Chapter 26
Tiny
L eaving Kourtney’s warm bed this morning just about killed me. After the shitty day that followed, I should’ve listened to the little voice in the back of my head that told me to just ignore the world for the day and devour her over and over again instead.
I shake two Tylenol into my hand and swallow them dry. Who convinced me that being the boss was a good idea?
Oh yeah, my damn self.
One of the kidnapping cases one of my guys has been working on has come to a bust. Lead after lead he followed, and still, nothing. The parents are losing hope, and I don’t blame them. The husband and wife sat in my office for hours this afternoon, her cries of frustration and absolute heartbreak tore at every single heartstring I have. These situations are never what we want to happen, but the reality of it is, it happens. Still, that doesn't make it any easier when it does.
Going through the stack of mail, I separate the junk from what’s actually important when I can feel the presence of someone watching me.
Turning my head slightly to the hall, I find Evie looking at me from the other side of the kitchen.
Rubbing my palms across my face, I let out a sigh. “What’s up, Ev? I’m being honest, I have a bitch of a headache, and it’s been a rough day. I really don’t want to hear whatever shit you have to say about my ol’ lady right now.”
Evie’s ballet flats scuff against the kitchen floor as she takes the long way around the counter to not pass me and climbs into the chair across from me. “That’s not what I want, Nathan.”
I meet her nervous eyes and nod. “Then what’s up?”
She looks down towards her lap, where no doubt she’s worrying her fingers together as she starts to speak, but then hesitates on what to say.
“You alright?”
Her reddened eyes meet mine, and I can tell immediately that she’s about to cry. It isn’t even the lip quiver that gives it away.
“I’m so sorry, Nathan,” her voice breaks on a sob. With her elbows on the counter now, she buries her face into her hands, and her shoulders shake with every sniffle and hiccup of breath.
Forcing out a frustrated breath, I round the counter towards her. No matter how damn mad I am that she could treat Kourtney the way she did, she’s still my aunt. I still don’t want to see her cry.
This is Evie, the woman who babysat me so many times over the years while Mom put herself through nursing school. She kissed my booboos, for fuck’s sake.
Wrapping her in my arms, I rest my cheek against the side of her cheek. “What’s going on, Ev?”
“You were right. You were all right. I’m a monster.”
“You’re not a monster. Why would you say that?”
She shakes her head, pulling away from me to wipe her tears before turning back to look into my eyes.
“Kourtney didn’t sleep with him, Nathan.”
I nod. I never once thought she did. I believed her immediately. The Kourtney I’ve come to know wouldn’t sleep with a married man just for a promotion. That I know. She has too much pride.
“What made you finally believe her?”
“Matt and his brother were at The Castle last night,”
I interrupt her before she can continue. “Excuse me? They were there?”
I go to pull my phone out of my pocket to call someone. Who? Who knows. Ghost probably. I’ll send him a picture of both of those pieces of shit to make sure that neither one of them can have access to any of our businesses around town. They both need to stay far the fuck away from my family.
“Let me finish, then you can go all caveman,” she forces out a laugh. “Kourtney was going to the bathroom, and I couldn’t help but watch her throughout the night. Anyway, I saw her stumble down a hallway, and then a few seconds later, I recognized Matt. He was following her.”
“Fuck,” I curse. My brows furrow in anger, and I can feel my blood starting to boil.
“Long story short, I heard him admit that they had never had sex.”
I nod. I fucking already knew that. “What else?”
“I finally called the woman who claims to be pregnant with his baby, and I got the entire story.” She breaks eye contact and plays with the hem of her shirt. “I can understand if you both never want to see me again. I’m so sorry for all of the trouble I’ve caused. I completely understand if you want me to leave. I’ll go back to Phoenix as soon as possible.”
Pinching the bridge of my nose, I’m not sure what irks me more. Evie feeling like she needs to leave and like I hate her makes me nauseous. But Matt cornering my ol’ lady at our club where she’s supposed to be safe and protected makes me see red.
“You don’t have to leave, Evie.”
“Are you sure? I completely understand if Kourtney hates me and doesn’t forgive how I treated her. I just can’t even begin to express how sorry I am.”
“I can’t deal with this right now, Ev. But if I know anything about Kourtney so far, treat her with respect the way she deserves, and she’ll come around. I won’t force her to like you just because you’re family, but I won’t turn my back on you.”
“I know that, and –” her comment is interrupted by a fist pounding against my front door.
“Who the fuck is that?” I growl.
Evie follows me through the dining room and into the foyer. The pounding gets louder. “I know you’re in there, Evelyn!” Matt screams as his fist pounds against my heavy door.
“What the hell?” Evie pales behind me.
“Why is he at my house?” I say through clenched teeth.
“I have no idea! He’s been calling me non-stop since yesterday. I blocked his number this morning after talking to his baby mama!”
“Evelyn! Come out and speak to your husband! Now!” he screams.
I push Evie behind the door so she’s hidden from the outside.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” I mumble before flinging the door open and invading his space. Crazed eyes meet mine, and he snarls at me. Actually snarls, like a fucking rabid dog. “Get the fuck off my property,” I say, my tone flat. My goal is to get this over with as quickly and calmly as possible.
“Where is my wife!” A spittle flies from his mouth as he jams a finger in my direction. “You’ll tell me right now where she is! I know she’s in there! Evelyn!”
He goes to scream over my shoulder, but the idiot oversteps and trips on his own feet, tumbling into me.
So much for calm.
I shove him off of me, snickering down at him as he lands on my porch on his ass. His expensive suit has definitely seen better days. Wrinkles cover his entire body as if he’s been wearing the same suit for days in a row. Based on the crazed look in his eyes and the dark circles beneath them, I’d say he hasn’t slept in days, either.
I’d put money on him being on something. Not sure what, but he’s definitely not sober.
“You’ll tell me where my wife is this instance. I know you have her.” It takes him two tries, but he finally pushes back to his feet and waves his finger in my face again. I’m two seconds from breaking that fucking finger. “I’ll call the police!”
That earns an amused chuckle to break free. “Go ahead, buddy. What are you going to tell them? You’re ex-wife is visiting her nephew, and she won’t talk to you?”
“I’ll tell them you kidnapped her! You’re holding her hostage!” he screams in my face. “You forget I’m a well-known lawyer, buddy,” he screams, pushing out his chest in a pitiful attempt to be intimidating. I roll my eyes. “I know just what to say to get them to search this house and get you thrown in jail! All you have to do is release my wife to me, and I won’t say a word. Evelyn!” he starts screaming her name again.
I take a step back like I’m going to close the door in his face when he shoots his hand out to stop me. I let him, knowing damn well if I wanted to, I could easily put him back on his ass again and slam the door in his face.
“Get me my wife, now,” he says through clenched teeth.
“Get the fuck off my property, Matt. And don’t you ever go near Kourtney again. Do I make myself clear?”
In the blink of an eye, he regains composure, settling back on his feet. Running his hands down his suit coat, he buttons it back together and combs his hair back before taking a breath. What the fuck?
“What are you going to do about it if I do?”
My eyes harden, and I drop my voice to a tone that does not give a singular millimeter of opportunity to mistake my severity. “I will fucking kill you if you touch a single hair on her head.”
He smirks, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Are you threatening me, you criminal?”
“I thought you were a well-known lawyer,” I mock him. “Even a peon like me knows to be considered a criminal, you have to have some sort of record. News flash, buddy, look my name up. You won’t find a single goddamn thing aside from my many decorations from the Marines.”
I smile as his face reddens in anger.
“Now, like I said, get the fuck off my property.”
I expect some sort of argument. I don’t expect him to spin on his heel with a nod. Just as he gets to the walkway leading to my driveway, he turns back. “You can tell Evelyn I’ll be seeing her.”
“No, the fuck you won’t.”
He smirks. “We’ll see.”
I slam the door closed, flicking the lock as I sigh in frustration.
“Remind me why I didn’t rip his fucking throat out?”
Evie’s small voice comes from her hiding spot next to the door. “Thank you, Nathan.”
“You need to stay the fuck away from him, Ev. I mean it.”
She nods swiftly, tears pooling in her eyes. “I will. I swear it.”
“You won’t leave this house until they leave town. He looks unstable.”
She nods again and rushes me with a hug. I squeeze her to me before turning towards my office. “Keep the fucking curtains closed, and don’t answer the damn door. I need to make a few calls and lay the fuck down, my head is throbbing.”
Stopping in my office, I blow out a puff of air as I watch Kourtney on the screen working on her computer on her couch. I triple-check that her security alarm is armed. I’m not even sure if they know where she lives, but this is a small town. I’m sure between the two of them, Matt or Ben could convince someone to tell them where the pretty new lawyer lives.
Calling Ghost, I fill him in on everything that I know so far before calling one of my guys from my company to watch my house when I’m not here.
I can barely keep my eyes open during both conversations. I practically crawl to the couch in the corner of my office and barely make it on the damn thing before I pass out.