Chapter 33
Nina
The video on the screens changed to the area outside the building. “I’ll run the plate,” Jay said.
“Any hits, G?”
“Not yet.”
Everyone who’d been downstairs entered the room.
“Winchester?” John asked.
“We’re working on it.”
“On what?” I asked. Everyone spoke in code, and I was tired of being left out.
“We’re ID’ing the men,” Austin answered.
Wiping my tears, I whined, “Why didn’t you just say that?” God, I sound bratty.
“We’ve been doing this a long time,” John said. “It’s easy to forget that what we mean isn’t obvious to everyone around us.”
I reminded myself that they were helping me and that they probably weren’t intentionally keeping me in the dark.
“Feel free to ask if we confuse you again,” Austin said, confirming my guess.
“Thank you.”
Meg sat next to Jack. Cate sat next to Jay. AJ and Matt stood near the door.
“We’ve now had five men ask about Nina,” John said. “And we haven’t ID’ed a single one.”
“No, sir.” Austin looked at Ryan, who nodded.
“This complicates things,” Jamie said. “Do we have to worry about our families?”
I held my breath while the question hung in the air.
“I’m sorry,” Austin said. “I wish I could tell you they’re safe, but I can’t. We don’t know who the threat is, or how far he’ll go.”
“And it appears they have deep pockets and an endless parade of paid thugs,” Ryan added.
Paid thugs always killed people in movies and TV shows.
I swear, when this is over, I’ll never watch another crime show again.
“I’ll call in some favors and we’ll beef up security,” John said.
“Emily and Ashley can watch the kids here,” Jamie said. “That’ll free up some manpower.”
“What about Nana?”
“We won’t leave her alone,” John answered.
“Nina, does your house have a security system?” Ryan asked.
I laughed. Like that’s in our budget. “No.”
“I’ll have Doug install one.”
“I can’t afford to pay for all this,” I said. Dropping my head onto my forearms so it didn’t hit the hard table.
“You don’t need to worry about it,” Austin said.
“Excuse me?” I asked, lifting my head.
“I brought this down on you; I’ll cover the costs.”
Was Austin rich? I didn’t think government employees made that much money.
“Nina, let us do what we do best. We’ll worry about the payment plan later,” John said.
I nodded because I no longer had the energy to argue. As long as Nana Sue was safe and getting the medical help she needed, I’d figure out the rest.
I’ll need a second job to cover the costs. Technically a third one, since I babysat regularly. I’d have to give that up to get another full-time job.
Fingers flew over keyboards.
Hands held phones to ears.
I stared at the items on the table while wringing my hands together and reminding myself to breathe.
Plans were made without my input.
During a lull in the action, John said, “That’s enough for today.” The hands on the wall clock pointed down. Five-thirty.
I should’ve been home hours ago. Nana must be worried.
“If it’s okay, I’d like to stay and keep working,” Ryan said.
“I’ll stay with him. Cate’ll be at craft and booze so it’ll give me something to do,” Jay said.
“I don’t need a babysitter,” Ryan said, leaning back and crossing his arms.
“No, but you need someone with authorized access to the building.”
“I’ll stay with you,” Cate said.
“You should—”
“Did anything in my tone suggest it was up for debate?” Cate asked. She sounded mad, but her smile told a different story.
I really don’t understand anyone in this room.
Jay laughed. “No, no, it did not. Thank you, Snookems.”
Ryan nodded, “So I get two babysitters, got it.”
“Don’t think of us as babysitters, think of us as escorts,” Jay joked.
“I’d rather not,” Ryan said.
“I second that,” Cate said. “Think of us as extra eyes and hands. Let us know how we can help.”
“Speaking of craft and booze, Nina, I can drop you off if you don’t mind a detour to pick up Natalie,” Jack said.
“I have to check on my Nana.” I needed to see her. Hug her. Warn her? “Should I tell her what’s happening?” I asked.
“Nina, I know this is hard and you want someone to talk to, but I’d caution against it,” John said.
“If Emily and Ashley don’t mind watching Natalie for a few extra minutes, I can take you home first,” Jack offered.
Going out was the last thing I wanted to do. “I should probably just stay home. I need to make dinner.”
“Nathan can stay until Matt arrives, then he can drive you, since he’s going there anyway.”
“Thanks, but I’m sure no one wants my bodyguard hanging around.” It was a lame excuse, but I couldn’t think of a better one.
Jack laughed, “They’ll have at least one. I’ll be there while Meg is.”
“Three,” Jamie said. “I’ll be with Emily, and Nathan will want to be with Ashley.”
“Four,” AJ said. “No way am I missing out on all the fun.”
“Doug will be there with Beth and Chase,” John laughed, “and I live there.”
“So you’ll all be there even if I’m not?”
“Most of us will be. Matt will be with your grandmother.”
“You won’t be with Madi?” I asked, knowing he was extra protective after she’d almost died in a fire.
“She offered to keep your grandmother company.”
When did she do that? “Tell her I said thank you.”
Matt nodded. “She’ll take good care of her.”
I felt better knowing Madi would stay with Nana Sue.
“Will you be with them?”
“I’ll be outside, keeping everyone safe.”
I guess that made sense. He wouldn’t see anyone coming if he was inside.
“Ryan and Austin will be here with Jay and Cate.”
“Ryan can handle things here; I’ll be with Nina,” Austin corrected Jack.
“You don’t have to worry; we have a state-of-the-art security system, so no one will get anywhere near the house without us knowing,” John said.
“I’ll be there,” Austin said, his tone sounding final, even to my untrained ears.
“It’ll be the safest place in Weatherford,” Meg said.
“Oh.” Again, I shouldn’t have been surprised, but intrigue, mercenaries, bodyguards, and security systems weren’t part of my life.
They are now.
“You should go,” Austin said softly, his warm hand offering comfort when it rubbed the back of my shoulder. “I know it seems counter-intuitive but a night out will help your nervous system relax.”
This side of Austin made me believe that if I curled up in his arms and cried, he’d hold me close and comfort me. He’d promise to protect me and take care of me. But not forever.
When this was all over, Austin would leave. Just like everyone else had.
“How can I relax?”
Thoughts swirled in my mind like a tornado. Every noise made me jump out of my skin. Every stranger felt like a threat.
I have so many unanswered questions.
“Trust me, a night out with friends, in a safe environment, will help you more than sitting at home and letting this stew in your head.” He gestured towards the files, evidence, and laptops covering the table.
I wanted to argue that I wouldn’t be stewing, but my parents taught me lying was wrong.
Maybe he’s right. “As long as Nana Sue is okay.”
I tried convincing Nana Sue that I should stay home with her, but she was feeling well and insisted I should go out with my friends after dinner.
When arrived at the same time as Jack and Meg. I wonder why they’re late? I’d expected us to be the last to arrive thanks to my endless hesitation.
After a quick greeting on the porch, Jack opened the door.
The energy in John and Mary’s house wrapped around me like a bear hug.
Nathan said hi to everyone as he rushed to Ashley’s side.
Mary beelined for Meg and picked up her granddaughter. As she lifted Natalie in the air, Mary cooed, “Who’s my favorite oldest granddaughter?”
Mary had a way of calling each grandchild her favorite, with their own unique designation.
“Hi, Ma,” Jack said before kissing her cheek.
Craft and booze night had always been a girls only thing, but tonight was different. Because of me. I wish Nikki were here; I needed my best friend. Unlike me, she’d graduated from college in four years and then moved away after getting her dream job.
Just like all my friends. While they finished school in the normal time, I took time off after my parents’ death. While they got jobs, I switched to taking online classes to finish my degree. While they got married and started families, I took care of my grandmother.
Could I tell Nikki how messed up my life had become if she were here? No, probably not. Austin would have a fit.
Thinking his name conjured him out of thin air.
“Hi Nina, I’m glad you didn’t change your mind.”
“Thanks.” I sound so stupid. But what else could I say?
“The guys will eat with us, then take my grandchildren to the family room,” Mary said.
“And me,” Chase piped up.
“And you, Little Man,” Doug said.
“I love how our children get renamed when Ma’s around,” Jamie laughed.
“A grandmother’s prerogative.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Jack agreed. “And we respect your grandmotherly rights.”
“Not to mention the free, trusted childcare,” Jamie said. “I read so many horror stories while Em was pregnant that I almost became a stay at home dad.” He feigned a shutter.
“Thankfully, I can work from home and don’t keep nine-to-five hours,” Emily said, hugging her husband.
“And thankfully, you can work anywhere,” Jamie said, kissing the top of her head.
“I think it’ll be fun to work at the SSI office,” Ashley said. “We’ll be surrounded by protective, alpha male, eye candy all day.”
“Hey,” Nathan said.
“You have nothing to worry about, Casper. You know I love you best.”
“I know, but that doesn’t mean I want you ogling my bosses.” Nathan rubbed Ashley’s belly.
“Has she ever ogled us?” Jamie asked.
“She has,” Emily said, before she, Ashley, and Meg broke into a fit of laughter.
“She’s the one who started calling you eye candy,” Meg said after the laughter subsided.
“I’m her only eye candy now,” Nathan said. “Right, Slick?”
“Right.” Ashley put her hand over his on her baby bump.
She was due to pop before the end of the month.
God, I hope it doesn’t happen tonight. I didn’t want to accidentally be a part of the family’s big event.
The doorbell rang. All eyes turned towards the door, and the room went silent for half a second before AJ pocketed his phone and said, “Pizza’s here.”