“Lucky for Rhett. But his dick is going to get him killed one day. Or night.”
Nash did not want to take the bait on that comment. “How’s the baby?”
“Mandy’s doing fine.” She eyed his empty ring finger. “You have children?”
Nash almost answered, I did. Instead he said, “No. Never married either.”
“Until I met Barton I didn’t see myself walking down the aisle.”
“Where did you two meet, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“He financed an independent film, and I was working on the set as part of the crew. We hit it off, and I went from working paycheck to paycheck as a hair and makeup stylist to the wife of a billionaire.”
“Must’ve been quite a transition.”
“Everyone thinks I married him for his money.” She paused and her look seemed to challenge him to make a comment.
“And I did. I mean who wouldn’t? He was nice to me for the most part, but he just wanted young arm candy to show off and I was it.
And now I get to live here.” She eyed him haughtily.
“I guess you think that makes me a shitty person?”
“I think everybody has to do what they have to do, Mrs. Temple.”
She smiled. “I’m beginning to like you, Dillon. And I have a tattoo.”
“Oh really, where?”
“I’d have to strip to show you.” She said this in a way that told Nash she would be happy to do so.
“Well, I better go hit the shower,” he said quickly. “Mr. Temple might need me later.”
“Why do you call him ‘Mr. Temple’?”
“He’s my boss.”
“Well, maybe I should start calling him that too, then.”
She turned and walked slowly off.
That night someone knocked on Nash’s door. It was Rhett, looking triumphant.
“My detectives got back to me. The guy ‘Shock’ mentioned in the letter I found? His real name is Isaiah York. He and Ty Nash grew up together in Mississippi. They also fought in Nam together, like Judith said. York has a condo in town and a business address in another state. They checked his condo. Turns out he hasn’t been there for a very long time.
So we’re going to hit his business. He might be there, or at least we might find a clue as to Nash’s whereabouts.
We’re wheels up at eight, so be ready to go at six thirty. ”
After he left, Nash emailed Shock and told him to go deep underground. Then he got into bed but barely slept, thinking about how quickly all of this might go irreversibly sideways.
But the other thing he could not stop thinking about was… Judith. She might have cheated on him, but she was still his wife. And he still cared for her.
Just hold on, Judith. Please, just hold on.