23. GRIFFIN
Griffin
“C are to tell me what the fuck that was?” Nova barks the moment I step back into the living room. He’s furious, that much is clear, and I realize it’s because Luna means far more to him than he’s ready to let on. His jaw ticks as his arms fold across his chest, Nova leaning against the wall by the kitchen. Rome seems torn between joining Luna and staying here to figure out what’s going on.
I approach Nova slowly before placing a hand on his chest, hoping to calm his rage even as I hide my own heart breaking. Luna didn’t want me to hear but I heard the beginning of her sobs. Knowing that she’s safe in my room is the only thing keeping me from gathering her up in my arms. “She’s okay. The outing was just a lot.”
“For you?” He questions, his expression softening. It’s not a secret that I don’t leave the apartment much. Not because I can’t but because I just don’t have to. It became a bad habit, waltzing between the office space downstairs and the space up here. Neither Rome nor Nova seem to mind but I find comfort where I don’t have to deal with rumors, fake smiles, and remembering what I’ve lost.
“Well yeah but that’s not what happened. There’s a rumor going around that Luna and I got married.”
“What?”
Rome butts in, “We’re not sure who started it but Vera caught us in Red Brook and was pretty adamant about it. Thought we were the best men at the wedding or some shit. I’ve never hated how private we are about our lives till now. If they all knew that you two were dating, I’m sure this rumor wouldn’t have started. I don’t even know how it did but someone mentioned something yesterday too.”
Nova looks between the both of us, obviously thinking about the consequences of Luna continuing this relationship between the three of us. “Fin, she looked like she was falling apart when she came in here.”
“She was. They texted her again, a few times actually.” I hand the phone to him, letting him peruse the same texts I saw a moment ago. “She’s fucking terrified and I know her. She’ll try to run.”
“She can’t.” Those tortured, rough words come from Rome and I can see the conflict in his eyes. We’ve all found something in Luna that we didn’t believe we’d ever find or deserve. None of us are ready to let go. She’s my heart and soul. I know she fills a hole in Rome’s heart. He has so much love to give. And Nova, he needs someone to see past the rough exterior that he puts up as a guard. I do well enough but that hug earlier? I know how important that was to him, just as it was for her.
Nova’s grip on the phone tightens. “She say anything else?”
“Just that they usually only text once they’re here. What do you know?”
“Not as much as I want to, Fin. Fuck!” He pulls his arm back to chuck the device against the wall and then thinks better of it as he hands it back to me. I haven’t seen him lose his cool in a while. I don’t blame him, though. I’m barely keeping it together. Nova wraps an arm around my waist and tucks me into his side as he begins detailing what he does know about Paula’s Agency and the link between John Williamson’s debt and the men constantly after Luna.
It doesn’t add up though.
Sounds like a terrible suspense movie.
“Is there an endgame to this? So John stole a million dollars and offloaded the burden onto his daughter. I don’t understand the absolute need for all this.” I pull away from Nova, glaring at him for the additional information he’s holding back.
“I spoke with someone who paid off a loan recently but they weren’t speaking with Paula’s Agency. It’s someone else and the business card is top notch but it’s not the same. The last digit is off. And before you get your panties in a twist, yes, I called the number. It’s out of service. Whoever is rearranging things knows what they’re doing.” Nova runs a hand through his hair, further mussing up his black and silver strands. I recognize the dark lines beneath his eyes and the toll this is taking on him.
A terrible idea strikes as I fish around for my phone. “What’s the number?”
“Huh? Fin, what are you doing?” Nova reaches for me but I sidestep, staring at the business card and typing in the same digits but switching the last one. There’s only 9 to choose from. It’s just my luck that they answer on the first try. I hold out my phone and put it on speaker.
“Paula’s Agency.” The speaker sounds wholly disinterested in answering the phone, which is probably why he doesn’t give the usual spiel that most businesses do. “Well?”
“Do you have a loan with John Williamson?”
“Sure. Doesn’t everyone? The fucking bastard conned a few out there. Why you asking? You seen him?”
“Wish I had. Looking for him too.” The heat from Nova’s rising anger can be felt from where I’m standing but I want to know if I can get any information from these people. Nova and Rome can’t call them as they’ve been associated but I haven’t. This call is dangerous as fuck but if it helps give us answers, I’ll do anything. “Heard you guys go after family members though. That true?”
Laughter filters through the earpiece. “You sound like a fucking ray of sunshine, kid. Occasionally, sure but John’s wife is a deadbeat and his kid is fuck knows where. She’s smart. Took off when she could. Got a few feelers out but call back if you find something.” The call ends and silence follows but we now have an answer that we didn’t before.
The texts and calls supposedly coming from Paula’s Agency aren’t actually coming from there at all. Whoever has been pressing Luna for her debt aren’t the owners of the loan.
“What now?”
No one answers me, though. This isn’t something I’ve ever dealt with. I have a degree in English and I write books. Yana creates scandals about my life and I sell more books. Nova and Rome have worked in that world a while but this kind of twisted connection to Luna? There’s very few people who will try to pull a fast one on an agency like that, even fewer that succeed.
I think about mentioning dinner but I don’t have an appetite. We should have just stayed inside. My mind wanders to how I’ll spend the rest of the night as I wait for Luna to resurface but Nova catches on a little too quickly.
“You’re not fucking sleeping on the couch. Either curl up with our girl or come to bed. Those are your only two options.” Nova isn’t asking and I don’t feel like fighting, however, I have to voice my thoughts.
“She asked me not to-”
My eyes widen when Rome steps up beside me, gripping my chin in his fingers so that I can only focus on the dark amber of his irises. My skin heats beneath his touch even if the two of us have never gone down that path. “Griffin, have you ever thought that maybe she asked for space because it’s what she’s used to? Yes, she loves you and you were her rock, her heart and soul. But for six years, she had absolutely no one to lean on, to run to, to call home. She’s burrowing in your room because that’s what she knows best. I guarantee you that she doesn’t want to be alone.”
I swallow carefully and then nod, making my way back to my room and slipping inside. Luna is sprawled across the mattress, her bag fallen to the floor as she sleeps fitfully. Even in the dim light, I can see her cheeks streaked with tears, her curls widely folded around her face as her fingers dig into the cover in front of her. She’s hurting and this time I left—even if it was just the room.
Crawling onto the bed, I wrap myself around her, waiting for her to register my presence. She sleepily snuggles into my arms, her head angled up slightly so that her face is pressed against my shoulder. I can feel her undried tears against my skin and my heart breaks a little more for this woman. “I love you, Luna.” And just like that, she melts against my chest as if that’s all she needs to hear.